Thanks for your time today Kenny. First of all, congrats on setting the saves record for the Swing.
Thank you very much.
I see that you are from Whitter, CA. Were you a Dodger fan growing up?
Truthfully I don’t watch a whole lot of sports, but yeah I really was because my grandparents are true Dodger fans since they first came to California, my grandmother is Dodger blue all the way.
I noticed that you played a season at Long Beach State along side with Jered Weaver and Troy Tulowitzski. What’s it like seeing those guys in the bigs now?
It’s real nice seeing your fellow teammates making it to the big leagues. Both are real good quality players. I’m real inspired that guys my own age are up there, and I hope to get up there with them.
You were only there for a year, then opted to go to Rio Hondo CC. What made you decide to transfer?
A few things, me being wanting to get ready to play pro ball and me and the pitching coach (at LBSU) didn’t quite see eye to eye on a few things with mechanics. I saw that it really wasn’t going to work out there, so I just transfered to a juco. I actually was trying to transfer to another school but I was denied my release there so I had to transfer to a juco.
You really tore it up there, putting up some Nintendo like numbers. You were all set to go in the 2nd or 3rd round and then you ended up needing Tommy John surgery. I’m sure that had to be a big disappointment.
Yeah, it was a big blow after working so hard and having that kind of a season then end up tearing my ligament, so it definitely took the wind out of my sails. But I got the surgery, and I’m glad I’m back now.
The Cardinals ended up picking you in the 37th round. Do you feel the way they stuck with you that you feel a certain sense of duty to the organization?
The surgery went real well, Dr. Paletta did a good job. The trainers were there to help me the whole way the whole time. I really want to make it to the big league level with this club. That really, really would be nice.
Now, we fans hear about a guy needing Tommy John surgery, and basically we just think we’ll see them in a season or two. But from what I understand it’s a real difficult rehab. What’s it like trying to come back from that?
It was really, really tough being away from baseball for a whole year. It was a whole 6 or 7 months before I could even throw a ball. It’s really hard going from playing baseball every day to having to go through all that. It almost kills your drive for the game but at the same time you know you wanna get back there and show them that you are healthy. That’s what helps you is your desire to play the game. It was hard going through rehab. I finally felt like I got my full strength into about a full 2 years into it. It was a long process but I’m glad I stuck with it.
Now you’ve been working in relief this year. Do you like relieving better?
I like starting. I like going after a team for 5, 6 or 7 innings. But I also like being the guy coming in with the game on the line having the ball in my hand. I really like the closer role, it suites my mentality. I love being the guy who comes in there and has to get it done.
Tell me a little bit about your repertoire. What do you throw, and what do you feel is your best pitch?
I have a 4 seam fastball and a sinker. I work with that. Then I have my slider, which is definitely my out pitch. With 2 strikes, they are ready, either against lefties and righties. That’s really my bread and butter right there. A lot of guys may know it’s coming but it’s a really good, hard slider. Then I have a change up that I would use in a starting role or a long relief situation, but in the closing role I try and just come at them hard. While I would definitely say my slider is my best pitch, my fastball comes in at 93, 94 so it has a little bit of horsepower and it helps me out. It makes my slider what it is.
Yeah, I saw you in the MWL All-Star game and that slider is really a biter. It really reminded me of Jeremy Bonderman’s slider in the way that it moves more vertically then horizontally, and the way that it has that quick break right at the end.
That’s what I like about it. It’s more like a hard slurve, it’s definitely less across and more down.
Yeah. When I saw it I thought to myself that guy has a good shot at making the majors just with that pitch right there.
(Laughs) Well, thank you.
Is there a major league pitcher that you compare yourself to or would pattern yourself after?
I really wouldn’t know, but if there is one person I really tend to pay attention to because I’m the same build and have the same kind of stuff as his is (Roy) Oswalt. I really like watching him, and how he pitches his game. Closer wise, I really like watching (Billy) Wagner because he just goes right at guys.
Yeah, I like watching Oswalt too, just not against the Cardinals. Is there a certain goal that you have for yourself, a place that you would like to be by next season, or do you just take things as they come?
I really don’t know next year, they told me this year that coming up here that the closer role was really more just temporary. That next year in I’d be coming into spring training possibly as a starter. I’m shooting for for AA. A lot of guys here recently when straight to AA so I’m really hoping for that. But realistically I know I’m looking at Palm Beach so if that’s what happens that’s OK, just as long as I’m moving up. I don’t want to come back here, it’s not that I don’t like it, but I definitely wanna just keep on advancing.
