Q&A with U.S. Futures All-Stars

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Q&A with U.S. Futures All-Stars
07/09/2006 6:30 PM ET
MLB.com

MLB.com offered fans the opportunity to e-mail questions to this year's Futures Game players and coaches. Here's what they had to say in response. We received scores of questions and did our best to get as many answered as possible.
Troy Tulowitzki (Rockies), INF
How do you think your offensive game will play when you reach Coors Field? What kind of adjustments do you think you'd have to make?
I haven't thought about it much. I'd just go with my same approach. If I'm lucky enough to get there, I'd stick with what got me there. It's exciting to think about playing there, but you don't know when or if it's going to come. I'm ready when called upon.
Travis Buck (Athletics), OF
What's been your biggest challenge after making the jump from Class A to Double-A in your first full pro season?
The quality of competition is better. The higher up, the better it gets. The biggest difference is the pitching. They throw more offspeed pitches for strikes, it's more around the zone and they're not going to give in. If they get you in an 0-2 count, they're going to go after you, so you've got to be ready every pitch. Once you get your pitch, you've got to do some damage.
Josh Fields (White Sox), INF
Have the White Sox talked to you about a possible positon change to the outfield? What are your thoughts about changing positions?
It's been brought up. It's not a big deal to me. I played a lot of positions in college when I was young. I don't think it would be that big of a problem. I just have to do whatever they say, basically. Until they tell me to actually start working out in the outfield, I'm a third baseman. But it has been brought up, and I wouldn't mind it. Hopefully, it would put me on a little bit of a faster track [to the big leagues], with [Joe] Crede there.
Howie Kendrick (Angels), INF
Your former teammate in Arkansas, Brandon Wood, played in the Futures Game last year. Did he share any of his experiences as you prepared for today?
I talked to [Wood], and he just told me it's fun. He said it's great just hanging out and meeting all the guys. This is a blast. It's nice to get away from the grind of the season, and I'm going to the PCL [All-Star Game] from here.
Josh Sharpless (Pirates), RHP
After all of the anticipation, what was it like to take the mound at PNC Park in front of the hometown fans?
That was the greatest feeling ever. As I was jogging in from the bullpen, I kept telling myself, "Don't look up, don't look up." But I happened to look out to the crowd, and that's when it hit me. "Wow. I'm actually pitching at PNC Park." I was overwhelmed. I just tried to control my emotions. I had about 25 or 30 friends and family members here, that I know of.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.