Fill in the Blanks... Kyle Blanks, that is!

He wowed us with that in the park homerun and was the talk of the town! Kyle Blanks’ rookie year in 2009 then early 2010 has been a little up and down, but his power and potential piqued our curiosity. We started in the winter planning to do a One on One featuring this 6-foot-6 guy, who is a gentle giant. During Spring Training, photographer Jay Conner and I drove north of Phoenix to Prescott, Arizona to visit his college campus, meet his coach, and see where his professional baseball career began. You have to love baseball to start small like that, and Kyle does.

Once the Padres season began, we spent a few half-days with him at his downtown apartment: first, talking about his life story and second, cooking! He is quiet, but friendly, and very accommodating. He wanted to make sure I liked the pizza, letting me take the first taste. Along with his girlfriend Janet, and her dog Heinz, we had a couple of nice visits to learn about a guy who has great potential.

At the same time, he was struggling with an elbow injury. By the final few days of production, we talked with him about how he was feeling about that, and what might have to happen. Turns out, Tommy John surgery is the solution. So, how does that all factor in to the Padres puzzle? General Manager Jed Hoyer and Manager Bud Black share that they have great confidence in Kyle, that he will do the work required following the surgery, to get him back and ready to be the power guy at the plate that is so hard to find.

Knowing his background, and how he’s dealt with change in his past, will shed some light on how he will not only deal with this, but what he has to offer in his promising Big League career. I’m really glad we are all getting to know him now, and by continuing with the show and telling his story, it’s a good reminder that it sometimes is not an easy road in the beginning, but it is part of the game and life. That, my friends, can apply to all of us! Enjoy, and sorry you don’t get to taste the pizza. It really was good!

Heath Bell's Ah-Ha moments Beyond the Mound...

Heath Bell was so much fun to profile the first time in 2008, and with his new closer role, it was time for an update in 2010. So much had happened... I thought with the new role, the new baby, the family moving to San Diego. It wasn't until we sat down and talked and asked why things were better, that we learned how things had been challenging and he had an ah-ha moment.

Heath's an emotional guy, and not afraid to show it. I have to admire him for being honest, candid and thoughtful in sharing about his family ties and new found faith.

I don't want to give it away. Just enjoy the show... and maybe it will make you think a little about your own life and priorities, too. You also get a little look into the Miracle League... a wonderful program for kids with special needs like his daughter. As always... thanks for wathing and for your support.

For more pictures... go to my Facebook page Jane Mitchell ChannelFour "}

Jerry Jr. and Scott Hairston: Brotherly Bond in Baseball

Last year I had the pleasure of getting a history lesson from Scott Hairston. Not only is he knowledgeable about his family background, but he truly has taken it to heart. When Jerry was signed this year and Scott traded back to the Padres, it was a perfect combination and opportunity to revisit the Hairston story for the baseball players they are, as well as their lineage. By the way, the One on One from 2009 has been nominated for an Emmy for the Historical/Cultural category. We'll find out in June if it receives the award, but I'm proud that peers judging the work recognized not only the production, but the content and I thank Scott, his father Jerry and the Negro Leagues Museum in Kansas City in part for helping tell and illustrate the most interesting baseball and historically significant slice of history.

This time around, we met Jerry and his family while we were in Arizona for spring training. Here is the show summary. It debuts May 21st after the Padres game and Postgame.

Family trees are important in many professions, but in baseball, there’s something intriguing when those roots set a record. Jerry Junior and Scott Hairston are among the five Hairstons who have played in the majors including their grandfather who began his career in the Negro Leagues. The Hairstons constitute the largest Major League family in history to date.

We explore Jerry and Scott’s story and discover how their lineage is a source of pride and a challenge. They grew up learning about their grandfather’s struggles during the time of segregation before being signed by the Chicago White Sox. Scott also was impressed by the challenges of his father Jerry who grew up in the south in the 60s before his 14-year major league career. Jerry has a picture when his grandfather predicted they’d be the first black three generation family in the majors, and he was right.

