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Q&A with relief pitcher Cla Meredith

By: DAN HAYES - Staff Writer

Q: Is it your dream to be a closer one day?

A: No. I like what I do. I'm not saying I wouldn't look forward to the opportunity or that I wouldn't accept the challenge. Closing is something I've done in college, high school, Triple-A. I could close a game if I had to. But this team right now and where I'm at, I like what I do, and we've already got that spot locked up (with Trevor Hoffman).

Q: Speaking of Trevor, you've seen him for a while now ---- if you were a closer what song would you like to be your entrance song?

A: I would do Nate Dogg and Warren G.'s 'Nobody Does It Better.' It's a cool song and it has a couple of baseball innuendoes in there. It would be almost more funny because my personality isn't as arrogant as the song sounds. It'd be funny to me.

Q: There are some players that play songs with their name in it when they come to bat. What do you think of that?  

A: That's kind of a personal. Some guys can get away with it and its funny, and other guys do it and you're almost like that's pretty tired. I wouldn't even take the chance (laughing).

Q: Did you watch cartoons as a kid?

A: Yes.

Q: What cartoon character is out there that best describes you?

A: I kind of like Sylvester the cat. He wasn't the smartest dude in the world, but he still screwed around a little bit and he was kind of a smartass. He always had Tweety bird, and Tweety bird was always getting him at the end. Maybe Tweety bird is like C.Y. (Chris Young). I have C.Y. next to (my locker), and I think I get smarter every day by sitting next to him.

Q: Were you a 'Bull Durham' fan? Are strikeouts fascist?

A: The movie was OK. Some strikeouts are boring, but it depends on the game. But there ain't nothing better than watching (Jake) Peavy (strike out 16 batters) ... or Billy Wagner chucking 98 mph up there.

Q: What's one of the more memorable debates you've had in the bullpen that I can print?

A: I don't know about debates. I've certainly been a part of the comparisons ---- would you rather? When I was in Pawtucket (Triple-A) we did more comparisons where would you rather do something nasty or give (Rod Johnson), our skipper, a kiss on the lips knowing damn well all day he had dip all over his mouth and coffee all day.

Q: What do you guys talk about? I mean you have a lot of time to spare out there, right?

A: Honestly there are always two or three conversations going. We've got the left side of the bullpen ---- Hoffy, (Scott Linebrink), (Darrel) Akerfelds, (catcher Ben Risinger) and (Doug) Brocail. We might all be talking about something together or they might be doing their own thing ---- possibly a little more educated.

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