Skip to main content

Sergio Escalona Q&A With PhoulBallz.com

Sergio Escalona pictured left, with silly staring catcher teammate Tim Kennelly


Sergio Escalona, a non-drafted free agent signed by the Phillies in May of 2004, is in his 6th season of professional baseball. The 24 year old has been up and down from the minors to the big league club this season, several times. Escalona is currently pitching for the double A Reading Phillies. In 23 games with Reading this season, Sergio has no decisions, 12 saves and a 1.95 ERA with 26 K's in 27 2/3 innings pitched. The R-Phils are tied for second place, trying to clinch that second playoff spot in the Southern Division. I had a chance to speak with Sergio this week and here is how that went down.


What is the vibe around the clubhouse, with the standings so close?

It's very important for us to win games right now because we're trying to get in the playoffs.


Can I get you to talk a bit about your ups and downs this season?

Yeah. Five times I go up and down to the big leagues. The Phillies need some pitchers sometimes, so that is a reason. I'm doing very good here, so they call me up a couple times. I wasn't very- I was a little bit slow there, so I go down again to work on my stuff. And I don't know, maybe I'll come back in September. I'm working on that.


Who's your favorite teammate with the big club?

JC Romero. Yeah. He takes care of me up there.


What would you say your strengths are as a pitcher?

I take this day by day and that helps me a lot. And the pitching coach works with me every day, and that helps me a lot to BE CONSISTENT. And I just, a couple times I forgot that. And that is the reason I pitched poorly in triple A (0-2, 5.95 ERA). But right now I think I am ready.


Who has been your biggest influence?

God. It's all him. God.


What has been your most memorable moment so far this season?

My first inning in the big leagues. Definitely. It was amazing. My first day I got called up, I threw that day. And I won that game. So...amazing! I'll never forget that day.


Away from the ballpark, what do you most like to do?

I've got my wife here. I talk to her a lot. I read the bible. I listen to music and watch TV. I like Friends and The Simpsons.

-----------------------------

Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE!

BallHype: hype it up!
Labels:

Comments

Bill B. said…
Good interview. Sergio seems like a down-to-Earth kind of player, and I hope he does get called up in September. He did a good job in his brief stint with the Fightins earlier this year.
August 15, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Jay Floyd said…
Yeah, very nice guy. Seems very well liked with the team.

He'll be back, sooner or later.
August 16, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

This Guy Speaks For All of You

This individual, interviewed by FOX 29 on Friday as the Phillies arrived back at Citizens Bank Park, said it best. When asked how he felt regarding the Phillies, he told Steve Keeley that he was, "Stoked, baby!" The unidentified phanatic then proclaimed, "We are talking about the Fightins here, the Fightins! Said!" Check out the media player below, as the transcribed version certainly does not do this phireball of phandom justice. The Phillies forced game 6 of the National League Championship Series with a 4-2 victory over the Giants in San Francisco on Thursday night. Game 6 will feature Roy Oswalt vs. Jonathan Sanchez in a return pitching match up from game 2. First pitch is scheduled for 7:57 pm EST at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Be sure to tune in on 97.3 ESPN's Weekend Sports Guide with Tyrone Johnson this afternoon around 1:15pm to hear me chatting about the Phillies! 97.3 is based in Atlantic City. You can listen live online HERE . _________
Post a Comment
Read more

Who is Your Favorite Willie 'Mays' Hayes?

PhoulBallz.com is wondering which individual who has portrayed Willie "Mays" Hayes is the favorite of the public. Hayes, of course, is the character made famous in the Major League motion picture series. In Major League , Willie "Mays" Hayes was portrayed by budding Hollywood actor Wesley Snipes, who would go on to action movie superstardom. Snipes has starred in major motion pictures like the Blade trilogy, Passenger 57 , Undisputed and many more. Snipes remains an impact Hollywood actor, despite legal troubles related to income tax evasion. Snipes was replaced for the sequel, Major League II when his busy career, and possibly the film's budget, would not allow him to return, by Omar Epps. Another budding actor, Epps had previously worked with director David S. Ward, on the film The Program , and landed the role of Hayes, who had become a Hollywood action star over the off-season that occured between the two films. Epps' career portraying athletes rol
1 comment
Read more

Wassup with dat? Vito Friscia edition

Friscia, image- Jay Floyd What's up with that Vito Friscia guy?  Well, he's a 24-year-old righty batting catcher that was drafted by the Phillies out of Hofstra University in 2019 with the team's final selection, 1200th overall, in the 40th round. But what's his deal?  Friscia opened the season with Class A Advanced Jersey Shore, where, in 16 games, he notched a .264 batting average with a pair of home runs, five doubles and seven RBI.  Last week, when Triple-A Lehigh Valley needed a reserve backstop, Friscia was promoted to fill their void.  When Rafael Marchan returned from a short stint in the big leagues, Friscia was assigned to the Double-A Reading roster.   Is he just a backup catcher?  For now, it seems that's his role.  But check out this quote from BlueClaws skipper Chris Adamson from earlier this month when I asked him about which player stood out to him as a guy that deserved recognition, but may not be getting it. "Vito Friscia is a guy that, earl
Post a Comment
Read more