1. Welcome to the Hot Seat Andy Sanchez. Tell us a little about yourself off the field. What do you do for a living? What are your hobbies? Etc.
Hello SASL community, thanks for choosing me to be on the Hot Seat this week. I’m Andy Sanchez and currently I am a High School Science Teacher. I was also briefly the coach for my school’s JV baseball team before COVID came and stopped everything.
Most of my hobbies include sports and other types of physical activities. Since quarantine started I’ve also begun training to be a competitive eater so hopefully that continues to go well for me. Other than that I enjoy watching movies, reading Manga, playing video games, and long walks on the beach.
Follow my Twitch at Twitch.tv/AAAGaming and watch me win squad solos in Warzone .
2. Who are your role models growing up and now? Why? What makes a good role model? As a teacher in High School and having also coached teams, do you feel like there are kids that look up to you?
One of my biggest role models growing up had to be the late great KOBE ! #MambaMentality. I loved his killeR intinct and top dog mentality and how he pushed everyone around him to do better. I think a good role model leads by example. When you see someone leaving it all out on the field and always working to improve, it makes you want to do the same. Everybody has that one guy on their team who is more of a “Do as I say and not as I do” kind of player and that is not the type of person I’m talking about. Don’t be like that guy lol. I’m not sure if the kids look up to me but a lot of them are taller than me so i definitely look up to them.
I’m one of the younger guys on the team and luckily there’s a lot of great role models for me to be around. Pav’s been great. He sits by the cooler and yells encouraging things at us from the dugout. Mike Wang has been giving me great medical advice and has been an excellent third base coach. Gage is a real smart hitter and always composed in high pressure situations. I once saw him take out his anger by beating a tree with a stick after an error. Sunny shows great sportsmanship no matter who we are playing and is always respectful. He sets tone for the rest of us. Freddy is as consistent as they come and is always the first to the field. Hopefully I can be a great role model like these guys one day.
3. What is your favorite quote and why? What mottos do you live by?
“Baseball is played 90% from the neck up” I had a really influential baseball coach who would always say this to me growing up and the quote has stuck with me throughout my sports career and beyond. In sports, the quote reminds me to always remember the fundamentals and to be constantly looking for ways to improve. I think the best athletes are always thinking about the little things and the little ways they can improve their game. This is a great attitude to have regardless of the situation but especially in a game like baseball or softball where failure is inevitable.
4. You have a brother that is also a rookie in SASL in Pablo Sanchez. Growing up as athletes playing multi sport, did you guys compete in everything? How was that relationship now and back then? Who’s the better softball player now?
We are both competitive by nature so we were always competing whether it was playing FIFA or one on one in basketball. Pablo is older than me so it was nice to always have someone to try to catch up to and that’s definitely contributed to where I’m at today. Truthfully, it is just nice to always have someone who is always down to go to the park to have a catch, hit you fly balls, kick the soccer ball around or whatever. There’s a couple of Brother combos in the league and I’m sure they can relate.
If anyone ever wants to join us you are definitely welcome!
Our softball game’s are different so it’s hard to compare us. I think I have more power but Pablo’s a better fielder than me and definitely way faster than me since quarantine started lol. According to Pav, the better brother is whoever more recently got a hit so take that for what it is worth! Lmao.
5. When did you start in SASL and how did you hear about SASL? Thru 2 months, how have you liked it so far?
This is my first season with the SASL but i’ve known about it for a couple of years now. I played baseball in the same league as Hashim and David Rodriguez growing up and Hashim had told us a few years back that he was now playing Softball in this league and how they have a rating system and a cap. I always thought it was a cool idea and was hyped when Hashim asked my brother and I to join his team earlier this year.
After two months, I think the league is awesome. I’ve been introduced to a lot of really cool and friendly people and I think the rating system adds a really cool element to the league. The rating system makes creating a team a lot more strategic. I’m glad to be a part of the league and hope I can play again next year …
6. You have coached girls softball and also baseball. What are some principles you try to teach your players? What are your coaching philosophies? What is your opinion on the trend of everyone gets a trophy?
