Jeremy looks to Jason
Giambi
brothers push for excellence
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By Ian
Browne / MLB.com |
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And somehow, it is only fitting that Jason Giambi is with the
Yankees and
Always, it seems, the 32-year-old Jason
has been on the summit 28-year-old Jeremy is trying to get to.
Jason has been an MVP. Jeremy is just hoping to get a full season
worth of at bats.
Jason has played in three All-Star Games. Jeremy can only watch.
Jeremy has 47 homers in his career. Jason hit almost that many
(41) last season alone.
And now, Jason plays for the most storied franchise in his sport.
Jeremy is part of a franchise trying to snap a world championship drought
working on its 85th year.
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Height: 6'0" |
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On a sun-splashed Tuesday in
As usual, Jeremy was thrilled to see his friend, mentor and former
teammate. It's a little different now with the Red Sox-Yankee subplot added in.
"It's a weird feeling but a great feeling also for the
family,"
As much fun as they've had together, Jeremy -- who was traded to
the Red Sox in December -- admits that being the "other" Giambi
hasn't been easy.
"It's been a little tough," said Giambi, who is trying to
win playing time in
Jason Giambi was three years ahead of Jeremy at
"Even in high school, he was All-State and everything else.
In college of course, he was a three-time All-American," said Jeremy.
"It affected me a lot more back then. Now I've learned to just brush it
aside. I'm happy for his success. It's something he's worked hard at and he's
had an opportunity to do it. I just learned to deal with it and tried to use it
to my advantage."
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Height: 6'3" |
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Jason Giambi / 1B 
For Jason, his rise to superstardom has come with the knowledge
that he's left his younger brother with one daunting act to follow.
"I've worked hard and he's worked just as hard and we're
brothers. I made it a little tough for him to pave the way," Jason Giambi
said. "At the same time, hopefully I've showed him about working hard and
that it pays off."
If it is at times awkward for the brothers, imagine how it feels
for proud father John Giambi, who took a vacation from his job as president at
a bank in California and was on hand to watch his sons battle at City of Palms
Park Tuesday.
Ask Papa Giambi anything but if he's a Red Sox fan or Yankees fan.
"I cheer for my family," John Giambi said. "It's
one of those things, it's a win-lose. Whoever wins you're happy for. Whoever
loses you're sad for."
John Giambi takes deep pride in all of Jason's accolades, but
regrets some of the unfair expectations that Jeremy has faced.
"He's four years younger so everyone wants him to be on the
same schedule and that's not possible," John Giambi said.
Spend a few minutes with Jason Giambi and it quickly becomes
evident that Jeremy has no bigger fan. Jason is just waiting for his brother to
get his full-time chance, which is one of the reasons the brothers had a
celebratory dinner in Vegas the night Jeremy was traded from the Phillies to the Red Sox.
"If you look at his minor league numbers and coming through
the big leagues, they were way better than mine," said Jason. "He
just needs an opportunity to get his 500 at bats to see what he can really do.
Last year he hit 20 homers (in 313 at bats) and I think he's really starting to
figure it out offensively. If he gets that opportunity, I think he can put up
some big numbers."
If Jeremy does put up the type of monster year that his brother is
famous for, he won't forget whom he learned many of his lessons from.
Though being compared to his brother has been an enormous
challenge, learning from him has been an invaluable benefit.
"He's gone through just about everything that you could in
the big leagues. He's done everything to be successful and he's also struggled
in certain situations," said Jeremy.
"I learned a lot when I did play with [Jason] in
Though there is a clear difference in the stature of the two
brothers, there are obvious similarities in the foundation. None
more than their firm belief in being patient at the plate.
John Giambi deserves the credit for that one. He learned all about
Ted Williams' "Science of Hitting" as a teenager, and passed it on to
his boys.
"Ever since I can remember when we took BP on Sunday, and it
was me, Jason and dad," said Jeremy. "(Dad) always emphasized hitting
good pitches and hitting the ball where it was pitched."
It is a lesson Jason has taken to elite status. It is one Jeremy
keeps applying, with the hope that some day he'll get enough at bats to see
just how far it can take him. And then, just maybe, he will be
"That's what any player wants," said Jeremy. "To
play every day and become their own person and become an All-Star and MVP
candidate."
Ian Browne is a
reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major
League Baseball or its clubs.