HogNation: Have you visited HogNation.net? If so, what do you think of the site? Do any of your family or friends use the site to follow your career?
Charlie Isaacson: Yes, the site has come a long way over the years. I think my mother in-law visits the site daily.
HN: What do you do in your spare time during the season?
CI: Sleep, Halo (x-box), poker, talk to my wife back in Fayetteville.
HN: How do you spend the off-season?
CI: I keep trying to finish school. I am in my 4th Senior year so I tell everyone I'm going for my MD.
HN: What do you do to pass the time on bus trips? What is the weirdest thing you've ever seen / done on a bus trip?
CI: I play poker with the guys & watch movies. Nothing real exciting. The weirdest thing I have seen was a couple of summer ago, we were on a bus trip & the AC went out. I look back in the bus & sure enough we had a couple naked dudes who said it was too hot for clothes. That's pretty gross considering our bus is a charter bus which is used by the general public when we are not using it.
HN: Do you have a nickname? What are some of the best nicknames you've heard (and who do they belong to, obviously.)
CI: They call me Izzy but that sucks. The best name I have heard was this one pitcher we called "Aids" because of his dating past. I thought that was clever.
HN: What have been your best and worst games in the minors?
CI: I'm not too sure about my best but my worst was in Columbus (AAA) when I couldn't get out of an inning. I was booed by about 14,000 that night. Even old ladies that sit behind our dugout who don't boo anybody were getting all over me.
HN: What are the umpires like, and how do they compare to college / SEC umpires?
CI: I liked the SEC umpires better. They had bigger strike zones and got to know you on a first name basis. The umps in pro ball are a lot younger & much more fired up.
HN: Have you played withy anybody or against anybody that you think will be a big star? Or anybody that already is a big star?
CI: So far I have played with Robinson Cano (2B NY Yankees) & Chin Mein Wang (Starting Pitcher NY Yankees). I have played against Joe Mauer, David Wright, Ryan Howard, almost the entire Toronto Blue Jay starting lineup and B.J. Upton.
HN: What was your favorite MLB team growing up? Do you want to play for that team?
CI: St. Louis Cardinals. No, there would be too much pressure that comes with that. If I ever made it up to the big leagues with them & lost a game, I would feel like I let my whole family, friends & self down. I get mad enough when they lose by themselves.
HN: What is it like playing with MLB players down on rehab assignments? (if applicable)
CI: So far I have played with Giambi, Bernie Williams, Nick Johnson, Jorge Posada and Steve Karsay. The truth is they are no different from anyone else & when they are in the clubhouse they just want to be one of the guys. Especially Jason Giambi. He rehabbed with us last summer in Tampa and is genuinely one of the nicest people. Despite all that has gone on with him, I wish him only the best & hope things turn around for him.
Date: 06-09-05