Name: Rob Wheeler

Favourite Position: Not sure either CF or Catcher.

What's your shirt no. and why: No. 20. It was the number I had with my first team the Guildford Mud Cats

Career Highlight: Well I'm hoping I can say at the end of this year, managing the Mavericks to a winning season. ie over .500. But up until now, it was probably last year, beating Southampton at the London tournament. They had been a thorn in our sides up until the London tourney. We met them on the second day of the tournament. With not many players available we fielded a fairly unique side. I say unique as I was playing 2nd, I know a lefty at second ?!? They were at full strength. We beat them 7-2 , then went on to win the Frank Brady runner's up trophy and happily paraded it past their team bus on the way back to our tents. Yeah thats right sports fans, we camped out at the tourney, and there's a couple of other stories from that, I could tell. Best part of that game for me was turning a double play. Castor Maduro threw the ball from third to get the play at second I then threw to Steve Sawyer at first to record the second out, very cool ! That was a good weekend, looking
forward to this years !

 Best Maverick you've played with:That's a tough one. I reckon probably Nick Jolly, he's a leader on the field, can field the ball pretty well, is solid at the plate and has a lot of experience which he's happy to share with you if you need to run something by him.

 If you had to choose a new uniform, what colour would it be: Black Cap, Maroon Shirt, Grey Pants (Astro's Uniform)

 Should the Mavericks GM have a say in the team colours: I say yes, the discerning vote NO!

 Bases loaded, bottom of the ninth, 2 out, score tied who would you want at the plate: David Ortiz or maybe Derek Jeter, I hate the Yankees, but he always seems to get a hit just when his team needs it. If were talking Mavericks,.....I think probably Ben Mullard. Have to go with a lefty !

 Which baseball team do you support: Cleveland Indians

 What other professional sports teams: Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, New Jersey Devils

 Most memorable sporting moment: Okay I know what your gonna say it's not a sport, but I'm going with Wrestlemania 2000, I got tickets to see it in California and it was pretty awesome ! Baseball wise, probably winning tickets to the 2000 All Star Game off Channel 5, I went with my bro. It was in Atlanta that year, we had a really good weekend, and of course American league won. (The better league!
Okay that's going to get edited out haha!)

 Worst moment in sport: '98 World Series, when the Indians lost game 7 to the Florida Marlins.

 Who are going to win the 6 divisions in MLB 2005: Don't quote me on this but at the moment I'm going to say :
AL East - Boston    
AL Central - Minnesota     
AL West - Anaheim that's right Anaheim, I refuse to write that ridiculous name they call themselves by now. It's like the Artist formerly known as Prince. I wouldn't be suprised if next year they didn't just go by a symbol !!
AL Wild Card - New York
Hopefully I'm wrong and Cleveland win the Central
NL East - New York Mets    
NL Central - St. Louis    
NL West - L.A.
NL Wild Card - Houston

 ...and the World Series: I'd like to see Boston V NYM. It'd be cool to see the Red Sox take and win
the fall classic just to prove that last year was no fluke. Plus can you imagine game 1 of the series, hopefully in Boston, Schilling V Pedro. That'd be cool !

 If you were commissioner of baseball what would you change: Salary cap on teams. So the likes of Steinbrenner could not use his open check book to sign all the best players. It would lead to games becoming a lot more competitve, and closer to. Unlike previous years when it's kind of obvious who will make it to post season, it would be kind of up in the air, who made it to the big dance.

 Best thing about baseball in Britain: I get to be a part of it.

 Worst thing about baseball in Britain: People that take the game too seriously. I mean yes it's a competitive sport, but at the same time it's something you do to get enjoyment from, as Mavericks we play to win, but that's not the driving force behind why we play. We play because it's good fun. People are going to hate me for saying this but I sometimes liken us to last years Red Sox, obviously not in playing prowess. But in their outlook on the game. They branded themselves "the Idiots", which was their way of finding the fun side of the sport as opposed to being super serious about every game. That's the kind of mentality I like about our team. We go out their to win, but at the end of the day, as long as we feel we've played well, and had a good time doing it, were happy with that.

