We continue our MEET THE FAMILY Series today with another one of my favorite writers, Alexis Garcia.
Alexis started writing for Bleeding Yankee Blue last year, and while her schedule is busy, she always finds a way to deliver something great. Alexis handles the MLB beat focusing more on MLB as a whole rather than just the Yankees. That's because ultimately, she's a Dodgers fan. But Alexis and I are friends, and she's a dynamic writer and so, I wanted her to write for us.
So, without any more hesitation, I bring you my interview with Alexis. I hope all you readers enjoy this, and be sure to read our other interviews with the BYB crew as well:
Now, I want you to meet Alexis:
BYB: Alexis, I know you for a long time. Why are you so passionate about baseball?
Alexis Garcia: I think Tom Hanks said it best in A League of Their Own—"If baseball was easy, everyone would do it." It's the 'hard' that makes it great. I love that it teaches you failure and perseverance. The game also teaches you to be present and that is a skill that carries on through life. As a spectator, it's also a great excuse for day drinking.
BYB: You played ball yourself. A lot of people don't know that. Tell the BYB audience about your upbringing and where you played.
Alexis Garcia: It all started when I was six years old and my mom accidentally signed me up for Little League instead of Bobbi Sox and I ended up being the only girl on the All-Star team. After a couple years in rec leagues, I made the jump to travel ball and softball became my life for the next 16 years. I eventually got a scholarship to play at the University of Texas where we made it to the World Series a couple times. Not bad for starting out as the only girl!
BYB: What players did you admire growing up and why?
Alexis Garcia: My favorite players growing up were Brett Butler and Mark Grace. I loved their quiet leadership and their mastery of their respective positions. They weren't the flashiest guys on the field, but they consistently produced and were good ball players.
BYB: Tell the BYB audience about your love for the Dodgers. When did it start for you?
Alexis Garcia: I was born and raised in Los Angeles so it was never really a question—going to games and watching the players was just something my family did together. My first real memory of the Dodgers was Kirk Gibson hitting his famous home run in the 1988 World Series—it was the stuff of legend. It was also great growing up and having five consecutive Rookie of the Year players! And then we traded Pedro Martinez for Delino DeShields.
BYB: Mike O'Hara, a fellow BYB writer hates the Dodgers. Can you convince him to give them a shot?
Alexis Garcia: Mike, I would say hating the Dodgers is about 95% of being a Dodgers fan! Some of my best memories of going to games was jeering that bum Kevin Brown while stuffing Dodger dogs in my face. We have the money, we have the talent, we have the best weather in the country, and yet we still manage to choke in the off-season. We develop some of the best talent in the league only to trade it away for players past their prime. It is this frustration of constant under-performance that unites all of us Dodgers fans! Also, we have Vin Scully.
BYB: How do you feel about Don Mattingly as the Dodgers Manager and remember, you're answering in Yankee terroitory now...
Alexis Garcia: Look, Mattingly is Donnie Baseball and he is a talented player. But sometimes I feel like he has trouble keeping control of the clubhouse. That's because we do have a lot of egos to manage after all.
That being said, I think the new front office has brought a new attitude to the club and with the trade of Matt Kemp in the off-season, I'd like to see how things go this year. The vibe in Spring Training already seems much improved.
BYB: Tell the audience about your passion for writing and how much fun it's been for you to write for BYB.
Alexis Garcia: Writing is very therapeutic for me and it's awesome to get to shut everything else out every once and a while and write about baseball. I also love the BYB community because they are passionate about the Yankees and really get the human aspect of the game. Sabremetrics is great, but this sport is more about people than numbers.
BYB: Name 3 players around the American League that you absolutely love watching and why?
Alexis Garcia: One player close to home that I enjoy watching is Mike Trout. It's incredible to see the numbers he puts up and he's pretty grounded. I also really like Ichiro Suzuki.
Again, he's a solid player with a lot of hustle. Lastly, I would have to say the entire Oakland A's team. They are like the dirty hipsters of Major League baseball. I love watching those weirdos!
BYB: When did you first discover BYB?
Alexis Garcia: I moved to New York a couple years ago and my friend helped me discover it. It was a great way to get updated on the Yankees scene and I love the passion and knowledge of all the staff and fans.
BYB: You've been with us for a year now? How much are you liking this family and how am I doing as the Chief? Am I a true pain in the ass?
Alexis Garcia: It's great to be part of the BYB family and get to talk and read about baseball. It's a community with a lot of heart. And Robert is the BEST EVER! My check is in the mail, right?
How about a BYB Tank Top? Boom.
Alexis, you're the best and thanks for being apart of our family.
Who's next? Wait and see...
You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in history. Now shop at the Bleeding Yankee Blue store! Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook! Also, don't forget to check out the BYB Hub!
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