Shoot Your Shot with Bakersfield Train Robbers 3B Bobby Webb

Happy Mother's Day Week! We sat down with Bakersfield Train Robbers third baseman Bobby Webb. He talked about the struggles and reward of playing Independent Ball, while juggling that with running the Bob Webb Baseball Camp (13:05-42:30). We broke down our crazy weekend in Westwood and the Long Beach State men's volleyball National Championship (3:40-11:40). We brought back our newest segment ‘Actors and their Movies’ (44:28-55:50). As always we ended the show with the 908 Athlete of the Week. This week is Wilson golfer, our boy, Tyler Schafer (55:55-59:26).

Link to the Podcast:

Bobby Webb Q&A:

Q: What was your favorite part of LIU Brooklyn?

A: All the different people. There were people from all over the world. You had the golf team was like England, Spain, Mexico, New Zealand. You had some of the basketball players from Africa and then there are a lot of things I didn’t like about the city. The city was rough, I hated how rude people were, you are just in downtown Brooklyn, everyone is bumping you around, customer service is terrible.

Q: What does LIU stand for?

A: Long Island University.

Q: You ever golf at Beth Page?

A: No.

Q: What is the difference between independent ball and the minor leagues?

A: So minor leagues is affiliated with all the major league teams and then independent ball is still that kind of business type of feel like minor league ball just not affiliated with any of the major league teams.

Q: When does the season start back up?

A: May 24th is opening day.

Q: What is your camp called?

A: The Bob Webb Baseball Camp.

Q: When was it?

A: It was over Spring Break, so the first week of April.

Q: Any good camp stories?

A: I’m just glad nobody got seriously hurt, that is what I was worried about.

Q: What do you think your coaching career has the potential to be?

A: Yes, I am coaching with a travel ball organization, the Long Beach Quakes. I don’t know, I’m trying to get into maybe a graduate assistant position at a four-year somewhere. Maybe try to finagle my way into that, get my Master’s paid for. That would be sweet. And then try and be an entry level coach from there.

Q: Do you think Solomon Williams is going to be the next baseball coach at Wilson?

A: I believe so. He should be I think he’s earned it and I think he’s the right man for the job.

Q: How do I get a Utica Unicorns hat?

A: I’m sure you can get it online somewhere.

Q: When you are out there on the road playing independent ball what is your living situation like?

A: It is different for each level. Pecos League is probably the bottom of the barrel in independent ball and when you are on the road you have four to a Motel 6 room. When I was in Michigan with the Unicorns it was a better situation. They put you in an apartment with four other guys. You do have host families when you are at home for the Pecos, depends on the situation, most are good situations, families are putting you up, feeding you and everything.

Q: Do they have independent ball in Long Beach?

A: Not anymore, no.

Q: What is the toughest part trying to survive playing professionally?

A: Make sure you’re having fun. It is a constant day by day grind. When you’re not on you’re a game you can get down in the dumps if you have two or three bad days. You just got to make sure you are having fun and having a good time and sticking with it.

Q: Would you recommend independent ball to the guys coming up in high school?

A: Absolutely. If they don’t get drafted out of college for sure.

Q: Out of all the places you have been, what does Long Beach mean to you?

A: It is the greatest place on earth.

Q: You know what is not in Long Beach is Mayfair. How much did you hate that place?

A: It was the worst.

Q: When you come to Naples what do you usually get?

A: Got to go with the BBQ chicken and you got to get the mac n cheese.

Q: Where are your home games at?

A: Sam Lynn Park in Bakersfield.

Q: What is your favorite smell?

A: New car smell.