Question and Answer with Jon Searles- ANSWERS POSTED

Continuing with the burrito questions, I used to live close to Jackson and even after moving I'm not a stranger to Jackson. Where is your favorite place to go in Jackson to help meet your burrito quota and what players share your love for the burrito?

Recently when we had Matt Murton for a Q & A I asked him about sports memorabilia since I am a collector. Do you collect sports memorabilia? If you do, have you ever taken advantage of being a pro baseball player to add to your collection?

Below are the answers from Jonathan Searles! A big thank you to Jonathan for taking the time to take our questions! In addition thank you to all of you for helping to make NSBB such a wonderful posting community!

Question and Answer with Jonathan Searles

rawaction:

Thanks Mr. Searles for taking our questions.

You were a starter in the early stages of your career. In 2001, you had a

darn good year as a starter in the Pirates system, but were moved to the pen

the next year. What brought about that initial move to the pen?

I wanted to continue starting but the Pirates felt I would be better a long guy out of the pen. As a starter I would cruise for the first 3 or 4 innings before getting hit hard the second time through the lineup. Coming out of the pen you only have to face the lineup one time.

You have become quite the workhorse this year for the Jaxx, do you still

prefer starting or do you like getting out there every other day and letting

it all go for 1 or 2 innings?

I really haven’t started consistently in quite some time now so I’m very comfortable out of the pen. They both have their advantages. In high school I played football, basketball and baseball. I’m used to being on the field, and that is something I get as a bullpen pitcher. This year especially, you know that if you’re throwing the ball well there is always a chance that when you come to the field you could be in the game. It’s as close to being a position player as you can get.

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abuck1220 (Iowa):

Thanks for taking our questions...

I enjoy the journal that you do for At the Yard. How did you get approached

for a gig like that?

I was actually in the bookstore at UPenn one fall semester with my Brevard County Manatees hat on. A man came up to me and asked about the hat. I explained that I played for the team last year. He explained that his son was enrolled at Penn and he was starting At The Yard and would I like to write for it. We thought it would be a great fit.

Also, have you been able to maintain your five burrito/week average?

You know, I really haven’t and that’s probably a good thing. I’m down to about 2 a week.

And I go to mesa every year for spring training. Being that you seem to be a burrito connoisseur, who would you say has the best burritos in the

Phoenix/Mesa area?

By no means am I the authority on this stuff, but the place I went to during spring was right up the road from the minor league complex, right in the little downtown area. Can’t remember the name though right now. Sorry.

Thanks again, and best of luck the rest of the season.

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UK:

When a scouts signs a player, they often mention that no matter what, that player can always talk to them regardless if they play for another team.

Now that you're in organization not represented by Dana Brown (who besides signing you with the Pirates also suggested that the Expos trade for you after he went to Montreal), have you still been in contact with him about various issues since his recent promotion?

You seem to know your scouting departments. Dana Brown has been a great influence on my baseball career. He believed in me enough to draft me with the Pirates and give me my first shot. When I got taken in the Rule 5 draft he was disappointed, but wished me luck. We do still keep in touch during the season as well as the off season. He’s doing a great job with Washington.

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burnt out cubbie fan (Park Ridge, IL):

Thanks for joining us. In a Q&A we had with Ron Potesta ealier in the year, he said that you and JK were the best hitters among the pitchers on the team. Is that something that you miss being a relief pitcher? When you were drafted, was there any question that you were a pitcher or position player?

Earlier in the year I would have agreed with Ron but right now I’m struggling at the plate. To be honest I didn’t realize how much I missed hitting. This year was the first time I’ve gotten a professional at bat. I like to think I know what I’m doing up there and have actually hit a few balls hard this season. I played a very good center field in high school but no chance of me getting drafted for it. Good glove, no stick.

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JonMDavis (Evanston, IL):

Mr. Searles-

As a former starter, what was it like for you to sit behind home plate and

have to chart pitches?

I didn’t mind charting. You really get to learn the game. You can see the entire field, and get a feel for what the pitcher has working that day. I only started in A ball so I only charted there. I’d like to see what charting a AA prospect would be like. A guy with better stuff, more control and more game plan.

In your last journal entry, you said that you weren't going to let yourself

struggle in the 2nd half like you did last August. What are you doing to

prepare for that?

I think the most important thing is to realize that the season goes until the last out of the last game. A good year can be ruined if you start to think about getting home with your buddies and family too early.

Personally, I’m going to continue to go to the gym and work my legs for the month of August. You need a good foundation to pitch during the late parts of the season. Also, I’m going to try and make sure I throw first pitch strikes. Late in the season, hitters have seen us pitch a lot. Getting ahead puts them on the defensive and that is the only way to pitch successfully.

Lastly (to counter the burrito questions), you also implied in an entry that

you hope to graduate next year. How are you keeping up with your education?

Do you do anything during the baseball season or is all of the work done in the offseason? How much more difficult is it to concentrate on your work in the offseason now that you're at AA compared to what you'd expect the difficulty to be for an Ivy League education.

All of my school is done during the off season. I’m lucky in that Penn doesn’t start it’s fall semester until September 7th. That gives me time to finish the season and get right to Philly.

During the season I concentrate on baseball, it’s my career. Once August comes around I start to sign up for classes and figure out my housing situation. I’m pretty used to it at this point so it comes easy. As a finance major I tend to read the paper all during the season in the hotels on roadtrips or the locker room. As school nears I will sometimes pick up a Wall St Journal just to get reacquainted with the terms and such.

Being in AA is really just being one shot away from the big leagues. There is so much talent just waiting to come together and have success. As far as the Ivy League goes, it really is a great experience. I can’t tell you the quality of people I’ve met at Penn. Not only is everyone very intelligent but motivated as well. That is what is most impressive. Once these students graduate to the big leagues of the corporate world their talent will take over. Hopefully I can be a part of it as well.

Thanks!

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DJAXXFAN (Tennessee):

Continuing with the burrito questions, I used to live close to Jackson and

even after moving I'm not a stranger to Jackson. Where is your favorite

place to go in Jackson to help meet your burrito quota and what players

share your love for the burrito?

I had no idea my burritos would be such a topic of interest. Matt Craig, Ryan O’Malley and I crush burritos at Moe’s. They have the best by far. I think they lose money when we come in the door.

Recently when we had Matt Murton for a Q & A I asked him about sports

memorabilia since I am a collector. Do you collect sports memorabilia? If

you do, have you ever taken advantage of being a pro baseball player to add to your collection?

I’m really not much of a collector. I like to have things just as a reminder of my days of playing pro ball. Pictures are the best memorabilia for me. The capture the image as well as a story of the entire season. I did ask Nomar for an autograph on a ball when he was here. I sent it to my buddy in NY, he was pretty excited about it.

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CaliforniaRaisin101 (Arcadia, CA):

What is your favorite type of burrito?

I’m going to have to be careful with what I write about next time! I like the chicken with pinto beans.

Does Don Pancho's really have the best Mexican food in West Tenn? How good are their burritos?

Don Pancho’s is pretty good, but we hit up Moe’s. It’s quicker before the game.

On a non-burrito related topic, what pitches do you throw?

I throw both a two and four seam fastball. Occasionally I will drop down sidearm on my two seam fastball. Change up, slider and curveball from time to time.

Great answers.

 

I'm just glad I'm not as obsessed with food as everyone else seems to be.

:lol:

I know where's I'm eating at the next time I visit West Tenn!