The family name also meant having a lot to live up to, and Scott is candid about how he had much to prove in school and in the game. Jerry has had to come back from injuries and has a World Series ring to show for his tenacity. Time at home with the Hairstons is all about baseball as they play in the backyard with their boys who could be 4th generation ballplayers.

the Dynamic Dozen goes One on One!

With the 2010 season upon us, an epic effort from over the winter is nearing completion. Yes, we are producing a one-hour special on the 2009 Little League World Series Champions from Chula Vista. It’s been a series of shoots and hours upon hours of interviews, sorting through photos and video, writing and now editing. More to come, but thought you might want to see a few of the pictures from the shoots. My associate producer Michelle Mattox shot several of these, and she’s with me in the one group shot. The boys were so much fun as well as so well mannered! These pictures capture some of the behind the scenes moments of us working and playing for what will be a very special One on TWELVE!

Mark your calendars and set your DVR for plenty of time after live Padres coverage/Postgame… Friday night April 16th and for sure the replay on Sunday April 18th at 4pm and 7:30 pm.

Jazzed 4 Spring!

You know the expression, “where did the time go?” I look at my calendar and am glad that part of my time was spent in Arizona for Spring Training with the Padres. I can’t believe I’ve been back a week already! Arriving at camp the first few days to literally hear those first sounds of spring... pitchers and catchers reporting, the pop of the glove, the crack of the bat… is how I have come to really know what month I am in. February. As beautiful and romantic as being at camp might sound, it’s also a lot of work. Good work, and the kind we’re privileged to do. I tried to keep everyone posted on Facebook about the nightly stories from camp on Postgame, so hopefully all you Padres fans are tuning in to see the rest of the Channel 4 team, too.

My first six days were spent almost connected at the hip with our Channel 4 photographer Erica Simpson. This was her first time shooting spring training, so it was fun to introduce her to the nuances of the routine. We started out by subtly trying to figure out some of the newer faces, which is much easier once they change from their work out clothes to their uniforms. Numbers and names are a welcomed assist. We also noticed we have a lot of tall guys on the pitching part of the roster, which is easier to see if you’re standing there on the side watching and videotaping their many moves.

We had chilly but nice weather, until that crazy cold, windy and rainy weekend. Brrr. But we captured their work out routine anyhow, and by Monday, it warmed up and all was right with the camp weather world again.

My last three days were spent shooting with another photographer Jay Conner. We focused on the many video images we’ll need for several One on One shows this season. More on that later, but for now, here’s a list to get you thinking!

The Park View Little League World Series Champions (1-hour show debuts April 16th after the Padres game); the Hairston brothers; Kyle Blanks; Kevin Correia; updates with Chris Young and Heath Bell. There just might be more, but that’s a start.

Pitchers and Catchers Report!

I am on my way to Peoria Arizona for my 14th Spring Training with the Padres. There is something so pretty about those words "pitchers and catchers report." I am looking forward to meeting some of the new guys, saying hello to those after their winter break, and capturing lot of sound and video for stories this week and for One on One shows this season. Be sure to stay tuned to Channel 4 San Diego each weeknight at 10pm for reports from Peoria. I'll be there a while, then Steve, Jenny and John will rotate. More later! Jane

Little and Big things... this New Year

This year once again offers the opportunity to get to know major league players, celebrate stories and learn about ourselves a little in the process.
I'm looking forward to telling the great journey of the Park View Little League All Stars who captured the 2009 Little League World Series Championship and captured our hearts. Production has already begun on this special edition of One on One that will reach beyond their story and into the history books and into the future weaving the 1961 World Champions’ story and hearing from Padres about the bigger meaning of this great achievement. That special one-hour show will debut April 16, 2010.

More on that later… but for now my wish for you is…

May you have peace in your heart and satisfaction in your work.

Jane.

Walk with Your Doc!

Full disclosure… the doctor you met in the story on Postgame is a great friend of mine. I thought his idea of Walk with Your Doc was so good, we had to tell people about it and hopefully the idea will catch on!

