Small Talk: Craig Breslow Dishes On Becoming A Doctor

In this week’s edition of “Small Talk,” Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Craig Breslow answers the big questions from little kids.

1. After you’re done playing baseball are you going back to Yale to study to be a doctor?
I think it depends on how long I can play for. But medicine is certainly something that interests me, and I was very close to going to medical school before I was released I think five or six times, so we’ll see. We’ll see how much longer I can play. But obviously medicine is very important, and the work that physicians do is incredibly important, so it’s definitely possible.

2. Are you the smartest man in baseball?
(Laughs) I don’t know how to answer that. I’ll let you guys decide.

3. How many presidents do you know?
Actually, I’ve met a handful of presidents. I met President Obama this past winter and I met both of the Bushs, who graduated from Yale, but I think it’s important to know your presidents, to know history and to understand kind of what each president stood for — some historical moments that surrounded their presidency.

4.Who is your favorite teacher?
Well, Sophia, both of my parents are teachers, so I feel like that’s an obvious answer and it saves me from getting in trouble. My dad was a gym teacher so I can thank him for my athletic abilities and my mom was a math teacher. I’ve always been a pretty good student so I think I can credit the fact that education was stressed in my home.

5. Do you like to wear high socks?
I think I’ve gone through phases. There was a time in my career where I wore high pants and high socks, but right now I’ve gotten caught up in wearing baggier pants and short socks, which are a little bit more comfortable. Unless I’m wearing dress pants and then I wear dress socks, which tend to go a little higher.

6. My friends cheer me up when I’m in a bad mood. Do your friends cheer you up?
My friends definitely cheer me up. You know, one great thing about being on this team is I’ve got 24 great friends in the clubhouse that I get to spend time with every single day, and those guys do a great job about picking us up, picking each other up, when maybe we don’t have the greatest game or maybe we make a mistake that results in a loss. But knowing that I’m gonna see 24 guys who are fighting for the same thing that I am and are able to cheer me up after a tough game really helps me out.

7.Did you watch “Full House” ever?
I certainly spent some time with Uncle Jesse and the rest of his crew.