So tonight I interviewed 2005 1st round pick Jacob Marceaux. Seems like a real good kid, and he is very confident. If you have any questions for him, you can post them in this thread, or post them on my site and Ill make sure he sees them. Hope you enjoy.

 

 

 

Id like to thank Jacob Marceaux for granting MaverickBall this interview. Jacob was drafted in the first round of the 2005 draft(along with Chris Volstad and Aaron Thompson). He is currently 4-11 with a 3.85era for the high-A Jupiter Hammerheads. A victim of low run support, Marceaux has been fantastic the past few weeks and is showing yet again why he was a 1st round pick.

 

MaverickBall: Another rough loss for you guys tonight. The offense just isn't there, is it?

 

Jacob Marceaux: No, not at all. We hit, but we never get that timely hit. [Matt] Goyen pitched an outstanding game tonight and got the L

 

MB: Yea I know the feeling and it's terrible. It sounds just like to big club. At first glance, it looks like Brad McCann, JT Restko and Dante Brinkley have not enjoyed the Florida State League

 

JM: It's tough to hit at our park but Restko has been swinging it well. Brink too. McCann is just a very streaky player.

 

MB: Yea, Jupiter(and the rest of the FSL) is a pitcher friendly park... McCann was tremendous last year in Greensboro... kinda fell off the map a bit this year

 

JM: The balls fly out of Greensboro

 

MB: Yea... it looks like a sweet ballpark too

 

JM: It's an amazing place and the fans are great. You get 8,000 on a bad night.

 

MB: Yea, a buddy of mine lives up there and goes to many of the games... They get better crowds than the Marlins do

 

JM: for sure

 

MB: So who's the one guy, either this year or in your career who you've faced who's been toughest for you to get out?

 

JM: Tough question. I haven't really faced enough people to tab one guy but Ryan Harvey of the Daytona Cubs has hit two huge bombs off me this year

 

MB: Yea, he's a pretty good prospect. Considering I haven't pitched since little league, whats that feeling like after someone bombs you for a second time?

 

JM: Well the first one broke the game open so I was pretty upset but the second time around, I had a four run lead and it was a first pitch fastball ( a solo job) that even I turned and watched and said "WOW"

 

MB: What do you make of Gaby Hernandez?... He's pretty nasty huh?

 

JM: He is a good pitcher.... I cant believe hes only twenty.... Great kid like him a lot.

 

MB: This organization has too much pitching talent... if there was ever such a thing

 

JM: Thats what we believe in and it will win us another world series and I will be there.

 

MB: So you'll be up next year? haha.

 

JM: That would be Great

 

MB: Because if they can get a CF and another bullpen arm or two, the Marlins could be scary.... so either start learning CF or...

 

JM: hahah Whatever it takes.

 

MB: Do you ever read Baseball America or any of those other prospect sites about yourself?.. or other players on your team?

 

JM: Some guys keep up with it and if its there for me to read I'll look but I try not to get caught up in that... the expectations i put on myself are more than enough for me with out having to worry about what those guys have to say

 

MB: Yea, I hear ya... You were drafted in a pretty good class of Marlins arms(Volstad, Thompson, West, Tucker)... is there a friendly competition between you guys?..... and a second part to that is in a system with so many top arms, many of which are already performing at the Major League level...how much pressure (if any) do you feel to perform and earn a spot as soon as you can on the 25-man roster

 

JM: I love those guys. We are great friends and I hope we all end up in the big league rotation together but there is always competition and it keeps you on your guard.... You know you really focus to be on your game. The Marlins are stacked with great arms but the way I see it, I will pitch to the best of my ability to make the decision for the player development guys a hard one, on moving me up to the next levels on my way to Miami. I try to take it one game, one pitch at a time and not worry about it. That is their decision to make. They drafted me where they did for a reason. As long as i do my part God will take care of the rest.

 

MB: So which baseball team did you follow growing up...being from Louisiana and all

 

JM: I was a huge Braves fan growing up and of course I followed the Astros as Houston is only two hours away from me so I went to game in the dome and the new park.

 

MB: Growing up a Braves fan, I assume you modeled yourself after the early 90s rotation in Atlanta.

 

JM: Roger Clemens, John Smoltz, and Greg Maddux, the power and stamina of Clemens and Smoltz and the mastery of pitching with Maddux. I would love to talk to those guys and just pick their brain for hours.

 

MB: Not a bad trio to pattern yourself after. You throw a fastball, curve, change and a slider. Which is your "go to" pitch?

 

JM: Two seam and four seam fastball, spike curve, change and slider....... My sinker, the two seam fastball, is my best pitch... My punch out pitch is my slider more often than not but whatever pitch the situation calls for I have the confidence to throw it.

 

MB: Now you guys(pitchers) dint hit in the FSL, but if you did... could you hold your own or are we talking Randy Johnson bad?

 

JM: Well I haven't hit in almost five years so you do the math... but I'm not completely hopeless. Ive been swinging it a little to get ready and I will really swing this off season to try to harness my skills if they are still there.

 

MB: Haha ok, because the Marlins are a pretty good hitting team when it comes to pitchers. Even though you have pitched pretty good for the most part this year, do the losses next to your name take a toll on you at all?

 

JM: Even though I know its not about wins and losses at this level....oh yea they do.... It gets frustrating at times but I know I'm giving the team a chance to win and I'm developing as a pitcher so I'm doing my part.