For now, check out his website for more health tips and to learn a little more about Dr. Michael Moreno affectionately known as Dr. Mike.

Get walking wherever you are! www.walkwithyourdoc.com

Start Your Engines: Chargers Linebacker Kevin Burnett is all Revved up in One on One!

I love it when a player is honest and opens up about their life and defining moments, but Kevin Burnett surprised me with just how much he’s thought about his life’s journey. He is big, bold and quite the philosopher.

The crew and I had an interesting start to the day – their street was being worked on, so we had to haul the gear about a good ¾ of a block on a fairly warm October day. Once in their lovely home, and set up, we dove in to his life story and learned a lot about his background and his inspiration.

Not a lot of people are familiar with Kevin Burnett. This is only his first year with the Chargers and wasn’t a big standout with Dallas. He was a big star with Tennessee… but still, it takes some of us a while to know who we should be watching once they get to the pros! Anyhow… when I made the observation that he’s not a household name among Chargers fans yet… he came right back with an answer that will make you sit up and take notice. You have to watch the show to hear it!

It made me like him even more, though, because he practices what he preaches when it comes to being positive and visualizing your life. Good stuff.

As for his hobby – he is a total Radio Controlled car fan. You’ll see his backyard – it’s the envy of anyone who likes RC cars. Wow. I asked if I could try. And after a little pause he said yes. Apparently, he doesn’t let many people (ie. Inexperienced drivers?) take the controls. So, I’ve been hunting with Ryan Klesko, bowling with Antonio Gates, kayaking with Tim Dwight and now racing with Kevin Burnett! How’d I do? Again, you have to watch.

Kevin’s a big guy and his wife Maia is a tiny thing. They’re expecting their third baby and have their hands full with two adorable little boys.

Enjoy the show and Go Chargers!

Jammin’ with Jammer

I’ve heard Quentin Jammer’s name for a few years – not just for being a Charger, but for being a good guy. Turns out that’s all true. When we were deciding whicih Chargers to feature this year for my two Charger One on One shows, his name surfaced at the top and I’m glad it did.

Quentin (pronounced quin-tin… just ignore the “e”) is a cool, smooth and unexpectedly funny guy. I met him last year at Junior Seau’s Shop with a Jock event, then for about five minutes at the Chargers locker room, before showing up at his house to interview him and his wife Alicia.

The crew rearranged the living room for our three cameras and he sat down ready and open to talk. I had heard he was quiet, but I was pleasantly surprised how much he talked, opened up, and how he was both serious and thoughtful as well as funny. Not in a ha-ha kind of way, but just in a genuinely nice kind of way that you just want to smile when you hear about his joys and accomplishments and even how he has dealt with criticisms in the past.

He did not shy away from hearing about those criticisms during his first few years in the NFL for his high penalties and pass interference calls, nor was he defensive about it. Rather, he just explained why he worked hard to change things – and some of his reasons will surprise you.

I think I had the most “fun” with him at his house, when we went to his backyard with his wife and three boys. He was laughing throughout as he’s holding the baby or throwing a football to the older ones. To watch them all play and laugh as a family, was so inspiring. Here’s a guy who came from some tough circumstances in Angleton, Texas, raised by a single mom, and he truly is breaking the cycle. We also had fun when photographer Michael Spaulding and I went over to the driving range with him. I wish we could have used more of that in the show. Quentin was just so at ease with chatting and taking a few swings and saying he didn’t want to talk about his golf handicap on television, but that he hopes to make under 80 someday to which I said, oh, on the front nine!

If you want to know more about his good works in the community, check out their website at www.jammerfoundation.org

He might be from Texas, but Quentin Jammer should make San Diegans proud.

I hope you enjoy the show!

Jane

Déjà vu? One on One comes Full Circle with the Gwynns!

As soon as I heard Anthony Gwynn Jr. had been traded to San Diego, I sent him a congratulatory text. He replied “thanks Jane.” Just so typical of him, to be responsive and appreciative.

