Roger Arrieta
Below is a transcript from when Brian Wilson met the media after his one inning appearance Wednesday night in Rancho Cucamonga.
Q. Do you feel you had good command of your off speed pitches?
BW. For eight pitches I felt I did all right considering how many I threw.
Q. What did you throw besides fastballs?
BW. Fastball, cutter
Q. What did you get your strikeout on?
BW. Cutter
Q. It has been months since he has been a professional situation. Any nerves?
BW. Normal nerves, just anxious to get out there and do it again.
Q. Was this big league stuff you threw tonight?
BW. Absolutely. This is big league baseball. Other than being a minor league affiliate, it’s still competitive baseball.
What do you want to accomplish between now and the time you put on a Dodgers uniform?
BW. Just testing the arm out. I wanted to go back to back days, and get 20 – 25 pitches to see what the recovery is like.
Q. Any concern of how you will feel tomorrow?
BW. When tomorrow comes I will assess the situation. I’m sure my arm will be fine and will be still attached. I don’t worry about tomorrow right now.
Q. How soon do you feel you will be able to help the Dodgers out?
BW. Whenever they need me.
Q. What was it about the Dodgers that made you want to do this?
BW. It was a baseball decision. I wanted to compete. It’s the last two months of the year [and] they showed interest in me. They are giving me a chance to comeback. I’m going to honor that and thank them for allowing me to play baseball again.
Q. After spending so many years with the Giants and understanding the Dodgers / Giants rivalry, is it going to be strange to put on that Dodgers uniform?
BW. No, its not strange, not at all. I’m going to put on my uniform like I would put on any uniform, except I play for the Dodgers now and that’s all I’m concerned with at this point.
Q. Any of the minor leaguers asking for advice or guidance?
BW. No real advice talk. [We are] joking around, basically getting the clubhouse atmosphere again. We are getting the conformity, shagging a little for BP, running around [and], getting loose.
Q. The last time you were in the Cal League was in 2007. Is it surreal being back in these stadiums?
BW. I was in the Cal league for two innings. I was in San Jose. I didn’t get to experience some of the ballparks.
Q. How does it feel to be with these kids that are just starting out. They are a lot younger than you.
BW. Whoa…Easy. I like it. It just reminds me of when I was in A ball, which was probably the greatest time I had in baseball.
Q. Why is that?
BW. Just the competition. You are in the same place; you are grinding it out in hotels, bus trips for 16 hours, playing card games.
Q. You going to Albuquerque? How many games are you going for?
BW. I don’t know. I will just pitch when they ask me to and when they want to call me up, I will be called up. Until then I will do everything I would normally do to get ready for next outing.
Q. Knowing yourself and your arm, how much will it take?
BW. It won’t take me much. I don’t think I’ve really ever pitched on physical strength, its mental for me. Mentally I feel I have been ready for a while.
Q. Realistically are you about two weeks from being at Dodger stadium?
BW. I don’t know what realistic is anymore. I’ve been out for 16 months. Whenever they call I’m there.
Q. How does it feel joining a team that is this hot?
BW. Great. You can see the atmosphere has changed in watching all the teams throughout the year. You can see having a loose atmosphere, playing fun, having a great time. I’ve always been a believer in having a great time in the clubhouse. It’s going to correlate to on field success and everyone is picking each other up.
Q. Other than Uribe you know some guys.
BW. Yeah I know some guys, spoken to a few of them.
Q. How different was it starting?
BW. I don’t know how starters do it. I don’t know what to do for three hours just sitting around. Then I got loose too early, so more sitting around. National anthem on the field, it’s a different mentality and then have to sit for another four days.
Q. How many days before next appearance?
BW. Id imagine Friday, If I would guess.
Q. A lot of big leaguers buy a meal for the guys; did you do anything like that?
BW. I guess we will have to wait and see… Yes. I bought you guys something too…absolutely didn’t sorry.
Q. In eight pitches, how many cutters?
BW. Five, first pitch was a heater, I don’t remember
Q. Would you prefer to stretch it out next time?
BW. I don’t know to many pitchers that want to stretch it out. Ideally three-pitch inning is ideal every time out. I would enjoy that.
Q. Even now under these circumstances?
BW. There are no circumstances. I get my work in for the last 16 months of waiting. This is just going out there and throwing competitive pitches. If I throw one competitive pitch in 30 its all in the realm of pitching and recovering. I’ve done this before; it was 10 years ago but all the same.
Q. What are the most pitches you have thrown on the mound since you came back?
BW. Simulated, probably 30 need to practice that, I mean that’s a long inning.
