He’s been a wizard with the glove all season, but until recently, Oregon third baseman J.J. Altobelli has struggled at the plate. In the Ducks’ last four games, however, Altobelli has been on fire, getting on base 10 times and playing a key role in Oregon’s string of strong offensive outings.
The Emerald caught up with Altobelli before a recent baseball team practice to discuss his recent successes and his off-field interests.
Oregon Daily Emerald: You’ve struggled from the plate for most of the year. Was there anything that you changed in your approach, anything that sparked you during this recent hot stretch?
J.J. Altobelli: No, not really. I feel like I’ve been the same hitter all year, but I’ve just gotten more results lately, so I think it’s just given me a little more confidence, and I feel more comfortable when I’m hitting.
ODE: Is it kind of a monkey off your back to finally feel you’ve gotten into a groove?
JA: Yeah, I feel like I let the team down pretty much all year offensively, because I thought to myself I was going to have a better year than I did. It just feels good to finally contribute to the offense of this club.
ODE: Defensively, you’ve been fantastic all year. What makes a good infielder? Is it instincts, speed, athleticism?
JA: I’m not really sure. It comes pretty easy to me, defense at least. I’ve always been that way. My dad’s a junior college coach in California, so I’ve grown up around it and I’ve always loved defense more than offense my whole life.
ODE: Is there one play you made on defense this year that stands out to you?
JA: I think it was in the Arizona series, I think I made like three diving plays in one inning, and I just felt like that got us a lot of momentum and got us some runs on offense.
ODE: Now a few off the field questions: What’s your major?
JA: It’s a new thing, it’s called general social sciences.
ODE: If the whole baseball thing doesn’t work out, or when your career does end, do you have any idea what you might want to do?
JA: I’ve always wanted to coach. I wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps and I don’t know what level really, yet, but maybe be a graduate assistant here one day and see where it takes me.
ODE: When you’re not playing baseball, what are some of your favorite things to do?
JA: Well, back at home I love going to the beach and here — whenever we have time off — I like to relax with friends. When I come up for summer, I love to float the river, that’s really fun.
ODE: OK, lightning round. What’s the best movie you’ve seen?
JA: Wow, putting me on the spot. “Bull Durham.”
ODE: Best actor?
JA: I love Will Ferrell.
ODE: If you had to trade lives with one actor or celebrity, who would you choose?
JA: I’d love to be Rob Dyrdek, from “The Fantasy Factory” and “Rob and Big,” that show on MTV. He lives a pretty cool life. I’d like to see how that would feel.