The next day, I went down to batting practice a little early and there he was with number 18 on his jersey and a smile on his face. He gave me a big hug as I congratulated him again, and within a minute, I said, “I think I feel a One on One coming, and this time on you!” He said, okay, let’s do it. As the season progressed and I featured other players I had already planned on, I looked forward to coordinating with Anthony. Yes, I will probably always call him Anthony, because that’s what his father calls him, and that’s how I met him 12 years ago in 1997 at their home, the day I met Tony Gwynn for the first time.

I was already imagining all the pictures, video and interviews we had from over the years that would help tell his story. I was already anticipating how hard it would be, considering his Hall of Fame father is such a part of Anthony’s journey. I was right.

In July, we quickly coordinated a date for the sit-down interview with his wife Alyse. I went upstairs to the booth and told Tony that Anthony had graciously and enthusiastically accepted the invitation to do a One on One, so now I need to interview you and Alicia. Tony said, “We have to do another one of these?” I said, this is about your son, so, yes, you do! We laughed and eventually set a time to meet at their home.

As expected, I learned a lot about Anthony as he shared not only about the good, but also the challenging moments in his life and career so far – including how he could have jeopardized things had he not taken his parents’ advice regarding school. His wife Alyse and their daughters are beautiful and you can see they love being a little family.

When we later went to his parents’ home, his mother Alicia had a table full of photo albums for us to use. They are so very proud of their son and I really feel honored to bring his story to San Diego. Padres fans watched Anthony grow up, and he appreciates how they have embraced him now, too.

It was hard to boil it down to a half hour. I think I might have to put some of the longer parts of the interview and really great stories in to another show. What do you think?

Enjoy.

A View of Park View

When the Park View Little League of Chula Vista – also known as the Little League World Series Champions – got the red carpet, VIP, pull out all the stops behind the scenes tour and experience at Petco Park with the Padres, it was really a kick to watch them taking it all in. I went down to the field that Saturday really to just meet the coach and the kids because I’m planning to do a special edition of One on One featuring them and their story. As I talked with some of the young champions, Kiko Garcia said, great, but it’s really going to be a “One on Twelve!” Kiko’s right and it’ll be a challenge, but well worth it as I think we all want to celebrate not only their achievement, but the hard work, focus and great example they set for other kids who have a dream, too. Ric Ramirez, the coach and father of Luke, was just in awe of what these boys were experiencing that day at Petco Park. As Luke was playing catch with Adrian Gonzalez, he said, oh, I hope someone’s taking a picture of that. I happen to have my camera and my flip video camera, and started snapping and rolling. More to come on these youngsters this winter and spring. For now, enjoy a little of that day from my viewpoint.

Kevin Kouzmanoff: Gold Glove? Gold Heart.

Back in the summer of 2007 I had Kevin Kouzmanoff on my radar to feature for a One on One. But, because he was a rookie, I didn’t know if I could quite make a whole half hour show on him. So, I got resourceful. Mike Cameron’s story had debuted in 2006 as half a One on One show with Eric Young. Once Eric was no longer with the team, I couldn’t run that edition. Just didn’t make sense. So I had this great Mike Cameron story that needed an update. Perfect. Update Mike and feature Kevin Kouzmanoff. Two halves make a great whole.

Mike was fine with an update. He even suggested we go out IN center field for the interview. Done. Now, all I had to do is get Kevin on board.

I didn’t know him well yet, but I knew he was someone fans wanted to know about. So one day at batting practice, I told him my mission and that we needed to set a time to do the interview. I didn’t really give him the option of not doing it, it was just a matter of when! He said to me, almost embarrassed or perplexed by the interest “why do you want to interview me? No one wants to know about me.” To which I responded, “you just do the interview and let me worry about who wants to know about you. Because, they do.” He quietly agreed and we set a date for the shoot. It all went well and I only had to twist his arm a little to hop on his bike and demonstrate how he rides to Petco. He still seemed a bit shy or unsure of being “out there” with cameras etc. He wanted to stay close to home so we did. His mom, of course, was great in getting me pictures. All of which are in the show.

