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Past Interviews:
Bob
Sylvester, Sr.
Tim Zigmund
John Gill
Billy Romaniello
Joe Brennan
Eric Zigmund
Brian Hicks
Mike Glander
Jeff Paulson
Mike Stein
Paul Marazita
Chris Luhning
Matt Clemm
Gene Patterson
DJ Shepard
Chris Schultheis
Phil Geisel
Adam Musson
Scot Zook
Jim Doyle
Scott Romonosky
Ken Kaminski
KNOW THY ENEMY |
February 16, 2003
by "Biggest Daddy"
Interview with Bobby
Sylvester,
Wapakoneta Hippos
BIGGEST DADDY:
What's it like being the youngest member of the BDBL?
BOBBY SYLVESTER: It's great knowing that I know as much or
more about baseball than guys who are three times my age.
BD: Are any of your friends into baseball, or are you the only baseball fan you
know?
BS: All of my friends are baseball fans. Of course none of them know who James Loney or Jesse Foppert are, but they all know their everyday players. I have created a roto leauge for me and my friends, it should be fun.
BD: What sports do you play, and at what positions?
BS: I am a starting point guard in basketball, but need to
work on my game to become an impact player in high school. I have only played football for
2 years. I have to hit the weight room this summer or else I will get waxed. I have the
hands and agility to become a great WR, but I'm not sure I have the desire to play
football much more. I play CF in baseball, this is easily my best sport. I hit .468 with a
.575 OBP and a .757 SLP while scoring 53 runs and striking out only twice in 153 PA. I
blasted a fastball 290 ft. off the top pitcher in the league at the age of 13. I didn't
hit any HRs, but managed a twelve game double streak and a six game triple streak.
BD: You've made some outstanding farm acquisitions over the past few years. Do you
attribute the Pujols selection to hard work and scouting or just plain old luck?
BS: A little bit of both. This past draft I had over 150
players left on my list after the farm draft, so I do a bunch od studying. I'd have to say
the Pujols pick was very lucky. It's hard to tell the difference between some top minor
leaguers, so I went with a Cardinal because I live in St. Louis. Although the Pujols pick
was luck most of my picks required hard work.
BD: You recently switched MLB allegiance from the Blue Jays and Angels to the
Dodgers and A's. Why? You certainly picked a bad time to stop rooting for
the Angels!
BS: I used to be the biggest bandwagon fan on the earth. I
was an "Angels Fan" because they were the underdogs who had a chance to win it
all. I was a Blue jays fan because they had my favorite player (Shawn Green). I switched
to a Dodgers fan because of Green and I switched to and A's fan because of the big 3
(Zito, Mulder, Hudson). Too bad I traded Hudson, but it worked out.
BD: What's your favorite subject in high school? Are you planning on going to
college? What do you want to study?
BS: Actually I am in middle school.... My favorite class is
American History. I am definitely going to college, that is unless I develop into a top
prospect and become selected in the 2007 draft. Of course I would love to be a major
leauger, but that most likley won't happen. If I can not become a baseball player I want
to be a baseball coach for a high school up around the Boston area. Either that or a scout
for some major leauge team.
BD: What kind if music do you listen to? Any CD recommendations?
BS: I love the Rap and R&B.....my favorite artist
(Nelly) lives only a couple of miles from my grandparents. I'd have to say my favorite
song is "Wanksta" by 50 Cent.
BD: Do you play in any other Diamond Mind leagues? If so, how are you doing in
them?
BS: I used to be in two others, but I have dropped out of
both of those because I need more time for school. I made the playoffs in both leauges and
in one leauge had a solid group of Pedro, Rueter, Lowe, Wolf, Jeter, I-Rod, Soriono, and
Dunn.
BD: Where is Wapakoneta, and why did you choose the hippo for a mascot?
BS: Wapakoneta is 20 miles from my old town (Centerville).
They always had a great baseball team in our leauge. I picked a Hippo as the mascot
because my dog is very similar in body structure as a hippo.
BD: What is your favorite internet site for baseball news?
BS: My favorite web site for baseball news is the BDBL
forum.
BD: What's your favorite fast food meal?
BS: Besides Subway I am not a fast food fan. I am all about
the buffets.
BD: How did Paul Marazita coax you into trading Joe Mauer? Did he use Jedi mind
tricks? If you had a chance to take that trade back, would you?
BS: I kind of felt bad for him because his team failed to
achieve victory last season. I would take Mauer back. I would also take back the
Lieberthal trade.
BD: Describe the atmosphere when you play head-to-head against your father. Bitter
rivalry or good, wholesome family fun?
BS: He is constantly talking trash when we play head to
head, sometimes I have to remind him he nearly holds the all time record for loses in a
season.
BD: You recently renamed your park, "Breyers Stadium." Is the Breyers
ice cream company paying you for the naming rights?
BS: I wish, I could use some money......It's almost time
for my first car.
BD: Most of the guys on your coaching staff played before you were born. How did
you become a fan of those guys?
BS: Sandy Koufax: Greatest Dodger of all time.
Rod Carew: Not a fan, but great player
Freddy Patek: My Dad has these OLD board games similar to DMB and Patek would always
dominate when I played my Dad and his Red Sox.
Fernando Valenzuela: Another great Dodger.
Jim Palmer: Kept him from Mudhens staff.
Scott Terry: Took pitching lessons from him and played baseball with his son.
Cecil Fielder: Prince wouldn't sign with the Hippos unless we gave his Dad the job.
Tony Kubek: My Grandpa grew up with him and was asked to go to the minors with him.
Sixto Lezcano: Met him a minor leauge game. Great guy and great stats.
Ryne Sandberg: When I was younger I wanted to be him one day.
BD: Some of the guys on Jeff Paulson's farm team are your age. Do you ever get
together with them and play Yu Gi Oh?
BS: Never played Yu Gi Oh in my life, but I would love to
meet them or rob one of a homer.
BD: How many trade offers do you get for Adam Dunn and Albert Pujols per week on
average? Would you ever consider trading either one? (If so, could you please give me
first, last and only dibs?)
BS: I used to get 25 offers a week, one from each team and
two from Salem and Kansas. Once it got around that I WON'T trade them I stopped getting
offers, but still get one every once in a while. I would consider trading Dunn for Hudson
and Pedro, but I don't never Pujols.
BD: Besides playing Diamond Mind Baseball, what do you like to do in your spare
time?
BS: Sports are my life, if I am not managing a team I am
playing for one. I love to play College Years
because it simulates my dream job. I enjoy playing Lacrosse although our corn fed town
doesn't have a team. I would call myself a computer nerd before i'd call myself a party
animal. I make all of my friends from sports. I like girls, but they they are a waste of
time.
BD: Are you surprised by the performance you've gotten from Jon Lieber so far this
year?
BS: Yes, he is on pace for 32 wins this year. It won't
last.
BD: Your birthday is Christmas. Do you have any interesting stories about that?
BS: Not really....I'm hoping I get a Hummer for my 16th
birthday, but thats unlikley.
BD: I think I speak for everyone when I say we'd all like to get a Hummer on our
16th birthday. Thanks for your time, Bobby.
BS: No problem.