By Jonathan O'Konis, Minor League Baseball Editor

What does Spokane's Brandon Cashman have in common with Hall of Famers Lou Gehrig, Willie Mays, Mike Schmidt, Chuck Klein, and Ed Delahanty? They all hit four home runs in a game. It's true that Cashman accomplished his feat in the Single-A Northwest League but it's still an impressive feat. An outfielder for the Spokane Indians, Cashman currently is second in the Northwest League in homers, slugging percentage, and total bases. He's also in the top ten in RBI and on-base-percentage. I recently had the opportunity to speak to Cashman about the adjustment of playing with aluminum bats compared to wooden bats as well as his recent home run barrage.

THE SPORTSNETWORK: How would you describe yourself as a hitter?

Brandon Cashman: I'd say I'm mostly a line drive hitter. Gap-to-gap type guy. That's about it. I can hit the ball out of the yard but that's more of mistake- type thing then anything else.

THE SPORTSNETWORK: What the most important thing you learned about baseball while playing at the University of Illinois?

BRANDON CASHMAN: Let's see. Whether you're 0-for-50 or 50-for-50 you have to play the game the same everyday. Can't really be a roller coaster. You have to have the same attitude and be the same person everyday whether you're doing well or not.

THE SPORTSNETWORK: What would you consider the highlight of your college playing career?

BRANDON CASHMAN: I would have to say my junior year at Iowa State when we beat Baylor in the bottom of the ninth to win the Big 12 Tournament. That was a pretty neat thing at the time.

SPORTSNETWORK: How difficult was it for you to adjust from playing in college with aluminum bats to playing in the minors with wooden bats?

BRANDON CASHMAN: Well last year was a little bit of struggle for me for the first month or so. Once you get the basics down and get the feel it comes pretty quickly. Your swing is pretty much the same but there are a few adjustments here and there.

SPORTSNETWORK: You got to play in the Central Illinois Collegiate League which uses wooden bats. Did that help prepare you for the transition?

BRANDON CASHMAN: Any time you get to hit with a wooden bat in the summer it's going to give you an upper hand for when you get to hit at the next level. It definitely gave me an idea of what it would be like.

SPORTSNETWORK: What area of the game do you think you could improve upon the most?

BRANDON CASHMAN: I would say plate discipline. Being more selective and not swinging at anything that's thrown up to the plate.

SPORTSNETWORK: How are you adjusting to playing in the minors?

BRANDON CASHMAN: I love it. It takes awhile to get used to playing everyday. But after all of last summer and through spring training this year I got used to it. It just becomes part of your life. It's like going to work. Instead of going to an office everyday I go to a baseball field.

SPORTSNETWORK: What can you tell me about the game you played on June 29th in which you hit four home runs?

BRANDON CASHMAN: It was pretty amazing. I was kind of awestruck by the whole thing. I'd never had a multiple home run game in my life that I can remember. So to hit four in one game was pretty amazing.

SPORTSNETWORK: Would you mind quickly walking me through those at bats?

BRANDON CASHMAN: My first at-bat was a pretty short one. Walk up there and get three fast balls on the inside corner and I don't take the bat off my shoulder. My second at-bat was a fastball down the middle and I popped up to the first basemen in foul territory. So I was 0-for-2 not looking to have a great day at that point. The next at-bat, I don't remember what pitch it was, but I got good wood on the ball and it went out to the right side of the park. My fourth at-bat I got all fast balls. I don't remember which I hit out. My fifth at bat with the bases loaded I got a fastball up and got into a little and sent it over the right centerfield wall. My sixth at-bat I was looking for something middle-in because after going three the other way I figured there was no way they were going to throw anything that way to me. So I looked middle-in and that is what I got. I turned on it and it somehow went over the fence.

SPORTSNETWORK: How did your teammates react?

BRANDON CASHAMN: After the third one my teammates were just like "What the heck is up with this guy?". When I was in the dugout before my last at bat they were just like you have to swing for the fences. You have to go for it. So figured why not? Just take a hack.

SPORTSNETWORK: What thoughts come to mind when you hear some of the names of players who had accomplished this feat at the major league level? Names like Gehrig, Schmidt, and Mays?

BRANDON CASHMAN: Those guys are unbelievable players. Hall of Famers. It's unbelievable. That's really all I can say. It's unbelievable.

SPORTSNETWORK: Do you have a particular hitting philosophy when you're at the plate?

BRANDON CASHMAN: It depends on who's pitching. If you have a guy who throws mainly on one part of the plate or on the other sometimes I will look for a zone. Usually though I look for a pitch I can hit. And then I try to go and get it. Usually I don't sit on a certain pitch I have problems when I do that. My philosophy is the more you see it, hit it.

SPORTSNETWORK: If you could speak to one player from baseball history who would it be and what would you say?

BRANDON CASHMAN: That's a tough one. I don't know. Wow. Let's see.......I'd have to say Barry (Bonds). I've seen what he's done. I didn't get to see what the other guys did a long time ago even though that would have been amazing to talk to them. I have to say Barry.... just because of the things he does at the plate are amazing. He absolutely amazes me. To see three or four different pitchers a game and walk all the time is remarkable. Of the two hittable pitches he sees a day he puts one of them out of the park. He's just an amazing hitter and I'd just love to pick his brain and find out how he goes about it.