Triple Play News would like to proudly welcome
you, Chad. It is certainly a pleasure and an honor having you here with us
today.
Triple Play News: At what age did you
start playing baseball? What did you enjoy most about baseball?
Chad Cordero: I started playing
baseball when i was 3 or 4. My mom's sisters worked for the city recreation
center and they had a program called Ice Cream Baseball. This program allowed
kids that weren't old enough to play in little league to go learn the game and
after get free ice cream. I think the ice cream is what kept me wanting to go
back. I grew up around the game. My whole family either played baseball or softball.
My grandpa played softball until he was 70 so I just kind of grew up around the
game. My mom and dad would take me and my brothers and sister to the park to
practice every weekend. This is what we enjoyed doing as a family.
TPN: Who
was your favorite baseball player that you looked up to as a kid?
CC: I grew up a Trevor
Hoffman fan. I just enjoyed the way he went about the game. We had a chance to
go see him play a couple times when I was in high school. I thought the
coolest thing ever was the way the crowd reacted when he came into the game.
I had a chance to meet we when we played San Diego and I felt just like a
little kid. I couldn't believe I actually got to meet someone I grew up
watching.
TPN: 2005 was perhaps your breakout
season in the majors – being selected to your first All-Star game in Detroit, 5th
in NL Cy Young voting, winning the NL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year, and
league-leading 47 saves. It must have been a pretty special time for you. Tell
us what was going through your mind at that time.
CC: 2005 was pretty special.
Everything seemed to click that year. I think what helped me the most
that year was the fact that it was our first year in DC. I think that gave me
more confidence and more adrenaline because I wanted to do well for the fans.
They had waited so long for baseball to return to DC and I didn't want to
disappoint them. The whole team was energized because of the support the fans
gave us that first year.
TPN:
Suppose it's the 9th inning, bases loaded, 2 outs, full count on the batter.
How would you calm down and relax in this situation or what kind of strategies
would you use? Because most pitchers had difficulties in the past and you
seemed to be handling them quite well.
CC: I enjoyed the pressure situations. I don't why I
did but I just seemed to enjoy them. When I was in college, I was able to take
a mental skills class. This helped me out a lot. This class showed me how to
relax and not get too overworked when I was in a tough situation. If I would
get too excited then I would get out of my game and would not have able to do
my job. I don't know if I would have been able to be successful if I didn't
take this class. It taught me to take one pitch at a time and not get caught up
in the situation or who I was facing. When I was on the mound I tried not worry
about who I was facing.
TPN: As
a member of the Montreal Expos / Washington Nationals for six seasons, what was
it like to play along with future hall-of-famers Vladimir Guerrero (’03 Expos)
and Vinny Castilla (’06 Nationals) and under hall-of-fame manager Frank
Robinson?
CC: Playing with Vladimir and Vinny was pretty cool. I
remember the first time I met Vladdy I was in awe because of how big he was in
person. I just couldn't believe some of the stuff he was able to do. He just
has a natural gift. The one thing I'll always remember about him was how his
mom would cook for everybody on the team. The food she made was awesome! That's
probably why he's always happy. Vinny was very funny guy. He came into the clubhouse
singing almost every day. He was always in a good mood. If he saw a teammate
who was having a bad day he would always try to pick them and make them feel
better. That's what I loved about him. He enjoyed playing baseball and coming
to the park every day. He seemed just like a big kid. I owe my whole career to
Frank Robinson. He had confidence in me to be a major league closer. Having his
trust in me gave me more confidence to go be a closer. He stuck with me even
when I struggled. I don't know if any other manager would have done that. He
always made me feel good about my ability. Without him, I don't know if I would
have been able to be an All-Star.
TPN:
Of all of the baseball stadiums you have pitched in, which one would be your
favorite, and why?
CC: My favorite stadium would have to be
Angel Stadium. They showed that you don't always have to go out and build a
fancy new stadium to draw fans. The way they renovated it and turned it from a
generic cooker cutter type park to one of the best in the league is pretty
amazing. The whole atmosphere there is great. I love the rocks in center
field and the big A they have in the parking lot. Everything about that stadium
is good.
