Epstein: Just a Bit Outside: Interview with Brad Ausmus

BBC Alert! Jason Epstein’s terrific interview with Team Israel’s Brad Ausmus.

EPSTEIN: Kevin Youkilis has said that if the team advances beyond the qualifying round to the March 2013 tournament, he would like to play. How many other Jewish players currently in the big leagues or minors do you expect to join the roster? Might Roger Clemens consider converting?

AUSMUS: I don’t like to look beyond the qualifying tournament because if we do not advance, it is irrelevant which MLB players will participate. Rest assured, if we do advance, we’ll contact all Team Israel–eligible MLB players.

EPSTEIN: You grew up in Connecticut as a Red Sox fan. What was it like being drafted by the hated Yankees?

AUSMUS: I was a die-hard Red Sox fan growing up. I even had a sign, which I made, hanging in my room that read, “Yankees stink!” It was ironic when the Yankees drafted me. I changed allegiance overnight.

EPSTEIN: Speaking of age, baseball may be a young man’s game, but an American cannot serve as vice president of the United States unless he or she is at least 35 years old. Leaving ideology aside, what do you think of the fact that in January we may have a VP who is younger than both of us?

AUSMUS: I’m not concerned with the age of any VP candidate. It’s his decisions I worry about.