August 15, 2011
Minors Q&A: Scribner has unique take on Sox vs. Yanks
by David Laurila/
Evan Scribner (New Milford, Conn.) saw action in 10 games with the Padres before being returned to Triple-A Tucson. (photo: Getty Images)
Evan Scribner understands the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry as well as anyone. The 26-year-old right-hander plays in the San Diego Padres system, but he grew up in central Connecticut along the imaginary border that separates Pinstripe Territory from Red Sox Nation.
Born in New Britain and raised in New Milford, Scribner was drafted out of Central Connecticut State by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2007.
Thirteen months later, he was traded to San Diego for Tony Clark, the irony of which shouldn’t be lost to fans on either side of baseball’s best rivalry. Clark not only played for both teams, but he also was involved in one of the biggest plays of the 2004 ALCS. His ground-rule double in the ninth inning of Game 5, had it not bounced into the stands, would have given the Yankees the lead and likely extended The Curse.
Scribner made his major-league debut with the Padres in April and saw action in 10 games before being returned to Triple-A Tucson in late June. One of those big-league appearances came at Fenway Park, where he faced five batters — all of whom reached base — in a 14-5 Red Sox win.
He sat down with New England Baseball Journal the following day.
New England Baseball Journal: What is your background as a baseball fan?
Evan Scribner: “I’ve played baseball my whole life. My dad played at Southern Connecticut (University). He’s a Yankees fan and made me into a Yankees fan. They started winning when I was a kid — all those four World Series — and were an unbelievable team, so I was hooked.
“Connecticut is pretty much split 50/50 when it comes to which team you root for, and a lot of my friends are Red Sox fans — diehard Red Sox fans. If you’re a Red Sox fan, you’re usually a diehard. Talking to them in the last couple of days, they said this is probably the only time they’ll root against the Red Sox, because I’m pitching against them. That’s pretty cool.”
NEBJ: Has your view of the rivalry changed since you entered pro ball?
Scribner: “It has. Your perspective changes a lot once you get here and learn how things work. For one thing, I obviously can’t be a Yankees fan anymore. I’m also all the way out in California. My whole (professional) career has been on the West Coast, so this is the first time I’ve played in the Northeast — anywhere near my house — in a long time. You don’t hear much about the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry out in California.”
NEBJ: You were traded for someone who experienced both sides of the rivalry first-hand.
Scribner: “Yes, I was traded for Tony Clark. That was a weird day for me, too. I was a late-round (28th round) pick, and I’m a reliever, so I didn’t think I’d ever get traded. That alone was weird and to get traded for a big-league guy — any big-league guy — was a good feeling. It felt good to know that somebody thought I could eventually make it to the big leagues and help the team out.”
NEBJ: Having grown up a Yankees fan, you probably don’t have very good memories of Clark’s ground-rule double in the 2004 ALCS.
Scribner: “I certainly remember Tony Clark playing for the Yankees, but I don’t remember the play you’re referring to. I’m sure I would if I saw the replay.”
NEBJ: What did it feel like to make it to the big leagues?
Scribner: “It was a dream come true. But it’s actually kind of weird. When you’re in the minor leagues, you spend so much time thinking about it — when you’re going to make it, if you’re going to make it, all of the things you’re going to do here. You spend all that time thinking about it, and then suddenly you’re here and you’re not thinking about it anymore. You’re here doing it and the only thing on your mind is that it’s time to go.”
NEBJ: Do you ever have a sense of, “How did I get here — I’m just a kid from central Connecticut”?
Scribner: “All the time. I still feel like that — like I’m just a kid that got lucky enough to have made it all the way through and up to the big leagues. Sometimes when I’m out there it feels like I’m still pitching in high school. I’m just a kid, playing.”
NEBJ: How many people do you have at Fenway for this series?
Scribner: “I left about a dozen tickets. It’s not possible to leave them for everybody — we don’t get enough — so a lot of people are just here on their own. My family is here, as well as some friends. A lot of people from my town are coming, and I’m sure a lot more are back home watching on TV.”
NEBJ: I assume you’ve been looking forward to playing here?
Scribner: “Definitely. I remember seeing the schedule before the season started, so I knew this was a possibility. I started the year at Triple A and was like, ‘Man, that would be really cool, to make it up to the big-league team when they’re going out to Boston.’ Now I’m here and it’s obviously pretty cool.”
NEBJ: Were you nervous when you came in to pitch last night?
Scribner: “I was a little bit, to be honest. It was a great feeling to be on that mound, though. I grew up rooting for the Yankees, but this is Fenway Park. To get a chance to play here, and pitch against the Red Sox, is pretty special. Like you said earlier, I’m just a kid from central Connecticut.”
This article originally appeared in the August 2011 issue of New England Baseball Journal.
David Laurila can be reached at feedback@baseballjournal.com
