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Q&A with Tommy Milone

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As the Twins have endured four straight losing seasons, it’s become fashionable for hard core fans to reel off the many dubious decisions made by the front office. While this morbid exercise has some therapeutic value, when rehashed too often, it can be depressing and even a little unfair.

If the Twins are able to turn the corner toward respectability this season, one of the main reasons may be Tommy Milone. Despite going 31-22 with 3.84 ERA, 324 strikeouts and 101 walks in 3 ½ seasons in Oakland, the A’s were unable to find a permanent spot in their rotation for Milone. He was even demoted to Triple A last August. In hot pursuit of the postseason however, the A’s did need a backup outfielder. The Twins had their man in Sam Fuld (who they picked up from Oakland off waivers last April) and Milone was Minnesota bound.

After a neck injury derailed his 2014 audition with the local squad, Milone entered spring training this season fighting for, and ultimately winning, a spot in the starting rotation. So far, the 28-year-old has been solid, posting a 2-1 record. The Tommy Milone trade may be remembered for the right reasons in Twins Territory. I caught up with the California native during the last homestand.

DZ: You are off to a pretty good start personally, could you talk about that a little bit?

MILONE: I think it all starts with last year – coming over here (being) not particularly comfortable. Had a little neck issue, coming to a new team, meeting new people – I think I put a little bit of added pressure on myself to perform right away. I was trying to do what I was doing over in Oakland and bring it over here and it really didn’t work out. It’s a new year, new start, it’s nice to kinda get off to a good start and show them that I am the pitcher that they traded for.

DZ: A week ago today was your first start and first win of the season, how big was that for you and for the team in general? Did you feel any extra pressure (after the sweep in Detroit)?

MILONE: No. I felt I have done a pretty good job in my career in my big situations, big games – not to put added pressure on myself. If I start doing that, then I start to over-pitch. For me, the kind of pitcher that I am; I need to stay under control, working the count and my command has to be there. If I over-pitch it’s not going to happen.

Realistically, it was a big win for the team and for our new skipper, Molly. So it’s nice to get that first win under our belt. After that Detroit series – we knew we were going up against a good team, coming out of the gate hot…it was only three games and we knew we could get back on track. That little stretch there is not how you want to start your season, but everyone is going to go through it and we just happened to in the beginning.

DZ: You go into spring training in a battle for the last starting spot, how did you approach that….?

MILONE: I have been in that situation I think, three of the four big league spring training camps that I have been in. I had to go in there batting for one or two spots. It’s not anything that was new to me. Again, going back to not trying to put any added pressure on myself – it’s kind of the same situation – you have to go in there and be the pitcher that I am. I can’t to over-pitch…Also, it doesn’t make sense for me to worry about things I can’t control. I knew that if I went in there and pitched the way that I pitch that I had a good shot of getting that fifth spot and luckily they made that decision and gave me the chance. Hopefully I have been proving them right so far.

DZ: When you do win your spot like that there is obviously people who don’t get it, how does that affect your relationship with your teammates?

MILONE: It doesn’t affect the relationship at all…the more you are around the guys, the more you create relationships and friendships. We all know at the end of the day whether one of us gets a spot over one or two other guys, that’s just the nature of the game. They will probably get their chances maybe somewhere else or somewhere down the road. We all know that you’re not going to hold a grudge against somebody because they won the spot over you. That’s not how you play the game of baseball.

DZ: Going back to your Oakland days, I looked at your numbers, it looked like you always pitched pretty well there; you just always seemed like the odd man out. That had to get frustrating after a while.

MILONE: Yeah, but that’s also the nature of the game as well. There is also a business side to the game. Especially last year with them bringng over (Jeff) Samardzija and (Jason) Hammel, two established guys who have been around for a little while and have been successful. Realistically I was the only one that would be sent out. Obviously at the time it’s frustrating because I had been pitching well and I wasn’t too happy with the decision, but they made that decision and I had to respect it.

DZ: One last thing, last year you came here and were No. 49, this year you are No. 33. What prompted that change?

MILONE: With the A’s I got 57 (and) I pitched well my first year so I kept it – one of those superstition-type things. Coming over here and getting No. 49 – didn’t pitch too well. I felt like maybe it was good time to switch the number up and have a fresh, new start.

DZ: Was there any there special significance (to No. 33)?

MILONE: I have always been partial to 33. My favorite number growing up was 3, I had it through high school, college I was number 33, might as well (wear it in big leagues).

-April 17, 2015