Fast forward to 2008. Mike Cameron is no longer a Padre and is still playing, of course, so, another 2-in-1 show that I couldn’t air. But I felt Kouz deserved his own half-hour by now and I put him back on my list. And finally by this summer of 2009 seemed the perfect time to do it. At first, he asked, “can’t we wait until the off-season?” And tried to talk me in to not doing it. I almost thought he was serious. And maybe he was. But a little extra nudging and encouragement, and figuring out that sometimes he just likes to make me work for my interviews… and he agreed. We picked a time for later that homestand. All was set, and then at batting practice, he acted like he was calling it off. What? No! We have to do it! He was kidding. But with his expressions, sometimes, I still get tricked into thinking he’s serious! He has a smile almost like a Cheshire cat. I’m getting better at reading him, for sure. Kouz gives me a hard time here and there. It’s just how he is. Never in a bad or mean way, but rather just to show, I think, that he’s actually engaged in the conversation and with the person.

He is a man of his word and is quite responsive and certainly responsible. He was there and awake when we rang his doorbell at 10AM. He followed up to give me pictures he had on his computer. He returned calls and texts when I needed to double check facts. And during the course of the interview itself? He listened. He’s thoughtful. He’s honest. Even when I had to bring up some baseball stuff… as in reminding him about his 22 errors in 2007 and asking him if “streaky” was a good way to describe his hitting. I didn’t want to make him feel bad, but was just trying to explore the life and times of a Gold Glove contending third baseman!

The first time I interviewed him at a community event April 2007, he barely knew what to say. Fast forward to asking about a charity event in 2009, and he knows all about it. Kouz is a good guy. He appreciates my interest in him for a show, and certainly, appreciates the fans that watch it and watch him. So, as I say in the show, along with his work ethic and numbers, mix in humility and good humor, and he’s just a guy you love to cheer for. Enjoy.

Chase Headley: One on One and On Target!

After the 2008 season I had Chase Headley on my list to feature in 2009. He was a second round draft pick and had his second stint in the Majors, so one who fans would want to know more about.

I knew he was getting married in November so there would be that nice dimension to his story, too. His now wife Casey was great at gathering pictures and elements over the winter and early spring. But what would our activity be? They would be living downtown and have a dog. Check. Check. Hmmm. He’s an outdoorsy guy, turns out, but traveling to go hunting in the winter was not in the budget.

So, it came to be one day in Spring Training. My photographer Dan Roper and I went to Nick Hundley’s apartment to tape him playing the guitar, and shoot Will Venable doing his drawing. They were part of the trio-show with Josh Geer. While we were there, Chase said that for his activity, he’s shoot some arrows and show me how to do it. You mean as in bow hunting? Well, archery practice… close enough.

Back in San Diego, we scheduled the sit-down interview for June. Lucky me. As I was calling around to his family to get the inside scoop on him, his brother Nate said he was going to be in town for a few days. That worked out great as I didn’t have to twist his arm to be at the apartment that Friday to talk about his brother. That, plus the awesome view from their apartment and walking their dog Memphis just about had the video bases covered. But, what about that archery practice?

Turns out San Diego’s beautiful Balboa Park has an Archery Range. We got the okay to go there and met up on a mid-morning in July. We paid our $2 and Chase pulled out his beautiful bow case and put his bow together. He was only shooting paper – with ducks on them. And then later, paper with rabbits on them.

It takes a whole lot of strength, so I just watched. No lessons here.

There was one funny moment. Chase shot an arrow in to the paper/hay target. Then, he couldn’t get the arrow out of the hay! It was probably the trajectory of the arrow… or maybe the force by which it pounded the target… but after some pulling and tugging, it took a few of the crew with Chase to finally get it loose. He’s a big strong guy and was a little frustrated. But, we all laughed. Casey, his wife, was shooting pictures with her camera. So it was one big “shooting” day – but no animals were touched for the purposes of this show.

