15 Questions with Justin Masterson

Indians starting pitcher Justin Masterson leads all Indians pitchers with 93 strikeouts and a 4.40 ERA. Masterson sat down with TribeVibe and answered “15 Questions.”

TribeVibe: What cartoon character do you most identify with?
Justin Masterson: I’d say Bugs Bunny. I like Bugs Bunny. He doesn’t always make great decisions, but he’s always toying with people and having a great time.

TV: What would your mom say is your best quality?
JM: My kind heart.

TV: Who is your role model?
JM: My parents, both of my parents. They set a good example for me.

TV: Can you cook?
JM: I enjoy cooking. I’m really good at taking whatever is there and making it into something that tastes delicious.

TV: Do you have a favorite former Indian?
JM: I love Jim Thome. I got to watch him and play with him. He is the best guy in baseball that you could ever meet. He’s a good old country boy. I actually met him earlier when I was in college, and he was playing for Philly. After a Spring Training game, he came and talked with us for a little bit.

TV: What is the best bubblegum flavor?
JM: The best bubblegum flavor is Big League Chew, grape.

TV: If you could change one thing about Major League Baseball, what would you change?
JM: Maybe go to seven innings.

TV: Who was your best friend as a kid?
JM: I had three of them. What didn’t we do [together]? I was always outside. I didn’t watch too much sports; all we did was we were outside playing. Whether it was Cops and Robbers on our bikes, baseball in the backyard, basketball, we did everything. Video games, shoot [my friend’s] brother with a paintball gun, whatever we could get our hands on.

TV: Describe a typical off day.
JM: It’s hanging out with the family. There’s not really much that goes on for me. Just kind of hang out, maybe watch a little TV, play with the daughter. Then maybe go put the kid to bed, get a babysitter and go get a bite to eat with my wife.

TV: Does your daughter watch you play at all?
JM: She tries. She’s a little too young to understand. I think she might see me up close on TV and go, ‘Daaaddyyy.’

TV: Do you want your daughter to play softball?
JM: Actually, I want her to play basketball. I love basketball. Women’s basketball is kind of slow, but we’ll try it.

TV: How do you celebrate your birthday?
JM: If I had the choice, I would do absolutely nothing. My wife likes to go out to eat, usually Mexican food because I like Mexican food. We usually have a little cake. She makes chocolatey-clear cake that my mom’s been making for me since I was a little boy.

TV: What movie actor would you choose to play you in a movie?
JM: Denzel Washington.

TV: If you weren’t a baseball player, what would you be?
JM: That’s a good question. I’d probably either be a pastor or a teacher. I may enjoy teaching sixth grade, maybe fifth grade, or I’d go into the math realm.

TV: Does your faith make a difference on the field?
JM: I think it makes you go even harder, work even harder, have that much more fun. You’re not worried about karma. I’m going to go out there and give it all I’ve got and know that if it’s good or if it’s bad, things are still going to be alright.

-Megan Golden, TribeVibe contributor