Skip to main content

Fightins Quotables: Altherr, Quinn, Martinez speak

This week I spoke with several members of the Double-A Reading Fightins roster. Outfielder Aaron Altherr, who spent a handful of days with the big league club last year, rising prospect Roman Quinn and 2011 second round pick Harold Martinez all took time to share their thoughts on various subjects. Read ahead for those exclusive quotes.

A Altherr
Aaron Altherr, image- Jay Floyd
Aaron Altherr:

-The 24-year-old spoke about what drives him in the game...

I gotta get back up there this season and hopefully I can stay up there. It drives each and every one of us. That's the ultimate goal is to get up to the big leagues and produce up there.

-Commenting on which players with the big club stood out as leaving an impression on him...

I always looked at Utley, the way he goes about his business. And even a younger guy like Domonic Brown, you know, he'd always come up to me and talk to me and show me the ropes. Guys like that really help you get comfortable up there and know that you can do it and it's not that much different. You just relax and play the game.

-Sharing thoughts on how he feels this year compared to last season, when he posted a .236 average with 14 homers and 57 RBI in 120 games at the same level...

I'm a lot more comfortable this year 'cause I know what my swing's doing this year. Last year, I was trying to find my swing the whole year and I couldn't find it. Just did a lot of work in the off-season and I feel like I've gotten it back and feel a lot more comfortable up there.


Roman Quinn:

-The 21-year-old outfielder speaking on playing behind the Reading pitching rotation that has so much buzz surrounding them...

I've always been one of those guys that goes after things hard and if I have a chance to take away a hit from a guy, I'm definitely going to do it and those guys, I know they're pitching their hearts out, so I'm going to give them everything I've got.

-On the topic of what it's like playing in front of Phillies fans in Reading...

It's very exciting. You can see the energy in the fans when they come out and I sign autographs for them before every game. It's very exciting. Great home field. We get good home crowds here and I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.

-Offering some feedback on the field at FirstEnergy Stadium...

It plays shallow, it's not a deep field. The walls, everything bounces back toward the middle. I like playing here.

-Giving some insight on how he feels about playing for coaches Dusty Wathan and Mickey Morandini...

It's definitely a blessing. These guys have been around the game a long time. Just being able to pick their brains and have them talk to me about the game and what to work on, offensively and defensively, it's a blessing.

For more from Quinn, read my recent feature on him by clicking HERE.

Harold Martinez:

-Talking about adjusting to and playing in the Double-A Eastern League...

I love it. It's been a long time since I had a lot of fun with a team and in the minor leagues, sometimes, you get caught up in doing for yourself. Here in Double-A you have a team that really wants to win and that makes it more fun. I'm enjoying my time and every time I get to play it's a blessing and I'm grateful every time I go out there.

-Speaking about if he feels pressure to perform better based on his early round draft spot...

I mean, they always say that once you're drafted, you're a thousand-dollar player like every body else, so (your draft spot) doesn't matter. I haven't played how I want to play. But, I'm a believer in God does everything for a reason and I'm very comfortable where I'm at now. Like I said, I haven't played how I've wanted to in my career, but I'm grateful for the opportunities I've had in the past. I've grown and without my struggles I wouldn't be- right now, I consider myself a lot smarter than when I was drafted. At this level you need that. That failure is one of the reasons I'm doing well. You learn a lot. When you fail, you learn a lot, so I am grateful for all those times I struggled.

-Sharing thoughts on what he's working on this year...

Baseball is so tough. You're always working mechanically. It's always in the back of your mind. I think when you get to this level, things are so even that- even, like I said, even when I don't play I don't lose days. The days I'm sitting on the bench...it's a blessing in disguise because I get to analyze the game the way you can't when you're playing and I see things that you can't (see) when you're playing. Then when it's my turn to play, I try to put that into effect. Right now, I'm trying to be ahead of the game mentally and be prepared for any situation, because you're going to fail regardless. This is a hard sport. I'm going miss ground balls, I'm going to throw balls bad, I'll miss- that's just how it is. I'm just working really hard on minimizing the times that mentally I'm not prepared.

Dusty Wathan:

-In a comment that wasn't included in his full interview located HERE, the manager of the club spoke of where last year's top draft pick Aaron Nola is, progress wise, compared to last August when he first pitched for Reading:

He's better. You know, his fastball command's always been there, but his breaking ball's better, the holding runners part of it is a lot better, kind of the intangible things he's starting to get more comfortable with. The pick off, you know PFP's and things like that it's getting a lot better.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Jersey Shore clinches playoff berth on final day of regular season

Ottto Kemp, image- Jay Floyd With an extra-inning victory over first-half division champions Hudson Valley on Sunday, the Class A Advanced Jersey Shore BlueClaws clinched the team's first playoff appearance since 2018, winning the second-half division title. Key performers in the BlueClaws' clincher were righty hurler Jason Ruffcorn, who threw three innings of relief to earn the victory and third baseman Otto Kemp, notched three hits, a walk, two stolen bases and plated the game winning run in the 11th inning on a sacrifice fly.  On top of that, Kemp, who turned 24-years-old on Saturday, made an absolute game-saving defensive play to help the club hold their lead in the bottom of the 11th frame. One of Jersey Shore's most consistent performers all season long has been right-handed reliever Cam Wynne.  The Phillies' 20th round draft pick in 2021 out of Nebraska.  In 34 appearances, one start, the 24-year-old tallied a 1-1 record with one save, a 2.44 ERA and a .190 batti

PhoulBallz Interview: BlueClaws OF Justin Crawford

Justin Crawford w/ junior reporter Evan At the age of 19, outfielder Justin Crawford has played his way into the conversation of being considered as one of baseball's top prospects. The son of four-time MLB All-Star Carl Crawford, Justin has looked every bit as impressive as his position as the 17th overall draft selection last year would have most fans thinking he should be.  He opened the season with Class A Clearwater where, in 69 games, he notched a .344/.399/.478 slash line.  And since mid-August when he was promoted to Class A Advanced Jersey Shore, the younger Crawford has posted a .300/.364/.440 line.  He's also stolen 44 bases in 52 attempts overall. And while the BlueClaws enter the final week of the regular season 1/2 game out of first place in their division, I spoke with Justin Crawford about the team's hopes of making the postseason for the first time since 2018. I also asked Justin about the similarities and differences between his skillset and his father'

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 . ______________