Q&A with Louisville Bats' all-star Drew Stubbs

Bats outfielder Drew Stubbs is in the Pacific Northwest at the triple-A
all-star game. Its his third all-star games in as many seasons since being
drafted in 2006.

In 2006, the Cincinnati Reds selected University of Texas outfielder Drew Stubbs with the eighth overall selection in the draft. Stubbs was a three-time All-American for the Longhorns, helping them capture the College World Series in 2005. Since joining the Reds' organization, the 24-year-old Stubbs has proven worthy of his first-round draft status, earning all-star honors in each of his three professional seasons. Since joining the Louisville Bats late in the 2008 season, Stubbs has been an everyday player, and this year his performance has been stellar enough to earn him a spot in the Triple-A all star game that will be played on Wednesday night on ESPN2 at 10PM eastern. Stubbs appears on the cusp of the major leagues, as his 33 stolen bases this year are tied for the league lead, and his 20 doubles easily rank ahead of all other Louisville players. Here's a little Q&A with Stubbs:

What are the biggest differences in levels of play as you have moved up the ranks, and how have you maintained your success?

The main thing that separates A-ball from triple-A is the guys up here have been playing pro ball a lot longer. They know how to do all the little things well and capitalize on all the fine details of the game that younger players have yet to learn. The success has come through experience and progressing through the levels. I wouldn't have understood the ins and outs of this level a few years ago, but playing with and against guys allows you to pick up little things that allow you to succeed as you move up the ranks.

How have the off-the-field changes compared to the differences in level of play?

Pro ball is pretty consistent throughout. The first couple of years, you are kind of getting your feet wet and learning the routine. As you progress, you have the same schedule: get to the field early afternoon and prepare for the game with batting practice and defensive work. That part of the routine is learned at a low level, and you just fine tune it as you progress.

Along with your natural ability, what has made you such an effective base stealer?

 Instincts play a big part of that. Having speed is a major part of it, but there are a lot of guys who can really run but aren't that good of base stealers. The key to having success on the base paths is having good anticipation, getting good jumps, and picking the right pitch to run on. The combination of those, along with being blessed with good speed, has allowed me to do what I can do.

The team is playing very well this season. How does the team attempt to retain its chemistry and maintain its success with so many pieces of the puzzle changing?

We've already had quite a bit of turnover on the team this year, having guys go up and down, so it is difficult to maintain a good chemistry in the club house. The main deal is the nucleus of the team has been here all year, and we have good relationships, and whenever new guys come in, we are able to welcome them, helping them to play to the best of their abilities.

When you go to bat, do you focus more on your own swing and mechanics, or more on the pitchers and what they are going to throw?

It's some of both. The thing you can ultimately control is yourself in the box, so first and foremost you have to keep your routine intact and have the same preparation each day. The secondary part of that is anticipating the type of pitch that is coming, which comes from scouting reports on pitchers, and knowing what they do in certain situations.

Are there particular players you have tried to emulate, or others who have greatly influenced your development?

In the game today, one guy I have always looked up to is Derek Jeter of the Yankees. I think he handles himself the right way and plays the game hard. I think he has a great respect for the game, and therefore gets a lot of respect from other players. Whether you are a position player or a pitcher, he's a guy you can look up to and follow.

What accomplishment or moment would you consider the greatest at this point in your career?

Winning the College World Series in 2005. For me and most other players, the team awards go far beyond the individual awards. Just being able to share that moment with guys that I had lived with, went to class with every day, and had such a strong bond with was unbelievable. All the other individual honors were just icing on the cake, but the team awards are the most special.