Listening… an added bonus for David Eckstein

A week or so after the One on One featuring David Eckstein debuted I saw David down at the field during batting practice.

He came up to me and thanked me for returning their pictures and giving them a copy of the show. He said he probably won’t watch it until later, because that’s “just how I am” during the season. And said that he really appreciated it, that his family loved it and he and Ashley have heard all kinds of positive things about the show.

In fact… he said when they returned from the road trip, he went down to sign autographs as usual. And while he was there, a few kids came up to him and gave him something. I’m paraphrasing what he said: “They told me, because you always sign for us, we wanted to give you something you like. And they gave me some Nintendo games… because they had seen it in the show that I like to play Nintendo. That was really, really cool.”

David was so touched. I asked if I could share the story and he said yes.

I was touched too. It made me feel good that he felt good and that those kids actually watched the show, paid attention to the details (the part about autographs, David’s favorite old Nintendo games) and then, they came up with an idea of giving back… and then actually followed through.

Good going guys. Keep it up.

An example of how television can have a positive impact. Stay tuned.

Effort+Energy+Ethusiasm=ECKSTEIN!

First of all, just so you know, it’s pronounced Eckstein, like Einstein. As in Albert Einstein.

Padres second baseman David Eckstein might not be a physicist but he is a smart, warm, personable guy. And as soon as I heard San Diego signed him in January, I knew he would be a great One on One show. At first, it was just because I had heard his name and remembered his play. He seemed feisty and fun. But then, I learned his wife Ashley is an actress. It just kept getting better.

The Padres media folks checked with their agent and the show was a go! So, at spring training I introduced myself to David and he was so nice and even excited about it. He gave me Ashley’s cel and email to be in touch for all the details and the ball was rolling. She gathered pictures and videos and we set a date for the interview. He prefers to do it on an off-day, so the first one that would work was May 18th (my mom’s birthday!)

The crew and I arrived at their rented condo near the beach a little before 10 that Monday morning. They were both casual still, which was great, because it takes an hour or so to set up. By the time we had everything in place, I started by interviewing David. He is so open and expressive, it was fun from the start. Then when Ashley came in, well these two are so cute together. As they say, “two peas in a pod.”

But what I was most impressed with was how honest and accommodating they were. Making sure we had what we needed at the condo and for the production. We needed an “activity” to see him/them in action. A walk on the beach was out. But Ashley suggested -- how about seeing David play Nintendo? He turned it on and started playing. It’s so old-school, which really fits him. You’ll see what I mean when you watch the show.

The other thing that you should know about is that his family has a history of kidney disease and three people in his family have had to have transplants. It’s impacted his life and perspective a lot. He’d love for people to learn more about it by going to www.donatelife.net

Thanks again for your support… and for watching One on One. Enjoy!

4ALS - How You Can Help

Hi -- Major League Baseball is honoring Lou Gehrig on the 4th of July -- the 70th anniversary of when he gave his farewell speech. He had to leave the game due to his being diagnosed with the fatal disease ALS which later came to be known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. This is what my father died of too. So, a cause close to my heart.
There will be lots of special moments in pre-game and during the game.
If you go to the Padres-Dodgers game on the 4th, and you haven't bought your tickets, there's still time to help the Greater San Diego Chapter of the ALS Association. When you buy your tickets on line, it will ask for a promo code. Input "ALS" and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the chapter. For more on ALS, visit the chapter's website at www.alsasd.org
Thanks so much! Jane

Scott Hairston One on One: Past, Present, Future

Just to have it in your head -- it's pronounced "hare-ston"... not Hair-IH-ston. For some reason, I had the tendency to say it wrong, but they clarified that for me at my request.

Okay. I remember meeting Scott formally toward the end of last season at a gathering at Aqua al 2 downtown. (One of my favorite restaurants www.aquaal2.com) He had broken his thumb (ouch!) and was not playing. I met his wife Jill there, too. Because they lived in Arizona, I figured we’d meet up with them in the spring to capture them in their Arizona environment. The winter passed with a few emails here and there, and then come February, my colleague/photographer/editor Dan Roper and I went to their home after camp one day.

