Nik: What do you do during in the offseason?

John: I spend as much time as possible with my family. My immediate family and my in-laws are from California. I go there for about three months which never really seems like enough time.

Nik: What is the one thing about Florida that you like or dislike the most?

John: I don’t like that everyday we go out there to play ball there’s a weather forecast with a chance of rain. I can’t wait till 2012 when we have the dome with a roof covering the field. That is what I like. It will be nice to know that when we get to the ball park we will be playing a game.

Nik: What was your initial reaction to the news that the Marlins were getting their own stadium?

John: I think it’s about time. This franchise has won two World Series titles in a short period of time. It’s a hot bed for young talent and I think the franchise deserves it.

Nik: What was the worst nickname you’ve ever had?

John: I never really had a bad nickname. With the last name Baker, it’s easy for people to just call me Bake. I’ve gotten Shake and Bake before too.

Nik: Do you have any rituals before games?

John: I really don’t. I feel like you can get so caught up in superstitions. In baseball it’s a part of the game, so I think that my superstition is not having any at all.

Nik: What was the worst job you ever had?

John: One week after I got my driver’s license, I got a speeding ticket. My dad got me a minimum wage warehouse job. I was working ten hours a day, during the weekend, stacking chairs and tables for a rental company. It was awful. It was hot and inside a warehouse with no A/C and no one my age.

Nik: What’s the best advice you have ever received and from who?

John: It probably goes back to my dad when I was a little kid. He was my baseball coach. He said “It doesn’t take talent to hustle.” I think that always stuck with me, because no matter how you’re playing if you’re healthy you can always run hard and play hard.

Nik: What other sports do you play outside of baseball?

John: I’m a really big Mixed Martial Arts fan. A couple of seasons ago I got into the training for that and I find it really enjoyable. I think it’s the most basic form of competition. I try to make it to as many fights as I can or watch them on TV. It’s really my favorite sport outside of baseball.

Nik: Who is your favorite MMA fighter?

John: It was Chuck Liddell. He is the one guy I got into the sport watching, but I think he’s pretty close to retirement. Right now, I’m a fan of BJ Penn. He’s a Hawaiian fighter, who will fight anybody at anytime. I like the way he goes about his business.