Catch Fred Hanker’s latest “Hot Seat” interview, with the Black Sox’ newest addition, Todd Budke. Budke will play for the Sox, when available, from his regular team, last year’s ISC World Tournament runner-up, The Farm Tavern. Budke is generally regarded as one of the finest hitters in the game, with a Ted Williams-esque swing.
(click photo to enlarge)
Here is an excerpt from the Budke “Hot Seat” interview with Black Sox player-manager-GM Fred Hanker:
Q: If you were commissioner for the day, what would you change about the game of fastball?
A: Not sure there is enough room….I would change how the players rep committee works. Right now there are people on this that are not even players. Also certain individuals that have there own agendas have the power to put rules in place that they see fit. Players are not represented! Case in point the PRAWN rule. So many holes have been punched in this by numerous players and coaches.
Click the link below to read the entire interview:
Long Beach Black Sox News
For more info on the Black Sox signing of Budke for 2006, click this link:
From the Black Sox website:
“In an expected move now that the sox will be playing in the A-B league next year the Long Beach Black Sox acquired the services of Todd Budke for a few tournaments until he leaves to play with The Farm in June. Budke will play 3rd and pitch some for the sox in 2006 and is excited to join the team again. Sox manager Fred Hanker says, ” Yodd is a great player everyone knows that be is also a great teammate and a real good influence on our young players.” “he is always willing to lend a helping hand and really knows the game.” “I love to have him around the guys and i think he really enjoys playing with this team.” budke will try to make as many tournaments as his schedule allows but 2006 looks like the year the sox will have him for more than 1 or 2 tournaments as the case has been in the past. Budke brings a world of experience at the international and isc level of play.
Editor’s note: I had the chance to play a weekend on the same team as Budke a couple seasons ago (with Tom Biko’s KHT Pumpers), and found him to be one of the most knowledgeable players I’ve ever met, a true student of the game. Though most known for his hitting prowess, Budke is a pitcher as well, having played alongside some of the top pitchers in the world. He helped me a great deal with both my mechanics and approach to pitching, so I am looking forward to teaming up with him again next year as a member of the Sox pitching staff.
Budke adds a big bat to the middle of the Black Sox batting order to be sure, but will also provide the team with a great coach and teacher. Score this signing a “10” for GM Fred Hanker.
Budke played in what was the most exciting fastball game that I have ever seen, a winner’s bracket semi-final at the ISC World tourney in 2004 at Fargo, ND between Budke’s team, The Farm Tavern and Broken Bow, NY. It was one of those games that the fans were still talking about the next day, with all of the runs scoring on home runs. I hadn’t even reached my seat in the first inning, when Budke brought the crowd to its feet with a towering first inning home run onto the roof of the concessions tent in right field. Broken Bow eventually won the game — and the ISC title, but Budke certainly did his part in the game.