They were SO nice. They even coordinated having his parents drive up from Tucson so I could interview them and see 3 generations playing ball. It was Grandpa Jerry Hairston, Daddy Scott Hairston and little guys Landon (3) and Dallas (1.5) Hairston. Landon was shy for about a minute, then got up there and swung away just like Scott – hitting homerun after homerun over the fence with his wiffle ball.

I met Scott’s mom, too. Esperanza, meaning “hope” in Spanish. She’s very sweet and loves her family and baseball. Their family is a rainbow of ethnicities and culture with a lot of love and appreciation for their journey. Sometimes you can just “feel” that with people. And I certainly did with them.

I thought it would be particularly nice to capture a father-son conversation so we took advantage of that and sat Jerry and Scott next to each other at the kitchen table to reminisce about growing up in the game at Old Comiskey Park. Later, in San Diego, we visited their rented home for a photo shoot and went to Petco to see Scott play with the boys on the field. (I love how that grass feels under my feet!) And in March, we caught up with Scott and Jerry at the field during the WBC to hear that brother-brother banter. You’ll see all of that in the show.

It’s one thing to watch Scott Hairston at the plate – with a flair for the dramatic clutch home run. Or to watch him rob an opponent of a homerun as he’s roaming the outfield, a relatively new position for him. He’s focused and passionate and a competitor no doubt.

But, then you sit down with him One on One and hear him talk about his family lineage, and you see a mellow but serious side to him. He’s from one of only three 3-generation families in baseball. His grandfather who played in the Negro Leagues was called up to the Chicago White Sox in 1951 as the first African-American to play for that team. His father grew up in the south during the Civil Rights era and made the bigs in the 70s. In describing his family tree, and any topic, really, Scott is a deep thinker. He’s thoughtful and respectful of what he says and how he says it. He has a deep respect his history and the message he sends to his children and others watching him. He believes in being true to himself.

If you don’t know a lot about the Negro Leagues, you should. Here’s a link to their site at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. www.nlbm.com It’s worth checking out. And maybe after you watch this edition of One on One, you’ll have a better appreciation of that part of the game and how important it is to understand and appreciate how much has changed. Plus, you’ll know why Scott takes his job so seriously.

Enjoy.

One on One on 3… plus, the Wasabi Salmon Cakes Recipe!

The season debut of One on One has been fun – getting to know three homegrown guys from the Padres farm system. For Will Venable, as you know from the previous Blog entry, we went to the bay area. Here’s a little background on how we profiled Nick Hundley and Josh Geer.

Nick was between Dallas, where his parents were living, Orange County and San Diego. With the holidays busy for everyone, we coordinated shooting Nick here in San Diego at his fiancée Amy’s apartment in Mission Bay. It was a beautiful mid-week morning. The sun was shining. The sky was blue, and by the time we found the apartment, we also realized we had the lovely sounds of the city public works crew working on the sewage line outside Amy’s apartment. Banging and pounding do not make for good sounds when you’re doing a heart to heart interview. I asked the crew – very nicely and with a bit of desperation in my voice, I’m sure -- if it would be possible to work on something “less noisy” for awhile. Thankfully, they were almost done with one part of the project, and it was lunch time, so we only had to stop taping a few times when the construction was too loud. And in the end, turns out everything I used in Nick’s interview, didn’t have any pounding in it. We got lucky.

The other part of the day was cooking! Nick said he was learning to cook and would be happy to demonstrate. I got in the kitchen with him. He had the ingredients and the prep already done. We chopped veggies and squished salmon to make his brother’s Wasabi Salmon Cakes. The recipe is below.* Turns out his brother Jake tells me he got the recipe from a healthy eating website somewhere, so he can’t take credit for it. But, it sure is good!

His family was wonderful, too. His dad was coaching at SMU so the school production department helped me out by interviewing his parents using my questions. Turns out his dad landed a new job back at UCLA, so now they’re all back in So-Cal again. At spring training, Nick was so accommodating to play a little guitar for us. He’s still working on it, so we just popped a little in to give fans a taste of his many interests.

