Being happy and healthy in S.F. part of the routine
This week’s KNBR Conversation is an edited excerpt of an interview of Giants outfielder Angel Pagan by Tom Tolbert and Eric Byrnes on Thursday:
Byrnes: You came in after a little bit of a down year from what you produced in 2010. … You seem to be right back on track to that level of baseball now, so what adjustments did you make in the offseason heading into this year? Pagan: I’ve been healthy. I worked really hard this offseason, coming to a new team. Coming to the Giants, as a winning team that has a very good chance to win the division, it made me work twice as hard. I’m ready, I feel good, and hopefully I can carry this throughout the whole season and be the difference to get us into the playoffs. Tolbert: You’ve raised your average from somewhere in the mid .250s all the way to .313. Have you changed your approach? Has it been a different approach moving from leadoff to the fifth spot? Pagan: I never change my approach. I believe in my plan, I believe in my routine every day. It’s just a matter of time — every year is gonna be different. Sometimes you’re gonna start good, sometimes you’re gonna start OK. This year I didn’t start the way I wanted to start, but I never gave up. I always believe in myself, I just go out there and do my routine, and little by little I’m getting results. Byrnes: Do you have a preference where you hit in the order?
Pagan: No, I think the opportunity is what matters the most, and what I do for the team. In my career, I’ve been everywhere from leading off to ninth, so you can put me anywhere, and I’ll do the job. Tolbert: What has Gregor Blanco meant to this team? Pagan: Well, he’s been a true leadoff hitter. At the beginning of the season, I was gonna be the leadoff hitter, but he showed in spring training that you had to give him a chance. He was really patient, he got a lot of walks, and he hit pretty well in spring training. … He earned his opportunity.
Byrnes: You’ve been remarkably consistent — you had the one long hitting streak, then picked up right where you left off and started another one. What do you attribute that to? Pagan: Well, I think that’s what it’s all about — you try to do something every day. Whatever you can do. It can be a walk, whatever — sometimes I was hitting a double-play ball and beating out the throw to get an RBI. Just try to do something, and keep it simple at the plate. Not trying to hit for the fences, just trying to get on base and make something happen. Tolbert: The outfield has been you, Gregor Blanco and Melky Cabrera lately. Is there some comfort in knowing there’s some stability in the outfield now? Pagan: It makes your job easier when you know you have such good athletes right next to you. They can run the ball down, and Melky can throw a little bit and get some people out on the bases. It just makes you more comfortable and makes your job a lot easier. Byrnes: You’re a free agent at the end of the year. Would you consider returning to San Francisco? Pagan: If they ask me to come back, I’ll say yes, because this has been really, truly a blessing. The atmosphere we have in the clubhouse is just perfect. This is my third organization, and so far it has been the best.