BlueClaws Quotables: Numata, Morandini and Fultz on Halladay Rehab

Roy Halladay and Chace Numata talk prior to Tuesday's game, image- Jay Floyd

These quotes, from prior to Phillies hurler Roy Halladay's rehab appearance with Class A Lakewood, were initially intended to be posted on the site before Tuesday's game got underway. WiFi connection issues at the ballpark resulted in some delay, but here they are, in a delayed fashion.

Questions for Halladay's battery mate Chace Numata, BlueClaws manager Mickey Morandini and pitching coach Aaron Fultz are all included.

Chace Numata...

- You're probably the most excited guy out here on the side of the field, being paired up with Roy Halladay for his rehab game. Talk about that a bit.

Most definitely. I get to catch Roy Halladay. He's a great pitcher and he's coming back off his injury. I'm hoping to learn a lot tonight. You know, just how he throws and what his thinking is about the game and how he throws.

- Typically, batteries will meet prior to a game and take some time to put together a game plan. Is there any difference with a big leaguer, or will you two still put your heads together to get things in order?

Definitely. I feel like I need to step my game up a little more, you know? Trying to meet his expectations and catch the best game of my life. I've still gotta talk to him and find out his game plan and find out what time he's going to go stretch, 'cause I don't want to be late.

Mickey Morandini...

- Chace Numata seems pretty giddy to be catching Halladay. Was it tough to make the call of who would be paired up with Halladay?

I actually originally had Gabriel Lino in the lineup, but he twisted his ankle yesterday and came in a little "hobbly" today and he was a little sore and I didn't want to push him. But, yeah, Chace is excited, I think, and he'll put down a finger and if Roy doesn't want to throw it, he'll put down another one. You know, Roy knows what he wants to throw and Numata's gotta go with that.

Aaron Fultz...

- In your American League days, did you compete against Roy and do you have any memories to share of those games against Halladay?

Oh, definitely. I played against him for many years and it was not just in the American League, but in interleague too. I don't know how many times I've seen him pitch, but we had his pitching coach in Toronto was my bullpen coach in Texas, so we had kind of a mutual thing and I heard a lot of stories about him, so I always watched him pretty closely. He was just always fun for me to watch 'cause he was pretty good.

- Catcher Chace Numata seems really excited for the chance to catch Roy. Do you have any thoughts on the pairing and the impact that a guy like Halladay could have on young player in his shoes?

I think it'll be good because we know that Roy's going to throw the pitches he wants to throw and hopefully, Chace can learn from it and try to read hitters and see that- I mean, you have to be excited to catch one of the best pitchers in the game. Bottom line, I'm hoping a lot of my guys go down there and watch him get ready to pitch the game, to see the preparation. And for lack of a better word, if they have any sense they're gonna be down there taking notes, 'cause like I said, he's one of the best in the game.

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