'We're Just Praying Cuts Are Done': A Few More Things About Life As A Minor League Yankee
Krames and PopsWelcome to the fourth installment in a new feature here at brandonsneed.com: "A Few Things About ...", in which we explore awesome things people are doing. (And, yes, I am sort of ripping off Esquire's format for "What I've Learned," where we remove the questions and just leave the answers. But hey, it's one of my favorite magazines, so that makes it okay. Right?)
In today's episode we catch up with Kramer Sneed, who was the first person featured in the series. You can read his first interview here.
Last time, he was living in a Comfort Inn, he was just trying to figure out the minor league spring training lifestyle, and he totally dropped a "For Love of the Game" reference, drawing the ire of bestselling author and SI.com columnist Jeff Pearlman. Fortunately, things are going much better for him now.
Take it away, Krames ...
A Few More Things About Life As A Minor League Yankee
with Kramer Sneed
A house is much better to have than the Comfort Inn. I share the master bedroom with Matt Richardson and we have a nice spacious room, bathroom and walk-in closet.
They have apartments for us to live in about 25 minutes from the field in Charleston, so I'm excited about that.
With this house it feels more like a home than the hotel did. But it is still very different than living at home.
Charleston is the next logical step for college players who signed and played in Staten Island the year before. Certain guys may skip Charleston and go pitch in Tampa but most of our team from Staten will be together in Charleston.
April 7th is opening day for us.
Best part of spring training is any short day you can get to go home early and relax because it is a grind every day.
Worst part is the players getting released. I had two friends get released this spring and we are just praying that the cuts are done for this spring training. It is always a melancholy mood in the mornings of cut days. Makes me appreciate the chance I have even more
I saw quite a few Yankees pitchers throw this spring. Big leaguers come to get work in during our games a lot actually before their season starts. It is pretty cool to get to see them from a close view in a different environment than you see on TV or even at a regular season game.
Some older guys will periodically be called to major league camp for a day or two depending on the needs of the big league club. Otherwise, Spring training is the same throughout the minor leagues.
For the rest of us minor leaguer pitchers, we throw bullpens or [throw] live to hitters in games at least one time every three days. Once it is decided that you are a starter or reliever you then progress in your outings. Since I am going to be a starter, my innings progressed to where I threw four in a simulated game today due to rain washing out our regularly scheduled game.
I have tried to throw more downhill this spring, standing taller throughout my delivery and finishing strong over my front side.
We run 6 days a week, different types of sprint work, no long distance. We lift 4 days a week, 2 upper and 2 lower body lifts. All lifts are done in a circuit style lift and it goes off of time not repetitions.
[On him and our dad looking more alike except for a beard] I cannot grow a beard like him, sadly.
I'm fine with it because we are not allowed to have facial hair anyway.
[On making a return appearance in the Hoops From Helen charity 3-on-3 basketball tournament in Wilmington this June] I don't think the Yankees will let me off for a day of basketball but I'll see what I can do.
I need a good book to read because I feel like I watch too much TV. Give me some good sports books to read!
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Well, you heard the guy. What are some of your favorite sports books? Let him know in the comments!
As always, hanks for reading. If you know of someone doing something awesome that should get interviewed, then let me know!
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5 Comments | Mar 31, 2011
Reader Comments (5)
A Good Walk Spoiled by John Feinsten and The Rub of the Green by William Hallberg are two of the best golf books I have ever read; A River Runs Through It by Norman McLean is a great book about fly fishing. Branch out a little and read some Dick Francis mystery novels that weave aspects of English horse racing into each story - good light reading.
Wow, when I read on here the other day that Brandon's brother was a Yankee minor leaguer, it didn't even register with me that you might be with the Riverdogs. Charleston is a nice town, and I definitely think you'll enjoy your time here. If you're ever got some down time and just want to hang out, talk baseball (or not), and see some of the city, my wife and I would be happy to take you to one of our favorite places to eat in Charleston.
As for a book - if you're into golf at all, there is no better sports book that I've ever read than "The Legend of Bagger Vance" by Steven Pressfield.
Solid book picks, Dave.
And Joseph, I totally need to read Legend of Bagger Vance. Love that movie.
I Facebook messaged these book suggestions to Kramer, but I figure I could throw 'em up here too:
* Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
* Where Men Win Glory by Jon Krakauer (About Pat Tillman, the NFL star who joined the Army and got killed in Afghanistan)
* The Rocket That Fell To Earth by Jeff Pearlman
* Pistol by Mark Kriegel
* Heart of the Game by SL Price
There was a time when I was tall.
For the record, I am 6'2"....
Watching Spring Training was a blast. Seeing all the young guys working so hard and then getting to see some of the big leaguers up close was a great experience. If you ever get the chance to go to Spring Training, do it!
It's all good, Will Sneed aka Pops. We'll snap us a picture together without the family giraffe wearing cleats, and you can feel tall again.