January 22, 2009

     An ongoing feature on the TBBL web site will include monthly interviews with some of our league members.  In our second installment, the TBBL recently caught up with Mike Witkowski if the Newark Eagles.  Mike has been in the league since the initial season and has built his team using young players and smart drafting.  His team could be on the cusp of a TBBL Championship.  Please enjoy the interview below:

TBBL: Hello and thanks for taking the time to be interviewed. How are you doing today?

Mike:  I’m doing well, although I’m still not quite over yet another disappointing showing from my (Philadelphia) Eagles in the NFC Championship game. Oh well, at least Pitchers and Catchers report in 23 days!

TBBL: Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Married? Kids? Where did you grow up, what college did you attend (if you did), and where do you see yourself in 10 years from now?

Mike:  I am 36 years old. I was born in Newark, NJ and lived there until the age of 4 when my family moved to Carteret, NJ in 1976. I’ve been here ever since. Carteret is also the hometown of former Major Leaguer Joe “Ducky” Medwick. Medwick was NL MVP in 1937 when he hit for the NL Triple Crown, the last player to do so in the NL. He was a 10 time All-Star and was elected to Baseball Hall of Fame. As for me, I’m just your average guy. I work for a courier company delivering payroll. I’ve been with my girlfriend for 5 years. We are planning to get married and start a family in the near future. It’s tough to say where I’ll be in 10 years, but I’d sign up for healthy, happy and maybe a Championship or 2.

TBBL: Since you've been a member of the Thunder Bay Baseball League, your team has been on the verge of making some noise in the playoffs the past few years.  What is your best memory of your team last year?

Mike:  I was really proud of my team last year. I think the average age of my 40 man roster was 26, so we were pretty young. They got better as the season went on and had a great stretch during the “Dog Days” of summer, going 39-16 in July and August. Winning 99 games and finishing with the second best record in the NL was a testament to just how hard they worked. I think following up the regular season with a 4-0 sweep of Stone Mountain in the SLDS is my favorite memory.

TBBL: Do you have any players on the trading block currently?

Mike:  Well, since we are still drafting for the 2009 season, I have been focused on adding talent to the roster via the draft. However, I’m always looking to improve my team, and trading is another way to do that. I welcome the opportunity to talk trade with other owners. Besides, you can never have too much pitching!

TBBL: What is the defining moment -- the top highlight -- of your franchise these past few years? And what is the absolute worst moment -- the top lowlight?

Mike:  That’s easy, the 2007 playoffs. First, I had to win two 1 game playoffs to get into the playoffs as the #6 seed. Then I won 4 straight to come back from 0-3 against the Seals to advance to the LDS. I was having "Delusions of Grandeur" after taking the series lead 2-1 against the #1 seeded Paddlers. Then the wheels fell off and I lost the series in 7 games. It was devastating.

TBBL: If there was one trade that you could take back, which trade would that be? And what's the best trade you've made to date?

Mike:  I honestly believe that it takes a few years before you can evaluate just how successful a trade has been. Like any owner, I’m doing what I think is best for my team. Sometimes it works in your favor, sometimes it doesn’t. With that in mind, I don’t have any regrets about the trades I’ve made so far. Then again, I recently traded away Jay Bruce, so check back with me in 5 years. Now as far as trades I’ve made that worked out for me, I’ve had a few. I think the best may have been the first trade I ever made. In 2005, I started rebuilding my team since I was not the original owner and did not take part in the inaugural draft. I took over early in the first season of the TBBL. I traded Byung-Hyun Kim and Troy Percival for 3 draft picks. I used those picks to draft Chase Utley, Chad Billingsley and Chris Snyder.

TBBL: Shifting to the MLB now, who's your favorite team and why?

Mike:  NY Mets. I live in NJ, but I’m only 20 miles from NYC. So around here, it’s either Mets or Yankees. I never gave in to the Dark Side and joined the Evil Empire! As a kid, I used to watch the Mets with my Dad. I remember watching Kiner’s Korner after the games. Lenny Dykstra was my favorite player. The last 2 years have been tough, but I’m looking forward to this season.

TBBL: Which baseball stadiums have you visited and which is your favorite?

Mike:  My first big league game was at Yankee Stadium and I was there many times including my last trip this past September. My father used to take me to double headers at Shea when I was a kid and I’ve had an 8 game ticket package the past few years. I’m looking forward to seeing Citi Field. I’ve seen games in Philly at both the Vet (saw Alex Ochoa hit for the cycle on 7/3/96) and Citizens Bank Park. Like any real baseball fan should, I’ve seen afternoon baseball in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field and watched the Red Sox at Fenway. I’m hoping to get to PNC Park in Pittsburgh this year and I’m sure I’ll end up at New Yankee Stadium sooner or later as well.

TBBL: What is your favorite movie of all time?

Mike:  Funny you should ask. I’m a huge fan of the movies. My all time favorite is Field of Dreams. I bought it on VHS many years ago. It is still unopened because it’s one of those movies that are on TV often and if I see it on, I watch it. As a matter of fact, I watched it yesterday!

TBBL: Tell us something about yourself that may surprise us.

Mike:  Well, I’m a pretty straight forward guy. What you see is what you get. So, no real surprises here. However, last year I did something uncharacteristic. I grew out my hair to donate for women who suffer from breast cancer. I saw Nick Swisher do it in 2007 to honor his late Grandmother. I thought that was pretty cool, so I decided to do it. I took some razzing from friends while it was growing out, but it was worth it. It felt good to do something to help someone during such a difficult time.

TBBL: Who do you have the biggest rivalry with in the TBBL and why?

Mike:  I’m not sure if I’ve established a big rivalry with one team yet. I think the team that I look forward to playing the most is Chemung. It’s probably because I lost a 1 game playoff to the Crawdads in 2004. Brendan has won 3 Division titles, including the last 2 years, and was TBBL Champion in 2007. I think he has set the bar in the NL. Geographically, the West Orange Panthers are so close that we are practically neighbors. Maybe Craig and I can get the fires stoked and heat up a good old Jersey rivalry.