Q&A with Tim Battle

PinstripesPlus.com sits down with Charleston outfielder Tim Battle for a Q&A session to talk about his tremendous 2005 season, where he thinks he'll begin the 2006 season, how he's preparing for next year, if he's trying to become a home run hitter, if he thinks he'll wind up moving from centerfield, and much more.

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PinstripesPlus.com: Talk about your 2005 season. How did it go?

Tim Battle: It was great! I mean, I did just about everything I set out to do this past season. I was named to the All-Star game, won the All-Star game MVP, and I put up some very good numbers. The only thing I didn't like was my strikeouts, but overall, I was very happy with what I was able to do.

PinstripesPlus: Have you given any thought to what you are looking to do in 2006? Where do you think you'll be playing next year?

Battle: I think I'll begin the year at Tampa and hopefully I'll move up to Trenton at some point. That's what I'm shooting for next year.

PinstripesPlus: What are you doing this offseason to prepare yourself for next season?

Battle: I'm working out with Lee Haney, an 8-time 'Mr. Olympia' body builder. I'm working out with him every other day, building up my upper body and lower body. I'm working on my cardio too so I'm not as tired as much later in the year. I'm just trying to put on some weight.

PinstripesPlus: After hitting 16 home runs this past season and now that you're working out with Haney, are you trying to become a home run hitter?

Battle: No, not really. Yeah, I'm trying to be a better power hitter, but I'm also trying to be better all around. I'm just working hard to try and add on what I was able to do this past season.

PinstripesPlus: What specifically are you going to be working on next season?

Battle: I want to work on my jumps out in the outfield. I want to have more focus in the outfield, keeping my head in one position, and track more balls down.

PinstripesPlus: Which area of your game do you think you improved the most this past season?

Battle: I think I improved the most in my approach at the plate. I got a lot better later in the year and now I can't wait for next season. I can't wait to see how this working out this offseason pays off next year. Don't get me wrong. Last season was cool. I feel my strikeouts will come down. I don't want to stay the same. I'm always trying to improve because I really want to win a championship.

PinstripesPlus: The Yankees drafted some talented center fielders last year, selecting Brett Gardner and Austin Jackson. It would see that the Yankees would like to get all three of you into the long-season leagues. Do you think you might move from centerfield to either right field or left field? And who do you think would win in a race between you, Brett Gardner, and Justin Christian?

Battle: I can play the whole outfield and I know I'll take life how it goes. They put me in right field in Instructs, but honestly, I don't see myself in any other position but centerfield. I hope they don't try to move me out of there. I know Brett Gardner is really good and he's really fast. We actually raced down in Instructs and he beat me by 1/10th of a second in the 40-yard dash. (laughing) If it was the 60-yard dash, I would have beaten him. 'JC' [Justin Christian] is an old man. He's got them old man legs, but he's really fast. He's almost better than me.

PinstripesPlus: Which of your Charleston teammates, among the pitchers, impressed you the most this past season?

Battle: Man, I could name my whole team. Chase Wright saved us a whole lot this past season. Josh Smith and T.J. Beam were great. Jeff Marquez did really well and stayed with us the whole season. To be honest, I liked everybody. I hope we have the same team next year so we can win this thing [championship].

PinstripesPlus: You've mentioned it twice now. What would you rather do: win a championship or hit 40 home runs in a year?

Battle: (Without hesitation). Win a championship, definitely! Don't get me wrong, I'd like to hit 40 home runs. But no matter whatever I do personally, I can't say I had a successful season without a championship.

PinstripesPlus: Which of the positional players from your Charleston team impressed you the most?

Battle: Offensively and defensively, it has to be Mario Holmann. But Ben Jones was great at first base. Justin Christian, man, that guy is ridiculous. Cody Ehlers was really good too. So was Grant Plumley. Marcos Vechionacci is a young kid that can play third base, shorstop, and can hit. (laughing) Did I name the whole team yet?

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