 

MB: Some scouts(what do they know anyway?) projected you as a reliever in the majors... Where do you see yourself if/when you make it to the bigs... relief or starting?... and do you have a timetable in your mind of when you would like to make your debut?

 

JM: They ask me sometimes what you like more starting or relieving... I say whatever gets me to the show the fastest. I prefer starting but if I am a reliever, I want to be a closer or setup guy, but as I said whatever gets me there fast. I try not to put timetables on myself thats just added pressure and I do a good job of that myself.... I want to get there as fast as I can but more importantly when I'm ready, Because when I get there I want to stay there for good.

 

MB: Yea I hear ya... don't know if you know who Chris Resop is, but he's a relief pitcher for the Fish and I'm pretty sure he has been up and down 3 separate times this year alone... must get frustrating. Is the workload different for you now that its a full season as opposed to what college baseball gives you? How tough was the transition for you?

 

JM: I think the workload has been the biggest adjustment for me. My velocity hasn't quite been there like it was in college, but I know that will come once my arm and body gets adjusted to the workload. Pitching from Fri to Fri is a lot different than every fifth day.

 

MB: Did you get the superstar treatment and McNeese?... at Indiana U where I went, anyone on the basketball team was pretty much a celebrity... was that the case for you in school?

 

JM: Yea kind of... Lake Charles isn't too big so everyone knew who I was....the paper and TV always wanted to talk to me especially my junior year, which was crazy, but I just worked hard and let my pitching do the talking.

 

MB: Whats your favorite Louisiana style food?... and do you ever get any of those meals sent to you in Jupiter?

 

JM: Man I am a huge fan of food.... beside my family thats what I miss most.... you cant beat some chicken and sausage or seafood gumbo or some boiled crawfish or crawfish etouffe. I have tried to get it sent to me but its hard. My brother and his family came down once and I got My sister in law to cook for my roommates and I.

 

MB: Who do you room with currently?

 

JM: I live with Jim Brauer and Matt Goyen.

 

MB: What do you like to do an your off days?

 

JM: We really just relax and hang around our place and the occasional movie.

 

MB: Do you play any video games?

 

JM: Yea a little I have an xbox 360 and currently I'm playing mlb 2k6, its pretty cool.... I just bought the new college football game ncaa 07.

 

MB: who do you like to play with in ncaa?

 

JM: LSU baby!!

 

MB: Ah so thats your football team?

 

JM: For sure those games are absolutely amazing. That is something everybody should experience at least once. People get there Thursday for a Saturday night game to cook the best food in the world and drink of course. Its a huge party.

 

MB: Yea, I bet. The SEC is a crazy conference. Who is your NFL team?.... and did you have any thoughts of jumping on the dolphins bandwagon once Saban came down here?

 

JM: I used to be a die hard cowboys fan, I have always loved to saints. Now they got Reggie Bush and Deuce not to mention Brees so lookout for the saints, but I do like the Dolphins also, Saban is my boy. I really like the Miami Heat also.

 

MB: Yea, Reggie Bush is something... Ill be rooting for him all year... I'm kind of a Heat fan, although I prefer college basketball over the NBA

 

JM: oh me too, I watch the playoffs consistently but it still has nothing on march madness.

 

MB: What are your plans for the off season?

 

JM: Go home and eat. haha. Relax for a little while and then make a decision on whether or not to go to API in Arizona or a place of that caliber.

 

MB: Whats the first thing or most extravagant thing you bought with that nice signing bonus?

 

JM: A few things for my family nothing really for me at first cause i was shipped off to new york.... once i got back i bought a car. I bought an Acura TL. I'll go big once I get to the big leagues. That will be the reward to myself.

 

MB: So if you weren't a baseball player, you would be a ___________.

 

JM: Stripper!... I'm kidding. Hmmm

 

MB: Stripping isn't its all cracked up to be anyway

 

JM: Tough question....... I was going to be a nutritionist in college but I love to teach pitching so maybe a coach????? I also will learn to play the guitar this off season so maybe a singer... haha

 

MB: Well if this baseball thing doesn't work, t here's always American Idol... Anyway we really appreciate you taking the time to talk to us and we're all pulling for you so good luck with the rest of the season.

 

JM: Thank you, I appreciate it.

MB:So if you werent a baseball player, you would be a ___________.

JM: Stripper!... Im kidding. Hmmm

 

MB:Stripping isnt its all cracked up to be anyway

 

JM: Tough question....... I was going to be a nutrionist in college but I love to teach pitching so maybe a coach????? I also will learn to play the guitar this offseason so maybe a singer... haha

 

 

 

:lol

Nice work Ramp

Thanks Ramp.

Good Stuff, enjoyed reading it

 

Nice job, Ramp

good read and interview dude

Great stuff !

nice interview. who's maverick ball by the way?

nice interview. who's maverick ball by the way?

 

http://marlinsminors.mostvaluablenetwork.com/

 

I guess you werent around here when I went by "Maverick"

Awesome work Ramp.

nice interview. who's maverick ball by the way?

 

http://marlinsminors.mostvaluablenetwork.com/

 

I guess you werent around here when I went by "Maverick"

no I wasn't. nice site.

Good stuff Ramper. :thumbup

he's going to be doing a player diary over at maverickball and if anyone has any questions that you would like him to answer, write them up

 

you have about 2-3 days