 Strikeout King or Home Run hero: Both ha ha ! I don't know, theres an adrenaline rush off knocking the ball out of the park, but I imagine dominating the other team from the mound has to feel pretty good too. Plus good pitching wins ball games. Seeing as the only home run I've hit was during practice away to Bournemouth last season and pitching wise I haven't faced a batter as yet, I'll have to keep you
posted on which one I prefer.

 Will you get more hits than strikeouts this season: Not sure I'm managing this season, so am not sure how many at bats I'll be taking.

 Favourite away ground played on: Probably Brighton. They have their own dug outs. Very professional.

 Which Maverick is most likely to get lost after reaching first: What you mean besides me ?

 Should the designated hitter rule be used in MLB: I like the DH rule as it gives you the opportunity to see another player, that you might not get to see if there was no DH rule. But I understand the
argument that by having the pitcher bat it makes the game more competitive.

 Which is better American or National League: American

 Artificial turf or Real Grass: Real Grass

 Wooden or Aluminium: For us Aluminium. At some point I'm hoping that someone at the BBF figures
out that this is not the major leagues and Aluminium is exceptable at our level. If they want us to use wooden bats, hey as long as they're prepared to supply every team in the league with a seasons worth of bats, taking into account breakages along the way fine, until then I mean this in the nicest possible way...they can take a hike ! We do not all have sponsors who can provide us with kit. Some clubs have to make do without assistance from others. Plus aluminium bats last longer and in my view are far safer, less chance of a cracked bat flying off at somebody.

 CD or DVD: CD, you can listen to a CD over and over again. DVD - You watch it once and it sits on a shelf.

 Indian, Chinese or Italian: Italian

 Eastenders or Coronation Street: Neither,  E.R.

 Brunette or Blond: Either works for me ha ha !

 Snow or Sun: Sun

 Bath or Shower: Given that I'm too big for the bath, shower ha ha !

 Your Steak - well done or rare: Well Done

 Favourite Drink: Don't really have one.

 Dream Car: 1966 Ford Mustang Coupe or a Chrysler PT Cruiser.

 Ideal Holiday Destination: Somewhere hot and tourist free

 Best movie seen in the last year: Lord of the Rings

 Best CD in the last year: Switchfoot "The Beautiful Letdown" or Gavin DeGraw "Chariot"

 If you were an animal what would you be: Well I was born in the Chinese year of the horse. So what can I say,....in my best Eddie Murphy accent, "I'm a stallion baby !"

 A fact about yourself that would suprise people/ Hidden Talent: I'm actually quite normal. ha ha ! No really. What else....erm, I play the Sax.

 What would you do with a million pounds: Bank it, I'd never have to worry about hitting my overdraft ever again !

 Which Maverick has a car least likely to survive the trip to an away game: Mike's, if I'm following him. I know it's been at least two years now Mike, but sorry about that bump.

 Best arm you've seen on the Mavericks: Henry Collins last season.

 Who shouldn't umpire a home game: Gavin, he might turn up on the wrong day.

 Biggest jackass in sport: I don't know, theres a few. I'm not that struck on A-Rod. Yeah I know he's a good player, when he's not attempting to cheat (see ALCS last year). But how smart are you to allow your agent to sign you to a giant contract with Texas, and then find out that they've spent so much on you that the rest of the team is a bit sub par. Dozy pillock.

 Which Major Leaguer would bring the Mavericks the most and why: George Steinbrenner - what does he bring us. His open cheque book.

 Who would you trade him for: Me, I could do with a holiday in the Big Apple. I'd be happy to destroy the Yankee dynasty too !

 Best Mavs Infielder: Ben Mullard

 Best Mavs Outfielder: Jamie Barnett

 Best Mavs Pitching Rotation: I don't know if we quite have that just yet. But I like the new pitching we have this season in Owen Hazelby, Marty Poulter and Alistair Carr. Add to that Karl Grigor and I think we won't do too badly.