Thanks again for your time Kenny, and I’m sure we see you soon. Good luck.
Thanks.
Filed under: Interviews, Kenny Maiques
erik
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Nice interview Erik. Seems like a good kid, and I have no problems with him trying to model himself after Oswalt.
What is your opinion on him? Major league starter? relief pitcher? closer?
His closer numbers at Quad Cities are fantastic, but i’d like to see him go against tougher competition. I hope he makes the Springfield roster next year.
I’ve seen him several times, I think very highly of him. Him comparing himself to Roy O isn’t that big of a stretch to me, stuff wise. He has major league quality stuff. His slider really reminded me of Bonderman’s slider, and that is saying something. He has a real good fastball. I was surprised and intrigued when he said the Cardinals were thinking about using him as a starter next year. I’ve only seen him in the closer’s role, and I think he has the stuff to be a big league closer or a very good set up man.
As a starter, his value could be huge but I don’t know how good his change up is, and it’s tough transitioning from relieving to starting, but he could have the stuff to do it if he can throw a decent change.
I certainly think he could succeed in AA, probably right now closing. I am actually kinda surprised he hasn’t been called up to Palm Beach a little while ago.
Hmmm. I think it would be a good idea to at least try him as a starter. But I’m not sure how that could be handled.
I doubt they can just hand him a spot in the Palm Beach rotation. For one thing, it seems to be a pretty significant jump in performance level. Palm Beach has destroyed both Trey Hearne and Gary Daley this year and Brad Furnish and Eddie Degerman have seen all of their stats fall dramatically after being promoted. I would think the Cardinals would be reluctant to throw a pitcher into that without any starting experience into that situation.
Secondly, I would think the Palm Beach rotation would already be full next year. I doubt Furnish or Degerman will be ready to move out at the start of next year and they should fill the remaining 3 spots from the 5 starters on the Quad Cities team.
Sorry for rambling. I would like to see him get a shot at starting, but I’m not sure I see a good way to go about that.
New Pagodi: I disagree with you, regarding the opportunities to move Maiques into a starter’s role. I think the Cardinals will move one of the pair of Degerman and Furnish up next season. Even with the two of them having some difficulties making the adjustment to the higher level, both are older college products who need to be moved quickly if they are to have much value. Herron will be coming up, Hernandez most likely, and maybe Garceau. I almost think the organisation may implement the same sort of piggy back rotation they used at QC this season to begin the year at PB. That would offer eight spots, and it might shake out thusly:
Herron
Daley
Dickson
Garceau
Mortenson
Henandez
Maiques
Furnish
I think they would be a little more likely to push Degerman than Furnish; Degerman, with his odd delivery and his repertoire, would be a better relief candidate down the road, I think. Thus, they can keep pushing him aggressively until he proves he can’t get the job done; at that point, a move to the pen may become likely. Furnish could probably use another half year at high A, and I definitely think Daley should be there, at least to start the year. Daley’s performance, to this point, hasn’t been great, but his upside is still pretty significant, with an awfully solid repertoire for someone who’s struggled as much as he has. They’ll most likely start Mortenson at PB, with an eye toward moving him through as quickly as he can handle; his age means he’ll need to be a fast riser.
If the cards are serious about trying to make Maiques into a starter, I think they’ll find room for him to move up. His potential upside is much greater then many of the other pitchers in the system. He, Herron, and Daley are probably the Cards’ best shots, outside of a healthy Garcia, to produce a true impact arm. (Although, I don’t know much about Hernandez, as far as his stuff and potential upside.)
Hey, the AFL rosters were announced. Looks like Colby will get some more work in.
http://www.whiteyball.com
I would love to see him shift to starter with that repertoire. Wainwright has never had a great change up, but he has managed.
I think (hope?) both Maiques and McClellen get a shot a starting next year. They can always be moved back to relief it doesn´t work out.
Mura has been just as effective as Maiques and is only 6 months older. He should get the shot at closing in PB if Maiques isn´t in that role.
So many starters to work in next year. I guess we can count on someone getting injured, but that’s a lot of room to make. We’ve got to get full-season roles for Pomeranz, McCormick and Daley returning from injury as well as new draftees Todd, Kopp, Eager and Zawacki. Then there’s Josh Wilson and Tyler Leach who will get looks, and Blake King coming back. Guys who deserve promotions, Nick Additon, Jose Arredondo. Going to be crowded…