Whenever I coach I just try to pass on the great experience I had growing up and playing sports.
My coaches emphasized learning the fundamentals and having fun and that’s something I try to bring as a coach as well. Having fun is important, but at the end of the day you play to win. I think we got a nice mix of all three of these things emphasized on the Dothrakis.
We got plenty of softball experience to go around with some long time softball vets like Mike Wang, Jig, Freddy, Gage, Navin, and Pav. These guys have been playing softball since before I was born. I think Pav has a few bats in his garage that are older than I am. That type of softball experience has been crucial throughout the season.
We also have guys who HATE to lose. The rumors about “fiery personalities” are true. I don’t think there has been a game where we haven’t had to hold back Ahad for arguing over a questionable call. You want guys like that on your team.
I think it’s okay to give every kid a trophy. I have a 2nd place karate trophy from when I was younger that I’m still proud of.
7. SASL ‘scouts’ have said you are a 5 tool player. How would you grade your 5 tools in a 1-10 rating scale? What is your best tool?
-Speed: 9
-Arm Strength: 11 *Best Tool* i
-Fielding: 10
-Hitting for Avg: 10
-Hitting for Power: 10
8. In SASL you have played almost exclusively LCF. Has that always been your position? How much do you work on your defense compared to your offense?
I played infield growing up and play shortstop on another softball team currently. I told Hashim and Sunny I could play shortstop while Hashim recovers from his injury but after our first practice I guess they had seen enough because they immediately went and recruited Jay Sevilla to play SS and I haven’t touched the infield since hahaha!
That’s a true story. Jay has been LIGHTS OUT though so I am not complaining whatsoever . Shoutout @djvilla.nyc @villa.entertainment on IG !! Dope DJ, Photographer, Videographer, Shortstop, and more!
9. You have been involved in softball, baseball, football, volleyball and even shot putting. What is your favorite sport to play and why? Who are your favorite teams to watch?
Baseball is my favorite because I think it is the hardest sport i’ve played. Sunny has showed me some clips of some insane bowling in Cricket and hopefully I can try that one day too since he says it is more difficult to hit a cricket ball than a baseball.
My favorite teams are the Yankees, Real Madrid, The Knicks, and the Jets. In that order.
10. In Westbury Baseball League, you played baseball with some SASL alums. Tell us (honestly) How they played in High School and Also, who was the biggest ladies man?
David Rodriguez is the GOAT ON and OFF the field .
11. Your team Dothrakis are currently 11-3 and in second place in your rookie year. What are your expectations for the season? Who are your biggest competition and why?
We have had the expectations from day one to come out and beat the Shooters. I’m glad to say we accomplished that thanks to the sacrifices from some of our highest rated players. Our biggest competition was the shooters and we beat them easily.
12. Couple of weeks ago, you guys got swept by Black Mambas in a matchup most experts had you guys winning. What happened there and what lessons did your team take away from that?
The Black Mambas definitely have some highly rated players and they caught us slipping that Sunday but I think 8 out of ten times we beat them and they just caught us on a lucky day. I think we learned that teams are going to play their A-game against us and we can’t expect to cruise to victory. It’s kind of like when Kevin Durant was on the warriors and every team wanted to beat them . That’s what it’s like when we play. Lmao
Hashim is Kevin Durant, Pav is Andre Iguodala (injuries…), Sunny is Draymond Green, Pablo is Klay Thompson, Jay is Steph Curry, I’m Swaggy P, Mike Wang is Zaza Pachulia, Pervez is Steve Kerr, Freddy is Shaun Livingston, Gage is also Draymond Green, Navin is Kevin Looney, and Ahad is Quinn Cook.
13. Before the season started, you guys practiced every week for a couple of months. Sometimes multiple times a week with the full team. Where does the focus and dedication come from?
