River Cats Conversation: LaMonte Wade Jr.

San Francisco Giants outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. stopped by to talk with the voice of the Sacramento River Cats, Johnny Doskow at Giants Spring Training.

Read the conversation here:

JD: Tell us about your offseason and with everything that went on last year with “Late Night LaMonte” and everything. How are you doing this year?

LWJ: I’m doing pretty good. I’m just grateful and excited to be back. I spent the offseason at home in Baltimore with the family. I got to spend a lot of time at home with them. I got some good workouts in as well and came back ready to go.

JD: It was exciting to see you win the Willie Mac Award (last season). What was that experience like?

LWJ: It was a night I will never forget. I didn’t know my parents were going to be there. For the Giants to get my family in just made the night even more special. To be able to address the crowd and see the former winners there behind me as well, it was just an awesome night. I’m extremely grateful for that night and that award. It’s hanging up in my parents’ basement as we speak.

JD: That’s awesome. What was the experience like seeing all the previous winners and just getting to greet and talk to them? Their appreciation and congratulations must have been pretty cool.

LWJ: It was breathtaking. You see those guys walking on the field one-by-one and you’re just sitting there in the dugout like “Man.” This award means so much to so many people. It meant so much to me and my family to receive the award. I’ll continue to go out there and play hard each and every day.

JD: There’s that great shot of your mom and her reaction to a home run you hit. That obviously went viral. What did that mean to you in your heart?

LWJ: That was a special day. I didn’t even know she was going to be up there. I saw it on the board when I was running back out on the field. I kind of had a little moment to myself. It was just unbelievable. We talk about it almost every day. It will be something we never forget.

JD: No doubt. You know your ability to remain calm. We talk about “Late Night LaMonte.” But part of that is your ability to slow things down. Has that always been in you? In pressure situations you can slow everything down.

LWJ: I always felt that being quick and anxious never really got me positive results. It really started in college where my coach pulled me to the side and really told me I needed to try and relax and not get too excited in certain moments. I try to take that into each and every at bat. It just so happens the best results happen late. This year I’ll just try and take that late approach, I guess, and bring it to the earlier at bats.

JD: 107 wins. There’s a looseness in this clubhouse. You guys like each other and are having fun. The expectations this year, it’s not really about the wins, it’s about advancing further than you did.

LWJ: Right. Absolutely. We just want to come out here and win ball games and be consistent. Consistent in our work and consistent in how we play every day, and continue to be great teammates to one another and pull for one another.

JD: I appreciate it. Thank you.

LWJ: Thank you.