Meet Josh Banks

After getting released by the Triple-A Fresno (S.F. Giants) Grizzlies in July, the last thing pitcher Josh Banks wanted to do was end his season unemployed. So on Aug. 30, he signed with the Ducks, his first stint in independent-league ball. Banks, 29, was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the second round of the 2003 MLB amateur draft. In parts of four MLB seasons with three teams (Blue Jays, Astros, Giants), he is 4-8 with a 5.66 ERA in 27 games.

What was it like making your MLB debut against the Yankees in 2007?

"The only thing that was going through my mind was to get strike one. I figured the easiest thing was to throw strikes. I faced Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera and Johnny Damon."

Who is the most intimidating hitter you faced?

"Matt Holliday. Just me personally, it seemed like every ball he hit against anybody I played with sounded like it came out of a cannon. It sounded different than other guys."

Who has been your most talented teammate?

"I didn't play with him for long, but it has to be Roy Halladay. His talent level was off the charts. He throws whatever he throws and very rarely misses his spots. To do what he does every year isn't easy. To throw 230, 240 innings and win as many games as he does, it is pretty incredible in this day and age."

To what do you attribute your struggles in Triple-A this season?

"The two or three outings before I went on the DL [with a knee injury] had something to do with that. But I tried to change some things, work on things that made sense at the time. But I didn't have a guaranteed contract and time to work on things during the year. I wouldn't change because it made me realize that I shouldn't change what I've always done."

Coming off that experience, do you see a return to the majors as realistic?

"Yeah, if you talk to somebody and said the other side of it, I don't think you should be playing. This year was just an off year.

"I had one bad year, got released, and people thought it was whatever it was. Hopefully, somebody will give me a chance. That's all you can ask for."

THE WEEK AHEAD

Today: Off.

Tomorrow: at Southern Maryland, 7:05 p.m.

Wednesday: at Southern Maryland, 7:05 p.m.

Thursday: at Southern Maryland, 7:05 p.m.

Friday: vs. Bridgeport, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday: vs. Bridgeport,7:05 p.m.

Sunday: vs. Bridgeport, 1:35 p.m.