Karl: "Heading into September what was the biggest goal of this team going forward?

Kirk Nieuwenhuis: “I think just to finish strong. Anytime you can finish strong as a team it says a lot about your character individuality and as a team. There just is something about finishing strong. For the fans, for yourself, for the team. I don't care what you're doing in life or in baseball or whatever it is, finishing strong is super important. It is real easy to slack off, it is real easy to just mail it in for a year and let laziness take over. Just for me personally I think it's big for us as a team to finish strong.”

Karl: Winning 8 of your last 10 games, and finally snapping that losing streak against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field, how big of a confidence boost is that for you guys heading into next season?

Kirk Nieuwenhuis: “Before that win against the Nationals I think we were playing really well. We had a bad game that first game of the series, but 8 of our last 10, that is playing real well. We've been having fun, keeping it loose in the clubhouse and I think that has been a good thing for us. Those guys have seen our number here for a long time and it is really good to get a win from them.”

*numbers calculated as of September 13th, 2014.

Karl: At the beginning of the year Sandy Alderson said that this team could win 90 games, sitting under .500 many fans are calling this season a disappointment. Do you see it as that?

Kirk Nieuwenhuis: “It is a long season. It's hard to sum up the season in a few words. I wouldn't fit disappointment in there anywhere. 162 games is a long time and when you think about it I think about it in this way: we start the season when people are coming back from spring break. We end the season, you guys are in a whole different school year. That kind of puts in perspective how long the season is. And to think about some of the faces that were here before. The whole Ike and Duda thing seems like years ago. I wouldn't call it a disappointment, I think that finishing strong can go a long way for us.”

Karl: What does this team have to do to get above .500 before the season is over?

Kirk Nieuwenhuis: “Keep doing what we have been doing. And as an offense we need to realize what these pitchers have been giving us. They are shutting down some pretty good lineups here, Colorado is a good lineup and they shut them down completely. Just continue what we've been doing and I think the offense will come around to us.”

Karl: What makes hitting at Citi Field so difficult?

Kirk Nieuwenhuis: “I will say that it is definitely tough to hit here. It definitely is a psychological battle, and just the way it physically plays too. You don't realize it until you play other places that it (Citi Field) plays big. You hit some balls good and you're thinking extra bases, or home run. When you've hit balls in the gap and they do get caught and you go 0-4 that day it is very easy to think to yourself that you have to do too much the next day when you should just keep it on an even keel and keep doing what you're doing. Keep hitting the balls hard and staying with the process. You keep hitting the ball hard it is going to fall. But yeah, it can definitely wear on you.”

Karl: Heading to the offseason what do you think is the most important aspect for this team to improve on?

Kirk Nieuwenhuis: “I think it is always interesting to see how the team looks at the end of the year vs. the beginning of next year. We have made some big strides this year. I think a lot of guys at the beginning of this year like Juan (OF Juan Lagares), like Duda (1B Lucas Duda), Travis (C Travis d'Arnaud), deGrom (P Jacob deGrom), like me, like Soup (Eric Campbell), I mean nobody knew Soup's name at the start of the season, but it has been a big year for guys like that. And that is five or six guys right off the bat so I think that is big for us heading into next year. Getting Harvey (P Matt Harvey) back will be big as well so I think it will be interesting. We have improved a lot over the course of the season.”

Karl: When do you think this team will be making the playoffs again?

Kirk Nieuwenhuis: “Next year I think we can make a run for it for sure. Earlier in the season, we get a bounce here and there, win a couple more games, we would be right in it right now. So you are talking about two or three games at the beginning of the season and we are sitting right in the middle of the race. Not that far off. Definitely will be in the chase next year for sure.”

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About the author
Karl  Capen
Head MLB Editor. Die hard sports fan and avid baseball guru. Follow me on Twitter @Capen316