Skip to main content

BlueClaws Quotables: Morandini Speaks on Quinn, Tocci, Walter

Mickey Morandini, Photo- Jay Floyd
Last week I spoke with Class A Lakewood BlueClaws manager Mickey Morandini and he offered his thoughts on a few of his players, including shortstop prospect Roman Quinn and 17-year-old outfielder Carlos Tocci...


On switch-hitting Roman Quinn's turnaround this season, batting .303 with three HR and 12 RBI since April, when he sported a .202 average with two homers and six RBI-

He's getting more comfortable, especially left-handed.  Seeing more pitches is the big thing for him.  He was a little bit too aggressive early in the counts, at times, swinging at some pitches up.  But, now he's starting to draw some walks.  The on base percentage, I challenged him...he was about .240, at one point, and I challenged him to get to .330, .340 in a month.  He got there in about three weeks.  He's up to about .340, so it's just him getting comfortable left-handed, getting the confidence back.  A lot of it has to do with going up there and believing in yourself and swinging at better pitches. He's got real good bat speed from that left side, it's just a matter of getting some more at bats.


On Kevin Walter's Class A debut last week, in which he allowed one earned run over four innings-

He threw the ball real well.  He was aggressive in the strike zone.  He had two innings where he got into some trouble and he worked his way out of it both time.  He only gave up a run in the third and had the bases loaded in the fourth and got out of it and, obviously, when you win a close game like that (Lakewood beat Delmarva, 5-3), that's a big part of it, so I was happy with the way he threw.


On righty batting prospect Carlos Tocci picking things up offensively as of late, batting .261 since April, when he tallied a .192 average-

He's getting better and better.  Just like Quinny, he's getting more comfortable.  (His) confidence is really high right now.  I like to give him some at bats in that two spot at times and he's done well there.  He's gonna swing the bat and put the ball in play and now he's starting the pull the ball with a little more consistency.  Early in the year, everything was going to right field and now he's starting to pull the ball a lot more and the average is starting to climb.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

PhoulBallz Interview: Reading second baseman Jesmuel Valentin

Jesmuel Valentin, image- Jay Floyd Switch-hitting infielder Jesmuel Valentin has been a bit of an underrated contributor with the Double-A Reading Fightins. Heading into action on Friday, Valentin was batting .339 over his last 14 games. Overall this season, the 22-year-old is batting .282 with four home runs and 35 RBI in 64 games. Valentin, who plays mostly second base, but dabbles at shortstop a bit also, is the son of former big leaguer Jose Valentin . The Puerto Rico native was a supplementary round pick (51st overall) of the Dodgers in 2012. He was acquired by the Phils as part of the Roberto Hernandez trade in 2014. Recently, I spoke with Jesmuel about his team's success, growing up around the game and more. Read ahead for that full interview. -The Reading team has been great and you've contributed very nicely to the club's success. What are your thoughts on competition in the Eastern League this year? I just came here with the mindset that...

Rappers in Phillies Caps

Weekend greetings to you phine pholks out there. Today's post features pictures of rappers wearing Phillies caps. Why rappers in Phillies caps, you ask? Because... Any other questions? We will start things off properly by going with a highly recognizable hip hop star. 50 Cent stays constantly relavant by consistantly creating radio friendly material to help sell (G) units, while he "keeps it real" by still rapping about the thug life he lived before becoming the 2nd highest earning black entertainer in America. 50 is seen here in a recent interview rocking a throw-back Phillies cap. Next up we'll use a throw-back screen cap from what may be the very first major appearance by a rapper wearing Phillies gear. Chuck D, of legendary rap group Public Enemy, wore a Phillies cap in the music video for rap anthem Fight The Power in 1989. The song was the lead single from the soundtrack for Spike Lee's film Do The Right Thing . Next up we'll go with some home grown tal...

2018 Phillies Prospect Countdown: #25 Second Baseman Jesmuel Valentin

Jesmuel Valentin, image- Jay Floyd Second baseman Jesmuel Valentin has become a solid contributor at each level he has played and could possess the ability to continue that success as he approaches the big leagues. Last year in spring training with the big league team Valentin proved he could contribute and earned consideration at making the Phillies opening day roster. His 2017 was cut short at the Triple-A level due to an injury in May, so he wasn't healthy for a call up during the season. But now, fully healthy and on the diamond in the Roberto Clemente League (the Puerto Rico Winter League), Valentin is hopeful he'll get another shot at his big league dream this year. Selected as the 51st overall draft pick in 2012, Valentin was quickly a well-hyped prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers system. Upon signing his initial professional contract fresh out of high school, the switch-hitter debuted in the rookie level Arizona League, posting a .211 average while...