Interview with Trey Forkerway
Published on February 24, 2005 under Northwest League (NWL1)
Boise Hawks News Release
New Manager Trey Forkerway met the fans and members of the media for the first time Tuesday at a press conference in Boise. Hawk Talk had an opportunity to sit down with Trey as well to get his thoughts on the upcoming season...
Hawk Talk: How excited are you? You've gotta be pumped about this opportunity.
Trey Forkerway: I think coming here has made me even more excited. Just to see all the people and fans and see how they're interested in what the Boise Hawks are doing each and every year and that they want to see them succeed. For me to come before the season has even started and have a press conference - it just puts it all in perspective and I'm excited about things in general.
HT: What is your philosophy on baseball? How do you like to attack the game?
TF: Offensively, I've always thought that if you put players in motion, you're giving your offense a chance to produce and manufacture and create runs. With that, the foundation for the game has always been the same. If you pitch and play good defense you're always going to have the chance to win. But at some point in time, offensively, you're going to have to execute. My philosophy on all of it is that if you can get all of those into one ball you're going to have some success as a team.
HT: Last year was your first taste of being "the guy." What was the coolest thing about being a manager and what was the most daunting thing?
TF: The coolest things was when things go wrong and when things gotta get done and you get people asking, "what time are we gonna do this?" And all the things that you can possibly imagine, every question has to go through you. And I thought that was kinda cool to be in charge like that.
The other side of it is, if things don't run the right way you're the guy that everybody's gonna look at. So there are the two sides of it. But it's a good thing.
HT: You're a young guy. Is it cool to know the kind of faith the Cubs have put in you and to be on that "fast track?"
TF: Well, I've always said that this organization has been very good to me in terms of giving me opportunities from the hitting standpoint, being the hitting coach and then managing. That's a good thing. I also believe that it's good in that I think they believe in my abilities. Hopefully that continues throughout my entire career.
HT: You played this game for a long time. What can you take from being a player that helps you as a manager? Is there something you can pinpoint or are the two things totally separate?
TF: I look at it like, when I was playing, the guys that eventually made it to the big leagues and separated themselves did it through solid work ethic and understanding what they need to do on and off the field.
And managing wise, it's the same thing for all these young players. It's their first time coming into baseball. You know, realizing that baseball is now a way of life. It's what you have to eat, drink and sleep almost everyday.
From a managing standpoint, I think that's what I offer to these guys is getting them to understand what they're getting into while they're in it. And hopefully those guys will figure it out and eventually get to the big leagues and have successful careers.
HT: On a personal note, it's cool that you're one of those people that gets to do what they love to do by working in baseball. So that's the cool side of it. But how tough is it when your family's at home and you've got to travel and be away from them?
TF: It's tough. I would be lying if I said it was easy. Because you know you want to be there to watch your kids as they grow up. You want to see everything that they do. But with this game, that's kinda hard to do. If my wife was a school teacher, then yes, it would be easy because she'd have the summers with me. But that's the way it is.
I also look at being in baseball with the fact that it's a great job to have. You can't take it for granted. You have to commit to it and put your heart into it.
HT: What am I not asking you that I should be asking you that the fans in Boise will want to know?
TF: I would guess that considering what happened last year everyone's wondering what I expect to happen this year. And no one's really said, you know, replacing Tom's one thing but for me, I come here to do exactly what Tom did last year. Without a doubt and make everyone here understand that that's what I'm here to do in the long run.
HT: Is it cool that you've got someone around like Tom Beyers that can say, "been there, done that?"
TF: I think that's a great thing that this organization has always done is when guys are entering into their first couple of years of doing something different we've been fortunate enough to be around guys like Tom Beyers who can instruct us and put us in the best possible situation. I can't be happier than to have someone like him around so that if I do have something, I know I've got that person around to go to.
Northwest League Stories from February 24, 2005
- Wells Fargo Bank Presents the AquaSox's 2005 âHit a Home Run in Schoolâ Reading Program - Everett AquaSox
- Interview with Trey Forkerway - Boise Hawks
- 2005 Coaches Named - NWL1
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
