Interview with George Kontos

I was fortunate to be able to get an interview with Yankees RHP George Kontos. This interview actually took place before he had the Tommy John Surgery and found out that he would be out for the rest of this season and likely a good amount of 2010.

What influenced you to attended Northwestern?
My decision to attend Northwestern was actually a combination of a few things. Academically, it is was and still is one of the top schools in the country so the education I would get is top notch. Secondly, Northwestern is about 10 minutes from my house where I grew up and the fact that I was close enough for my family to be at the majority of my games was very important to me. Finally, when my grandfather brought my family here from Greece, he took a custodial position at Northwestern and since I was a little kid everyone had instilled it in my head about how great it would be if I went there; so I did.

If I’m not mistaken, you were a junior when you were drafted. Did you consider going back for your senior year?
To be honest with you, going into my junior season I expected to go higher in the draft than where I did. I had pitched in the cape that summer and pitched very well. They say that the top 30 prospects coming out of the cape is a good indication of what the first round the following year could look like; and I happened to be the 26th prospect coming out of the league. So I guess i had expected to be a top couple round pick going into the season. Then I had a less than stellar junior season and I ended up getting selected by the Yankees in the 5th round. I did not have any indication that the yankees were going to select me until I was actually picked. It was a great feeling.

Could you please be through your actual draft day experience?
Draft day was actually a bit strenuous. I went home to be with my family to watch the tracker and once it started, seeing guys getting selected that I played with and that I was friends with was a bit frustrating just because I was waiting for my name to be selected as well.
I say this now, because it happened to work out, but I told myself that if I was selected in the top 5 rounds that I was going to sign and if I slipped past that I would go back to school. I sure am glad I didnt have to face that situation.

In Staten Island in 2006 your numbers improved drastically from those in Northwestern. Your ERA dropped by almost 3 points, your WHIP dropped, your K-rate increased, and your walk-rate decreased. What do you accredit this improvement to?
In Staten Island I was pitching with confidence. I was attacking the zone with fastballs early andwas able to put guys away with my slider. The fact that hitters were using wooden bats definitely was a big plus for me also because it opened up the inside part of the plate. The jam job hits that aluminum bats cause aren’t really a problem as much with wooden bats.

Did the Yankees alter or change your pitching mechanics or style when you entered the system?
The Yankees didn’t make any drastic changes to my delivery; we just worked on smoothing it out and being more fluid. I was a bit raw coming out of college and with a little professional coaching my delivery has come a long way.

You made your Triple-A debut this year. Does pitching just one level below the majors make pitching much more nerve-racking?
Especially considering that if there is a open spot in the Yankees’ rotation, you may be one of the guys they go to. I wouldnt say pitching in AAA is nervewracking at all. If anything it makes me wanna work harder because I know that I am that close to NY. It really is a lot of fun being up here and being this close.

You were very close to being traded to the Pirates last year in the Marte/Nady trade. Could you please take me through your experience that day?
The trade day last year was one of the craziest, emotion filled days I had had in a while. Phil Coke started the game that night and was pulled after the first inning after striking out the side. I at first assumed he was being sent to the big leagues because he had been pitching very well lately. I found out that a trade was going on with the Pirates and 3 players had been named and one was still to be named. A reporter from the press box came down where I was charting and told me that I was the fourth player in the trade. After that my phone started ringing off the hook with friends and family calling me to find out what was going on. My manager at the time, Tony Franklin, called Coke and I into his office and said that we had been traded but to not do anything until we hear from a Yankee official. I didn’t hear from anyone until the following morning when Tony called me back saying that Phil and I were in fact not traded and that I was still pitching that night against Portland.

Just days after the almost-trade, you had a 13 strikeout, 1-hitter against, ironically, the Pirates’ Double-A affiliate. Did the fact that you were not picked by them give you extra focus and get you more fired up than usual? Did you feel the need to show them what they missed out on?
That next start against Altoona I was very pumped up. I definitely wanted to prove that they had missed out an a good pitcher. Things that day just went my way in every aspect of the game. I got a head of the hitters and was able to mix up my pitches and keep the hitters guessing. Overall it was a great day.

What team were you a fan of growing up? Who was your favorite player?
My favorite team growing up was the Chicago Cubs. And I still try and see how the cubbies are doing every day try and follow the games. Favorite player is a tough one. I’d have to say Ken Griffey Jr. was my favorite position player and Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens were my favorite pitchers.

You are currently teammates with many guys with big league experience such as Casey Fossum, Josh Towers, Sergio Mitre, among others. Have you gotten any good pitching advice from your teammates?
Being around the guys that we have on our AAA staff is definitely an asset. Those guys have been in the big leagues and performed well there so its great being able to see how they go about their business everyday.

Dave Miley calls you into his office and tells you that you are getting promoted. The first person that you call is…
The first person I call is definitely my dad. He has been there for me since I was 5 taking me to different practices and games and coaching my teams and just being at my games watching me play. He still comes out to see my starts pretty often and watches the ones he can’t make on the internet. So it would definitely be him.