You asked and Travis Mattair answered…a big thank you goes to Lakewood Media Relations Manager Greg Giombarrese for putting this together on the Lakewood end.  This is a Part One of the interview conducted.  Please go to http://blog.blueclaws.com/ for the full audio version.

Ron in Allentown, PA: “Does the organization stress working the count when you are the the plate or do they want you to be aggressive.”?

Mattair: They want you to be aggressive and seek the fastball early, but working the count comes with good pitching.  When you are seeing the fastballs early though, you have to go after it.

Ron: How has it impacted you emotionally to repeat Lakewood and did the organization tell you why they wanted you to come back there?

Mattair:  AT first it did, it messes with my head a little bit.  Being 20, you want to move as fast as A can.  About two days before they were going to post teams, Chuck Lamar told me that I was going to repeat Lakewood, and at first I was a little down on myself.  Right now though, I realize why I am here. I need to post some power number, hit some doubles, and home runs and continue to mature as a hitter.Ive been playing pro ball for three years, but I am only 20 years old. I want to be successful wherever I am at, and I appreciate them for that, but I want to move up as fast as I can.

Henry in Havertown:  If you weren’t a baseball player, what would you want to do with your life?

Mattair:  I have worked with Special Needs kids for a long time, starting in 3rd grade, and I want to teach SpecialEd and run a branch of the Special Olympics in my area back home.  That is what I really want to do.  I feel like I have a gift for it, and that is what I want to do when I am done playing baseball.

Henry:  Do you have any advice for a young player transitioning into professional baseball?  Anything you might do differently if you had to do it all again?

Mattair:  Turning pro out of high school is a very tough deal.  Being 18, leaving home, flying across the country, not knowing where you are going to go, the people you are going to meet, going from 20 games to a full season, its alot of games.  You have to be mentally prepared and you have to love the game.  If you don’t love baseball, it’s not for you.  It is every single day, try to focus on every single at bat and not give away at-bats. That is what I am working on right now.

Chuck in Easton:  What were the keys to a young Lakewood team winning the first half championship?

Mattair: Having fun…Dusty Wathan brought in a different style of baseball from last  year and  we have a great time.  We play music in the locker room after the game.  We always have each others backs.  It is kind of like a fraternity house in a good way.  We have a good time and enjoy being around each other.  We are around each other so often, so when you enjoy that, you get those wins.  It is a young team, but a talented team.

Tom in Boston, MA:  Can us give us a scouting report on yourself?  WHo do you model your game after?

Mattair:  I would like to say that I model myself out of Scott Rolen. That’s the body type I have and the kind of player and person I want to be.He is a great guy outside the game, not showboating during the game.  “This is who I am and this is how I play”.  That is kind of what I hope to be someday.

Tom:  Which of your teammates have you been most impressed with this year:

Mattair:  The young guys, Gose, Collier, Valle when we had him.  We have alot of young talent on this team.When you are 18 and coming into a full season, you don’t really know what to expect.  For them to be 18, and performing the way they do, is incredible.  Gose leading the minors in stolen bases, as I believe he still is.  It is incredible for them to be performing in their first full season.  Also, Murphy and Hanzawa, I’m glad I got to play with them this year.Great guys performing on a high right now.