Sunday, Jul. 06, 2008

Pressure not fazing Jackson

Playing in hometown is just fine with Nuts' speedy center fielder

Anthony Jackson came to Modesto in April with as much fanfare as any minor leaguer in many years.

It wasn't because he was a top draft pick or someone's college All-American, but because he was one of us -- the first Modestan to be on the local roster as a position player (non-pitcher) in 25 years.

He knew going into the 140-game season that being the local guy would come with some distractions. That friends, family, acquaintances and ex-teammates from Davis High, Modesto Junior College and the University of the Pacific would be in the stands on a nightly basis.

Instead of letting that get in his way, Jackson has accepted the role of local baseball ambassador. On almost a nightly basis, he's the last player reaching the clubhouse after a game, leaving the field only after there are no more hands to shake, hellos to exchange and autographs to sign.

The season itself has not gone as well as he would hope, which puts him in line with the majority of his Nuts' teammates. Jackson's batting average, on-base percentage and stolen base totals lag behind the goals he set for himself, but he refuses to be discouraged by the numbers as he continues his daily march toward the big leagues.

Brian VanderBeek: Among your goals this season was to steal 50 bases. That now appears out of reach, so do you adjust your goals during the season?

Anthony Jackson: Yeah, that's going to be real tough, but I'm still going to try to get there. If I keep getting on base like I have been lately I have a shot. I've been slowed a little with hamstring injuries and things like that. It's still a goal and I'm going to try to reach it or get as close to it as possible.

BVB: The Rockies are very goal-oriented. They like their players to set goals, but they also seem to prefer developmental goals rather than performance goals. When you told me at the start of the season that you wanted to steal 50 bases, I thought that was reachable, but you could reach that number without developing as a baserunner much as the Rockies would like.

AJ: That's very true. This is all a learning experience, and perhaps next time I won't set specific number goals. But I've always done that growing up, so I'll probably always work numbers into my goals in some way.

BVB: I've seen a lot of home-grown players in this league through the years, and some handle the distractions better than others. Has there been anything in this experience that has taken you by surprise?

AJ: Nothing, really, other than finding out I have a lot more friends than I even knew I had. My parents told me about having a couple guys sitting right behind them at a game, saying something like "I was in Anthony's computer class in high school," and I had no idea who these guys were. That kind of stuff has been the only surprise, and I still love being here and playing in front of my family. There is added pressure at times, but I think I'm handling it pretty well.

BVB: Did you even take a computer class in high school?

AJ: I don't remember taking one, but I guess I sat next to these guys at some point.

BVB: You're always the last guy to make it into the clubhouse after a game.

AJ: I always have friends and family to talk to after games and there always are a lot of autographs to sign. I never turn down an autograph, so that usually helps to make me the last one in.

BVB: The birthday party your family had at the ballpark (he turned 24 on June 17) looked like a lot of fun, and someone else in that party also was celebrating a birthday that night.