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20 Minutes with Rich Aurilia
From Bigleaguers.com, 8/16/01
Rich Aurilia gets embarrassed if you try to work his name into a sentence that includes Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Nomar Garciparra or even his cross-bay counterpart Miguel Tejada. "Those guys over in the American League are in a class by themselves," he says. So what if the numbers say otherwise? So what if he was the NL's starting shortstop in the All-Star Game this year? It isn't a cliche with Aurilia: He genuinely is just happy to be here in the major leagues, contributing to a team that's battling for an NL West title. He would be perfectly happy staying in the background while Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent get the lion's share of attention on the Giants. At the same time, however, he doesn't take it for granted that he's batting some 50 points above his career average and among the NL leaders. He's not certain it will last because he hasn't done it before, but he doesn't see why it shouldn't, either. He's a good hitter, getting better. He batted above .300 in the second half last season and he's led NL shortstops in homers for the past two seasons going on a third. Aurilia, though somehwat embarrassed by the attention, graciously allowed us to pepper him with questions recently in an effort to find out what makes him tick. Here's how some of that conversation went:
Bigleaguers.com: What's the best baseball advice anyone ever gave you?
Aurilia: Never stop trying to get to that goal of being a major league player. I think that it's important to tell that to kids these days because so often they are told what they can't do and not what they can do or can accomplish. We need to tell kids never to give up on their dreams.
Bigleaguers.com: When did you start playing ball?
Bigleaguers.com: Is there a current player you admire?
Bigleaguers.com: What model bat do you swing?
Bigleaguers.com: What model glove do you use?
Bigleaguers.com: What song gets played when you step into the batter's box? Did you pick it?
Bigleaguers.com: What is the most effective training method for hitting/pitching?
Bigleaguers.com: What off-field activity do you most enjoy?
Bigleaguers.com: Who's the best all-around player in baseball right now?
Bigleaguers.com: Who's the best pure hitter?
Bigleaguers.com: Best pitcher?
Bigleaguers.com: Best closer?
Bigleaguers.com: Best curveball in your league?
Bigleaguers.com: Pick one major leaguer from another team that you'd like in your lineup.
Bigleaguers.com: Do you have a special charity or charities to which you lend time?
Bigleaguers.com: Describe yourself as a player? How should fellow players and fans perceive you?
Bigleaguers.com: What career would you have chosen if not for baseball?
Bigleaguers.com: What has been the highlight of your professional career?
Bigleaguers.com: What are you listening to recently?
Bigleaguers.com: Favorite book or author?
Bigleaguers.com: What kind of car(s) do you drive?
Bigleaguers.com: Favorite subject in school?
Bigleaguers.com: Golf handicap?
Bigleaguers.com: Favorite all-time movie?
Bigleaguers.com: Favorite baseball movie?
Bigleaguers.com: Who's your favorite movie actor?
Bigleaguers.com: What's your favorite Web site?
Bigleaguers.com: Got an up-and-comer for my fantasy team?
Bigleaguers.com: Favorite board game?
Bigleaguers.com: Pre-game meal?
Bigleaguers.com: What's your favorite beverage?
Bigleaguers.com: Favorite pizza topping?
Bigleaguers.com: Spoken like a true Brooklyn kid. If you were a fan in the mezzanine what would you be snacking on?
Bigleaguers.com: How do you unwind after a game?
Bigleaguers.com: What's your favorite sport besides baseball?
Bigleaguers.com: Do you have any superstitions?
Bigleaguers.com: What was the best personal advice someone ever gave you?
Bigleaguers.com: Last and most important, what's your favorite cartoon growing up?
Aurilia: When I was about three years old is as far back as I can remember. I grew up playing in Brooklyn.
Bigleaguers.com: Who was your favorite player while growing up?
Aurilia: Mookie Wilson, I was a Mets fan. I used to love to watch him run the bases.
Aurilia: I guess I admire Mark McGwire. Out of everything that he has accomplished in the past few years he seems to be even- keeled and just a regular guy and he does a lot for charity. Yeah, Mark is somebody I admire.
Aurilia: A C-271 Louisville Slugger, 33 1/2 inches, 31 ounces.
Aurilia: A Rawlings Pro 200.
Aurilia: "No Sleep Til Brooklyn" by the Beastie Boys. I guess I picked it a few years ago.
Aurilia: I like soft toss because it allows you to see a ball in motion rather than just seeing it on a tee. So I think that soft toss is a little better than tee work for me.
Aurilia: I love to golf. I like to go to movies. I'm also a pretty big movie buff.
Aurilia: Vladimir Guerrero.
Aurilia: Todd Helton.
Aurilia: Pedro Martinez.
Aurilia: Robb Nen.
Aurilia: Darryl Kile.
Aurilia: Vladimir Guerrero.
Aurilia: I work with the Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Aurilia: Well as a player I would like my peers to look at me as a player who goes out and plays hard everyday and is a fierce competitor. As far as skills, I would just like to be considered a consistent player. I like to be recognized for what I am capable of doing. Consistency is what everyone seems to strive for. Consistency to me is not getting too down when you're down and not getting too high when you're doing well. It's a long season and a humbling game.
Aurilia: I think I'd like to be a chef. I like to cook. I find it relaxing, enjoyable and creative. I've considered taking some cooking courses. I am Italian so naturally Italian food is something I like to try. I also like getting outside on the barbeque.
Aurilia: I'd say the best moment of my career was being on deck last year when J.T. Snow hit his home run in bottom of the ninth at Pac Bell to tie the Game 2 of the Division Series against the Mets. I think that was the most exciting moment I've ever experienced on the baseball field even though it didn't really include me and we ended up losing the game.
Aurilia: Lately I've been listening to Creed a lot. But I kind of like all different types of music.
Aurilia: Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities." I read it in high school and I still think of it as my favorite.
Aurilia: A silver 2001 Mercedes CLK 430 convertible.
Aurilia: Math.
Aurilia: About a 13.
Aurilia: The Shawshank Redemption.
Aurilia: Bull Durham.
Aurilia: Robert DeNiro.
Aurilia: I get on the Internet to look at some stock stuff and sports stuff.
Aurilia: Kurt Ainsworth in the future. He's probably our top pitching prospect. He won a gold medal last year at the Olympics.
Aurilia: Monopoly.
Aurilia: Peanut butter and jelly or a cheeseburger.
Aurilia: Coke or Pepsi. I like cola.
Aurilia: Cheese, but the pie has to have a thin crust.
Aurilia: Hot dog, fries and a big cold soda.
Aurilia: Go home and have a nice glass of wine.
Aurilia: Football.
Aurilia: It's not really superstition but I do the same thing every at-bat. The way I swing and stretch. The way I get into the batter's box. The routine provides a comfort level at the plate.
Aurilia: Respect your elders. Everyone's parents tell them that. But it helps in this game, too. When you are a young player and a rookie you just want to keep quiet and respect the older, more experienced players. Respecting your peers is important, too. I think that's helped me out a lot in my career.
Aurilia: Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.