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Brian J. Pedersen
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
High expectations are always lauded on baseball players who are taken in the first round of the First-Year Player Draft, but those expectations often are never met.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have yet to see one of their No. 1 picks produce at the major-league level.
That could all change in the near future. Conor Jackson, taken in the first round in 2003 out of California, is living up to the hype.
He finished the first half of this season with a .373 batting average, second-best in the Pacific Coast League, with 32 doubles, seven home runs and 64 RBIs.
Jackson, a first baseman from Austin, Texas, could be in line for a promotion to the majors later this season.
Q: You've had an incredible season to date. Is this what you expected from yourself in just your second full year of pro ball?
A: You obviously set goals, and this is right where I want to be. This is definitely something I expect from myself. I've felt comfortable at the plate all year.
Q: What do you consider your best offensive attribute?
A: I think it's my strike zone discipline, my ability to lay off the bad pitches. That's what has really gotten me to this level. When I get into a slump it is because I swing at bad pitches. Last year toward the end of the year I got tired because I guess I didn't know how to prepare for a full year, and I started swinging at bad pitches in late August.
Q: You have struck out only 22 times in 272 at-bats. Do you take strikeouts personally?
A: No, because if I strike out it's probably because (the pitchers) made good pitches, and if they do that you've got to tip your hat. You can't get down on yourself, because even if you put that pitch in play you're probably not going to do too much with it.
Q: On the other side, you've drawn 54 walks, leading to a .463 on-base percentage. Is a walk as good as a hit in your mind?
A: Definitely. I'm getting on base, which is the biggest thing. I mean, look at this lineup. It's pretty ridiculous how good it is. I've got guys in front of me and behind me that can drive guys in, so I'm not afraid to take a walk at all.
Q: Maybe the only offensive category where you do not excel is home runs, only six in 81 games played. Do you feel you need to develop that power right now, before you get to the big leagues?
A: I'm not even worried about it. Everybody says, 'oh, his power is down,' but I couldn't be bothered by that. If I try to start hitting home runs that's when I'm going to start slumping. I really don't care about home runs at this time. I don't think it's really necessary for my game right now.
Q: During spring training the Diamondbacks converted you from an outfielder to a first baseman. It was a position you had a little experience with, but now that you've played there for half a season, do you feel as if that is your natural position?
A: I really do. I'm getting a lot more comfortable over there, tremendously comfortable, actually. I was kind of shaky at first. I was always OK with the fielding. It was just kind of hard getting used to the throwing. That was probably the hardest thing for me, just throwing 90 feet.
Q: Because of your success, your name is popping up in a lot of conversations, either regarding you possibly being trade bait for the D'backs, or in regards to when you'll make your big-league debut. Do you pay attention to that stuff?
A: You can't worry about it. It's not even an issue of handling it. You've got to just throw it away. It's like how you've got to throw today's paper away, just like yesterday's and tomorrow's. You can't worry about who is in front of you, who's behind you. You've got to worry only about yourself.
Q: If your numbers after the All-Star break - Jackson is starting at first base for the PCL in Wednesday's Triple-A All-Star Game in Sacramento - do not remain at the high level you put up in the first half, will that mean the season was less of a success to you?
A: It would be nice to keep it all there, but realistically I'm sure I'll dip. I'm sure I'll fall and then climb back up again. It's part of the game. Some days you feel better than others. Hopefully I'll stay there, but we'll see what happens.
Q: You're not on the 40-man roster, therefore there is no impetus to get you into the majors this season. Would you be OK with spending the entire season with the Sidewinders?
A: That's fine with me. I'm going to go up when they feel like I'm ready to go up. I have no control over it. All I can do is keep swinging the bat and playing the field. That's all I can do.
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
High expectations are always lauded on baseball players who are taken in the first round of the First-Year Player Draft, but those expectations often are never met.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have yet to see one of their No. 1 picks produce at the major-league level.
That could all change in the near future. Conor Jackson, taken in the first round in 2003 out of California, is living up to the hype.
He finished the first half of this season with a .373 batting average, second-best in the Pacific Coast League, with 32 doubles, seven home runs and 64 RBIs.
Jackson, a first baseman from Austin, Texas, could be in line for a promotion to the majors later this season.
Q: You've had an incredible season to date. Is this what you expected from yourself in just your second full year of pro ball?
A: You obviously set goals, and this is right where I want to be. This is definitely something I expect from myself. I've felt comfortable at the plate all year.
Q: What do you consider your best offensive attribute?
A: I think it's my strike zone discipline, my ability to lay off the bad pitches. That's what has really gotten me to this level. When I get into a slump it is because I swing at bad pitches. Last year toward the end of the year I got tired because I guess I didn't know how to prepare for a full year, and I started swinging at bad pitches in late August.
Q: You have struck out only 22 times in 272 at-bats. Do you take strikeouts personally?
A: No, because if I strike out it's probably because (the pitchers) made good pitches, and if they do that you've got to tip your hat. You can't get down on yourself, because even if you put that pitch in play you're probably not going to do too much with it.
Q: On the other side, you've drawn 54 walks, leading to a .463 on-base percentage. Is a walk as good as a hit in your mind?
A: Definitely. I'm getting on base, which is the biggest thing. I mean, look at this lineup. It's pretty ridiculous how good it is. I've got guys in front of me and behind me that can drive guys in, so I'm not afraid to take a walk at all.
Q: Maybe the only offensive category where you do not excel is home runs, only six in 81 games played. Do you feel you need to develop that power right now, before you get to the big leagues?
A: I'm not even worried about it. Everybody says, 'oh, his power is down,' but I couldn't be bothered by that. If I try to start hitting home runs that's when I'm going to start slumping. I really don't care about home runs at this time. I don't think it's really necessary for my game right now.
Q: During spring training the Diamondbacks converted you from an outfielder to a first baseman. It was a position you had a little experience with, but now that you've played there for half a season, do you feel as if that is your natural position?
A: I really do. I'm getting a lot more comfortable over there, tremendously comfortable, actually. I was kind of shaky at first. I was always OK with the fielding. It was just kind of hard getting used to the throwing. That was probably the hardest thing for me, just throwing 90 feet.
Q: Because of your success, your name is popping up in a lot of conversations, either regarding you possibly being trade bait for the D'backs, or in regards to when you'll make your big-league debut. Do you pay attention to that stuff?
A: You can't worry about it. It's not even an issue of handling it. You've got to just throw it away. It's like how you've got to throw today's paper away, just like yesterday's and tomorrow's. You can't worry about who is in front of you, who's behind you. You've got to worry only about yourself.
Q: If your numbers after the All-Star break - Jackson is starting at first base for the PCL in Wednesday's Triple-A All-Star Game in Sacramento - do not remain at the high level you put up in the first half, will that mean the season was less of a success to you?
A: It would be nice to keep it all there, but realistically I'm sure I'll dip. I'm sure I'll fall and then climb back up again. It's part of the game. Some days you feel better than others. Hopefully I'll stay there, but we'll see what happens.
Q: You're not on the 40-man roster, therefore there is no impetus to get you into the majors this season. Would you be OK with spending the entire season with the Sidewinders?
A: That's fine with me. I'm going to go up when they feel like I'm ready to go up. I have no control over it. All I can do is keep swinging the bat and playing the field. That's all I can do.
