|
|
2004 season Street on a fast ride to
the big leagues It was one of those marquee match-ups that had the scouts and knowledgeable Arizona Fall League fans sitting upright in their seats, watching intently as Rickie Weeks, one of minor league baseball's top hitting prospects, stepped into the batter's box with the game on the line to face closer extraordinaire Huston Street. Protecting a three-run lead with two outs in the ninth inning, the Oakland Athletic farmhand won the battle by fanning Weeks to end the game.
It was a situation not unlike many that the 23-year-old Street faced since becoming the University of Texas' closer during his freshman year. "They (Texas coaching staff) thought that closer was a role that fit my mentality and stuff," said Street. "It's the ability to come in the game in any situation and just trust your stuff, and trust your teammates, too." The 6'0", 190 pound right-hander earned MVP honors in the 2002 College World Series as the Longhorns won it all in Omaha that season. Street went on to merit All-American consideration each of his three years with Texas and spent three summers touring with the USA National Team. In a baseball world in which most dominant big league closers began their pro careers as starting pitchers before switching to the bullpen role, Street entered the professional game as a premier relief pitcher. The Texas native believes he has what it takes to remain in that role. "You've got to just keep getting better," said Street. "I'm confident in my game ... if you're always getting better, then you can figure out a way ... whether they tell you to close or they want you to start ... you're going to be able to figure out how to do it. You know how to pitch." The results thus far have been positive. After being selected by Oakland in the supplemental first round (40th overall choice) of the 2004 draft, Street zoomed through the Athletics system, starting his career with Low A Kane County and finishing the season with AAA Sacramento. He posted a combined 1.38 ERA in 26 innings, striking out 30 batters and picking up eight saves. This trip on the fast track has now landed Street in the Arizona Fall League, facing many of the game's best minor league prospects. His goals for the AFL are quite simple. "Just try to get better," Street answered, "and work on some things. It's a great opportunity to play against some of the other prospects of minor league baseball ... just a chance to not only compare your abilities, but to work on your game."
Street's fastball is his money pitch right now. He's been throwing between 90 and 94 MPH in Arizona. But pitching is more than just getting your fastball across the plate, according to Street. "I learned how to pitch with your fastball," he remarked about one of the lessons he's learned since joining the A's organization. "You watch all the great pitchers, especially those in pro ball. They all pitch off their fastball. The great ones all have other stuff to go along with it. But if you can't command your fastball, you can't pitch." It's this intelligent approach to pitching and focus that makes Street stand out among his peers. "The biggest challenge for anyone in life is to stay focused on what they want and then do it the right way," said Street. "It's a decision you have to make for yourself every day, and that's what I try to do --- to stick to that day to day mentality of trying to get better and get better and get better." "My job is baseball and my goal in life is baseball, and that's what I'm focused on. Street acquired this mental toughness and focus from his father, who starred during the early 1970s in both football and baseball at the University of Texas. "More than stressing success on the field, he stressed mental success and approach," said Street, about his father's influence. "That's what he always said was his thing ... you're either getting better or a little worse ... you don't stay the same. His definition of winning is doing your best. If you can do your best and try to get better every single day, if you're doing both of these things, then the results take care of themselves." If it sounds like Street is focused on baseball and only on baseball, that's an erroneous impression about this personable young man. "It's not to say I'm a machine and don't go out and have fun and enjoy life outside of baseball," said Street. "My job is baseball and my goal in life is baseball, and that's what I'm focused on." Not wanting to sound too serious, Street laughed and said, "I'm just kind of a regular ol' dude off the field ... nothing too special." --- Bill Mitchell All photos on the Arizona Fall League Report are credited to Bill Mitchell, unless noted otherwise, and are not to be used for any other purpose without express permission.
| ||||||