Wow, that’s some real investigative journalism lol. For me, practicing can sometimes be more fun than the game so I’m always down to practice. Usually someone would send a text asking if anyone was down to hit BP or have a catch and we would get most of the group to come through. It was just fun to hang out and do something outside especially after spending so long inside after the Winter and Quarantine break.
14. What makes SASL different that any other league you played in or play for? Have you gotten introduced to different players in the community?
The SASL is awesome for a lot of reasons but my favorite has to be the community within the league. It’s nice to be part of such a large network of cool, welcoming, and successful individuals. I’ve met a lot of new people and look forward to meeting even more of the community in the future.
15. The ‘cap system’ is a very controversial topic every year in SASL. You played many leagues before. Is the cap system effective in creating parity in a league? What are your thoughts on having a cap forcing some teams to cut players.
I think the cap system is a great idea and does create a lot of parity. A lot of the games we have played have been really competitive and we won or loss by only a few runs which is rare in other leagues I’ve played in.
I think the rating system also creates another element of strategy where a player who is rated low but can outperform their rating is super valuable. Just about every team has at least 3 guys who are super talented but the best teams we have faced are teams who have a few guys who aren’t the star of the team but play their role very well and step up when needed.
I don’t like the idea of players being rated so highly or not having enough cap space for a player so that they can’t play on teams with their friends or can’t play at all because they don’t fit on a team.
16. You have been in the SASL for a short time. Give us some players that has impressed you so far and why?
Yamin Patel – He hit bombs effortlessly
Mike Liang – He was killing us at the plate and he made a crazy throw to get one of our players out at 2nd. 5 tool player
Khurram Syed – Super athletic at shortstop and made some crazy plays
Week 7 POW Baba – Probably the most elite all around player in all of sports
Wahid Hoosein – Really good pitcher
TK – Robbed me of a homerun
17. What would be one change you would make if you could in the SASL?
I would make the highest rating a player could have be a 10 . I’ve played against TK and Dan and they are both really good players but this isn’t basketball or football where one player could dominate a whole game. One player can only do so much in a softball game. Anything over a 10 is too much. Maybe cap the number of Rated 10 players you can have on a team to like 2-3 or something so they don’t all join the same team.
18. How have you kept busy during the quarantine? What did you miss most not being able to do?
I started bike riding, I read some books, I ate a lot of food, and I played sports outside whenever I could. I miss watching movies in theatres the most.
19. Three words or less: Describe these players:
- Pablo Sanchez: The Secret Weapon
- Hashim Naveed: Mango White Claw/ Bash Brother
- David Rodriguez: The Undisputed GOAT
- Giuseppe Montelbano: La Flama Blanca
- Justin Sevilla: DJ Jayber Torres
- Pavy Badwal: Highest Rated Coach
- Sunny Naveed: Not Fiery Personality
- Gage Nestor: Grill/ Swing Master
- Freddy Maldonado: Bartolo Freddy Colon
- Pervez Khan: Stone Wall Defense
20. Rapid Fire Round:
- Best SASL memory: That one inning Pav played
- Worst SASL memory:When TK robbed me of a homerun and then him and Khurram threw Pablo out at home
- Best SASL content: Hot seat. #Put Sunny on the Hot Seat !!!
- Funniest SASL teammate: Dr. Mike Wang
- Favorite teammate ever: Sunny
- Worst MLB jerseys ever: Red Sox
- Most overrated player in Dothrakis: Andy Sanchez
- Most underrated player in Dothrakis: Navin Srivastava
- Best ASA bat ever: Purple Miken Freak
- Favorite Nassau softball field: Cantiague A
- 3 words to describe you: Friendly Humble Amazing
- Most swagy player: Fernando Tatis Jr. or Hashim Naveed.
- Your favorite vacation you been to: Brazil
- Next vacation destination: Cooperstown
- Favorite TV Show: One Piece
- Best beard in SASL: JIG! Even though he cut it smh!
Thanks for having me! Let’s go Dothraki’s!!!
