In “What’s the World Coming To?” news, Saturday afternoon I had the chance to sit down and interview Cardinals’ 2008 first round pick Brett Wallace.  A couple friends and I went up to Quad Cities (Davenport, IA) to see Wallace, Pete Kozma, and the rest of the River Bandits play.  Apparently I need to drop the InsideSTL name more often, as I was granted the interview by Ben Chiswick, Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations.  And apparently I need to interview Brett more often, as he hit a 3-run home run later that night.

Thanks to Brett and Ben for making this happen, as it should be my one and only opportunity to dive into serious journalism.  It’s all downhill from here on out as I go back to writing about bacon, hot dogs, video games, and maybe the Cardinals if I get the chance.

Despite me calling this “serious,” you’ll see plenty of dumb questions, but at least I had a good time.  Enjoy.

Brett just to give you a heads up, I’m probably the least experienced media guy you’re ever going to get an interview from, so I’ll try to do my best not to disappoint you.

(laughing) No problem.

Just to get one question out of the way for myself, I actually own you in a fantasy baseball league, in a hardcore dynasty league.

Really?

And I actually drafted you back in March, because I heard about you back at Arizona State, and I want to know if you’re impressed by that or not?

That’s impressive – I didn’t know you could actually get drafted in anything like that, so it’s kind of cool I guess.

Well you’ve got to keep it on paper, ESPN doesn’t have you or anything, so you have to keep it on paper.

Yeah, that’s pretty sweet.

You know, just in case I might give you a call for some tips or anything.  I might let you know how to hit the ball and stuff.

(obviously amused) Alright.

So on draft day you were drafted by the Cardinals.  Were you playing Fresno St. that day, or what was the situation? 

We actually just had practices; it was an off day from our games.  Our Super Regional didn’t start until Saturday, so we had the day off.  We had a light BP segment at five in the afternoon or something, so all day I was with my mom and she was just hanging out and kind of waiting for the name to be called; but just had a low-stress day because we didn’t have anything to do.

And then Fresno St. actually won the title, were you kind of surprised by that, or were they that good of a team?

I mean they were a good team, they were a team is what they were.  They were just scrappy and they played together, and they didn’t have one big-time superstar, they had a bunch of guys who believed what they can do, you know, and I think that’s what you see in college baseball these days and that’s what wins – your team is playing together because they don’t have a weakness.  I wouldn’t say surprised, but just disappointed I guess.

So after you were drafted, you were pretty adamant about signing quickly?  Or was that your agent, or the Cardinals?  How’d that get done so fast?

I guess it was all of the above.  Everyone wanted me to get going as quick as possible.  It’s great to get as much money as you can, but the goal is get out there and play baseball and get to the big leagues.  That’s where you have the most fun and it’s where you want to be, so getting out here and having this full season, or as much of a full season as I can have out here, it just gave me an opportunity to get me used to pro ball and get ready to go, and that’s what I want to do.  And you know, kind of come into next year knowing what to expect from already playing half the year, so it was a pretty big goal for me early on, and the same with my agent.  And I think the Cardinals obviously wanted me in uniform as quick as they could. 

Yeah, you had that big batting practice day.  Was that fun to hit with Albert and all the guys?

It was really cool.  It was kind of nerve-racking at first, but getting to hit with guys like that, I mean, it’s just a dream come true.  And it’s just one of those days where you can always look back on no matter what you do in your life and just say that was one of the best days, so it was pretty cool.

Do you know yet if you’re going to play in a fall or winter league? 

I have no idea.

Do you read up on any Cardinal blogs or websites at all?

My family does a lot, you know, we’ve been on the road for about eight days right before we got home, so I haven’t had a big chance, but we follow the Cardinals as much as we can – watching the games and things like that.  We just try to stay in touch as much as we can. 

Another side question for me – I was wondering if you had any nicknames?  I think I’ve heard Walrus before on a Cardinal blog [Future Redbirds], and Wally…

Wally.  B-Dub.  Most people call me Wally.

I actually like Brett “the Hitman” Wallace, if you’re an old wrestling fan from the Bret “the Hitman” Hart days.

(smiling) I used to watch that a little bit.

That’s actually my favorite, so I’ll put that one out there. 

Are you adjusting well to the Minors, going from the aluminum bat to the wood bat?

Yeah, like I’ve said from day one, I think that hitting is hitting, whether you use wood or metal.  I think it’s not as big of an adjustment as people want to say, it’s just more getting out here and playing every day, and playing literally – you wake up and come to the field.  You get all your work in and play a game, and then go to sleep and do the same thing tomorrow; going on bus rides and things like that was the biggest thing.  It wasn’t as much adjusting to wood for me, it was just every day.  And I think that now I feel like I’m pretty used to it, and kind of starting to get into the swing of it. 

If you were using an aluminum bat, do you think you could hit the river out there?  Maybe in batting practice?  [HMW sidenote: At Modern Woodmen Park, there is a river just past the right field wall]

Ah…I don’t think the river’s that far.  I’ve actually never been out there. (laughing)  [Another side note:  that’s awesome.  Don’t worry about hanging in the outfield Brett, just trot around the bases a couple times a week and I’ll be happy]

I’ve got a couple other random questions – I read that you’re a video game junkie.  What video games did you like growing up?

I’d say my favorite game is probably MVP ’05.  That, to me, is like the last baseball video game that you could really play, and it was fun to play.  I still play that on my PS3, since you can still play those on there.  I’d say that’s probably my favorite game.

Me and my random 26 year old friends still play RBI Baseball from time to time.

Really!

We’re still trying to grow up.  I also saw that you did not have a Wikipedia page yet.  Do you want us to handle that for ya?

(laughing) I didn’t know that I didn’t.

I know some of the draft picks already have got one, so maybe random people or the players themselves had the time to do one, so…

I didn’t even know that. 

I’m thinking you do (need one), so we’ll get on that. 

What’s your favorite meat?  This is big BBQ country in the Midwest here.

I’m gonna go chicken.  I’m an ocean guy, so stuff from California…probably be chicken.  That would be my favorite food.

How about if you started a band.  What would your name be?  Brett Wallace and the Revolution?  Or the Asskickers…something like that?

(laughing) I don’t know, that’s a good one.  I’d have to think about that one. 

Do you play any instruments or anything?

No, I’m not musical – at all.

Or any other talents besides baseball?

I play basketball. I played in high school for two years, then had to give it up because of baseball.  And I watch basketball a lot. 

Alright, last one.  You signed the big signing bonus.  How many people are in your posse right now?

(laughing) Not that many.

About 24 other guys here?

Yeah – no, I’d say just my brothers and I’ve had the same best friend since I was two, so just us, and you know, my family.  I actually haven’t gotten money yet.  I’ll get it in the next couple days here.  This guy’s trying to creep into it (pointing to teammate Oliver Marmol), but we’ll see.  But I mean, just family and friends and staying close to my roots, just having fun.

So if you want any bloggers to hang out with you, just let us know and we’ll be around.

Alright, hope you are.

For more HMW and his new-found man crush on Brett Wallace, check out BertFlex.com