Josh Geer is near…
Josh was spending the winter near Dallas. I hired someone in Dallas to zip over to their home and do the interview with his parents and shoot Josh and his dad working out at the high school. They usually throw outside, but it was in the 40s that day, so they went inside. I supplied the questions and saw his parents on tape before I had even met Josh!

At spring training, I finally met Josh after talking with him and emailing him. What a great kid! Dan Roper and I went to his apartment one night while we were there at camp. You can just see how enthusiastic and appreciative he is. Super easy-going and confident with a cute sense of humor. Just listen to him talk about his major league debut, and you can’t help but love this guy.

He didn’t make the team out of camp, but he should eventually. He’s a little bummed, but he’ll bounce back. The Padres are confident. He is confident and after you hear about how he was a “troublemaker” as a kid… you’ll see why you want to see this guy pitch in the big leagues, too.



*Wasabi Salmon Cakes

2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 ½ teaspoons wasabi powder
½ teaspoon honey
1 pound salmon fillet, skinned
2 scallions, finely chopped
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

Whisk soy sauce, wasabi powder and honey in a small bowl until smooth. Set aside.

With a large chef's knife, chop salmon using quick, even, straight-up-and-down motions (do not rock the knife through the fish or it will turn mushy). Continue chopping, rotating the knife, until you have a mass of roughly 1/4-inch pieces.

Transfer to a large bowl. Add scallions, egg, ginger and oil; stir to combine. Form the mixture into 4 patties. The mixture will be moist and loose, but holds together nicely once the first side is cooked.

Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium heat for 1 minute. Add the patties and cook for 4 minutes. Turn and continue to cook until firm and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Spoon the reserved wasabi glaze evenly over the burgers and cook for 15 seconds more. Serve immediately.

(Be sure to invite Jane and the crew over to taste!)

Venable: Sounds like…

The dictionary says: “venerable” refers to someone who commands respect because of great age or impressive dignity; worthy of veneration or reverence, as because of high office or noble character: a venerable member of Congress.

Will Venable isn’t old and doesn’t hold a high office. He’s young and on the move. But considering the words sound alike, I thought I’d just double check the meaning in the dictionary. So, now you know.

As one of my trio for the season debut of One on One, I had to really coordinate to catch up with Will. He was playing winter ball in the Caribbean and had plans to be out of state after the holidays, so his time at home in the bay area was pretty tight. Plus, turned out he was having his wisdom teeth removed the Monday he was home in between trips and his mom was having dental surgery too! So, looking at the calendar, the only time we could go there while he was there and no one had Novocain residuals, was Sunday January 5th. I got the okay to travel, and Dan Roper and I headed north that Sunday morning.

Just when you think you’ll have plenty of time, our plane was delayed because there was ice on the wings of planes at the Oakland airport! Brrr. So, just a few hours behind, we got the rental car, grabbed a sandwich in San Rafael, and then met up with Will and his parents Max and Molly at their very cool bungalow house in town.

To make sure we did the outside stuff while it was still light, we caravanned to his little league field, then the high school, through town and back to the house. Shooting them playing catch, reminiscing about the impact of events at these places. With a fire in the fireplace, and a few Christmas decorations up, we had a nice interview and I learned, at the end, that he was an artist. It explains, in part, his low-key personality and gentle soul. That didn’t come out, though, until almost the end of the interview when I asked what else he liked to do. It was a little of an “ah, I get it” moment for me. And it helped me “paint his portrait.”

At spring training, we spent some time with Will who drew for our benefit, so we could capture that artistic side of him. You’ll see plenty of great pictures from the family scrapbook, video from when he played at Princeton, and hear from his parents who have some great insight, of course.

Will didn’t make the Opening Day roster in 2009. He’ll start in Triple A. But the Padres have no doubt they’ll find a way for him to roam the outfield. He’s a good kid, and I know you’ll enjoy getting to know him One on One.