10 Questions with Nick Green

(By Drew Scott)

10 Questions with the Red Sox SS Nick Green following his team’s 10-1 victory over the Twins, Wednesday at Fenway Park:

1.  You’ve been playing every day for over a week now, are you settling in and feeling more comfortable? 

Green: I feel good, obviously I get frustrated at myself for making dumb errors, but other than that I feel good.  Obviously the more you play the better you feel at the plate, so you just like to play every day if you can.

2.  What does one do during rain delays to pass the time?

Green:  Umm…sit and avoid y’all (media). No, different guys do different things watch TV, do crosswords, play on the internet. No one wants to just sit around and just do nothing.

3.  When you arrived at Spring Training this year, what role did you see yourself filling on this Red Sox team?

Green: I thought that it would be an opportunity, and maybe if someone went down I could fill in wherever they need me.  I was prepared to do whatever they wanted me to do.

4.     The majority of your major league experience has been at second base, how has the transition to playing shortstop everyday been for you so far?

Green: Well the last two years I’ve played a bunch of shortstop in the minor leagues, and I feel like I’m capable of playing there. It’s one of those things I definitely work harder at, at short stop than at second base, just to make sure I’m ready to go.

5.     When you look at seasons like 2007 when you moved from the Pirates organization to the Mariners organization to the Yankees organization, how do you manage to stay focused despite all that moving around?

Green: It’s not that easy, you know when I got traded from Pittsburgh to Seattle, I felt like I was doing well and I’m like, “Why would get rid of me?” So it’s one of those things that, I went over there and started off well, and usually when you get off to good a start things can take off and it makes it a lot easier.

6.  As a player who has spent a considerable amount of time in the minor leagues, which I’m sure at times was frustrating, what advice would you offer to younger players who are trying to make it in Major League Baseball?

Green: I think the biggest thing is if you still have the love and passion and you love going to the park, then you keep going. I mean I don’t want to give up until, if I didn’t have the desire to get better each day that I come in here, than I’d probably shut it down, but it’s one of those things where I know I can help somebody and I still enjoy coming to the park and trying t get better.

7.  You have been quoted as saying that you try not to check the injury reports in regards to when Lugo or Lowrie is going to return, how do you manage to tune out the injury speculation and just go out and play?

Green: I mean it’s kind of, I mean if you have an idea when they are coming back, I have an idea but I don’t really know for sure. It’s one of those things where you don’t want to look over shoulder and say, “Well I have to do something in the coming days because so and so is coming back.” You just try to tune it out as much as you can.

8.  A lot of players talk about playing at Fenway Park, and the enthusiasm of the fans, how has that experience been for you so far?

Green: It’s great. I loved coming here as a visitor too, and as a home player it makes it that much better. The fans make it great, the atmosphere is awesome, the teammates are great so everything is positive.

9.  How does this clubhouse compare to other clubhouses you have come across throughout the Major Leagues?

Green: Well as far as the way its set up, it’s set up differently. The teammates are great and everyone welcomes everyone else, which helps tremendously with team chemistry. I think that also helps in the win category as well.

10.  How has the experience of playing for Terry Francona been for you so far, and how is he different from managers you’ve played for in the past?

Green: I enjoy it, he’s a great manager. He’s always behind you and he’s a very positive guy, and if you know that someone is standing behind you than you can play a lot better.

One Comments for “10 Questions with Nick Green”

1. NickFan Says:
   June 2nd, 2009 at 7:49 am

   So, I think we should all be voting Nick Green into the All Star game. Since Jed is NOT going to be back 100% by then and I CAN’T STAND TO SEE JETER IN THERE AGAIN!!!

   Come on Red Sox fans, let’s rally together, we have exactly 2 months to create the biggest upset of all time, Write-In Nick Green, All Star, AL-SS, instead of Jeter!

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