Skip to main content

Chase D'Arnaud Q&A with PhoulBallz.com

Yesterday, PhoulBallz.com featured an article about the D'Arnaud brothers, Chase and Travis. Much of that took a look at the sibling rivalry from Chase's point of view. You can read that post by clicking here.

Chase D'Arnaud is a short stop prospect in the Pirates system, currently playing for the Double-A level Altoona Curve. Chase had more to say on his season and professional career to date. Some of that action lies ahead.


You've really cranked things up and turned it on here in June (.329 avg. this month, after batting .209 through April & May). What improvements have you made and/or what do you attribute to getting things turned around this month?

Well, coming out this season, in the very beginning, I didn't really feel my swing out and I saw some footage a couple weeks ago from my Arizona Fall League at bats, when out hitting coordinator came into town, and it seemed to really help me out a lot. Right now I just feel really balanced and I feel like my swing compliments my approach right now. Which is very important...where as before I had the right approach, but my swing just wasn't complimenting. Now I feel like I am working the count and getting the ball to the right-center gap, like I should be.


At the tail end of spring training, you got to play at Citizens Bank Park when the Pirates visited Philadelphia for the Phillies' annual On-deck Series. What was that like for you to get that opportunity to play in a Major League Park with and against big league players?

It was amazing. I remember the first inning, I was out there, my heart was beating hard and everything was really loud. That's a park that's really built upward and you feel like you're in a Tic Tac box and everyone's just right on top of you. It was an amazing feeling and it was definitely a mile stone for me, playing with big leaguers in the park that day.


Was that something you will always remember and kind of cherish?

Yeah, definitely. Hopefully, I have many more of those kinds of games ahead in the regular season.


The MLB amateur draft just passed. Just a couple years back, you were in the mix with all of that action. What was your draft experience like back in 2008?

I was at home. I took the day off and stayed home...every round that went by I kept biting my lip, 'cause I was getting real anxious. And then I got the call from the Pirates in the fourth round and I was so excited. I worked hard to where I was at that point and getting drafted was the first step to getting the bigs. Right now, I'm in Double-A and I am still striving hard to get there and I am working hard every day.


What do you think is the best thing about the Pirates system, or something that people might be surprised to learn about the Pirates system?

Not too long ago the Pirates kind of flushed out their system and hired a whole new (coaching) staff. I really enjoy working with our staff and all our coordinators. They're all very knowledgable and still students of the game. I'll sit next to them during a game and they'll talk to me and I learn a lot of stuff from those guys. It's important to the program.

______________________

Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Eric B Needs to be Cut (and My Name is Rakim)

While the Phillies are on a hot streak this month, one player on the team is not. Eric Bruntlett is 1-for-12 in July. Since the start of May, Bruntlett's apex in batting average has been .167 on June 14th. Bruntlett's ineptitude can be tolerated no longer. Get rid of this guy NOW! Eric B. is the 2009 Endy Chavez. Remember Endy...the guy who in 2005 managed just 2 hits in his final 42 games played as a Phillie? That is about the sort of output the Phillies are getting from Bruntlett, and it's time to fix this void. Julio Lugo was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox and is expected to become a free agent. The Metropolitans are rumored to be interested. Why wouldn't the Phillies be interested in a guy who could surely outhit Bruntlett? Lugo was hitting .284 through 37 games played this season with Boston. Suspended Lehigh Valley IronPig Pablo Ozuna is eligible to return next Wednesday. Ozuna is batting .294 through 51 games at triple A. Miguel Cairo is also...

Yankees Fans Misled By Pepsi Promotion

**** Today, New York Yankees fans attended a Pepsi promotion in Times Square hoping for chances to win opening day tickets to the new stadium, but the tickets, which were difficult to track down due to poor organization on Pepsi's part, were actually for a game in June. Furthermore, the 250 pairs that were promised were actually only 100 pairs. The fans, who were made to sprint through traffic over multiple city blocks when locations for the promotion changed, quickly turned against the soda brand by pooring out their beverages and chanting anti-Pepsi phrases. Yankees fans are even threatening a boycott of Pepsi. An appearance by Yankee great Goose Gossage could not even settle the angry mob, as he had to be whisked away, as a precaution, according to the Daily News . Ooo , I'd hate to see what "the worst fans in sports" (Philadelphia fans) would have done to their free Pepsi cans and beloved reliever in that situation. Because this happened in a non-Philly city, th...

5th spot, Wall, Old timers, Links

The race for the Phillies' fifth starter spot is still on. While it's not fully fair to compare Grapefruit League stats, when some of the pitchers have had "B game" and scrimmage outings mixed in, Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco look to be falling behind Chan Ho Park and "Jay" Happ. Happ added to his solid Grapefruit League stats (2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP in 4 games) today against the Rays. Pitching coach Rich Dubee had been displeased with Kendrick even before he surrendered 8 earned runs in 3 innings of work yesterday against the Braves. Park has been working on improving his change up, with (Coach) Jamie Moyer. Park noticed Moyer's location control on his change, so he sought out Moyer to teach him the grip and positioning of the ball. Moyer, of course, feels good about helping anyone on the Phils' staff. Park has been coached by greats like Nolan Ryan with the Rangers and Sandy Koufax with the Dodgers, so Moyer is in great company. Park is working h...