Skip to main content

Reading Quotables: Dusty Wathan speaks on sweep in Trenton and his players

D Wathan
Dusty Wathan, image- Jay Floyd
Following a dominating three-game sweep over division rival Trenton on the road in which his team outscored the opposition in the series 26-3, Double-A Reading manager Dusty Wathan took some time to talk about the impact on the playoff race the match ups had. He also offered feedback on Roman Quinn's health status, Ethan Martin's return from the disabled list, Andrew Knapp's outstanding offensive output as well as the demotion of a pitcher and plenty more. Read ahead for all the exclusive insight from Dusty.

-You guys came to town tied with the Thunder for a playoff spot and swept them. How big is that for you guys?

It's good. You come in to play a team that you're running neck and neck with right there and then you come in and kind of make a statement with a three game sweep, if there are such things as comfortable wins, with three comfortable wins, it's good for us. We get a little bit of breathing room, but obviously, there's 30-some games left. There's a long way to go but we played played really good this series.

-There may be some pressure on the club, as it's loaded with talent, to win the Eastern League title. Do you think that's something the club can truly make a run at?

There's a lot of guys in this clubhouse that I think are going to have successful major league careers and when you have a te]]am like that, especially at this level, you should win some games. I think the last three games are indicative of anything we have going forward and we should have a chance at this thing coming down to the end.

-Is there any update on Roman Quinn, who is out with a hip injury, rehabbing in Florida?

I know he's doing some baseball activities and stuff down in Florida, but I don't really have an idea. I'd like to get him back by the end of the season and get him some more at bats, but it's one of those things that's kind of day by day and see how he feels and make sure that he's 100 percent. The way that he plays and the way that he utilizes his legs, I think it's important that he's 100 percent coming back.


-Would the be a chance he stays in Florida and maybe plays for Clearwater for the remainder of the season instead of returning to Reading?

I would doubt it. I would say that he'd come back here because he was here and was having some success, so I would say that he come back here, but that wouldn't be my call.

-Righty Ethan Martin returns off the disabled list, following an ankle sprain. What's the outlook for Ethan going forward?

He's just one of the guys in the bullpen. We're gonna use everybody when they have the opportunity to pitch when it's their day. Obviously, he came off the DL today, he said he felt fine, so we're going to use him like we would everyone else. Obviously, Shackleford's the closer, but everybody else, they've got their certain roles and they'll come in to pitch and we'll just try to get him acclimated back into game situations.

-Catcher Andrew Knapp's be super hot for you guys (.385 average, 34 RBI in 31 games). What's been the big thing for him?

Obviously, he's swung the bat really well. He's made a lot of contact, squaring a lot of balls up, having success from both sides of the plate. I think he's comfortable. I think it's one of those situations where you get on a roll and feel good about yourself, the confidence is high and when you have the ability he has, you can put yourself in a good situation every night.

-Is there any pressure on you with a stocked roster right now to get guys at bats?

I don't think so. For the most part, the guys that are out there are the guys that have been here that are obviously swinging the bat well. I tell these guys, you get to this point in the season, you earn your playing time. You've got to swing the bat and you have to produce when you get to this level. Everybody's kind of got their chance and we're going to go with the guys that we think are gonna help us win ball games now.

-With the return of Martin to the active roster, is there a corresponding transaction?

Leiter's gonna go to the Florida State League and start. I think that's the best situation for him, to leave him as a starter. He was was gonna be toward the bottom of the bullpen here or be the long guy, or whatever, so with the starting pitching we have and some success with guys, we thought it was best instead of him throwing two or three innings a week to go down there and continue to pitch. You know, I told him and I'll tell you if something happens with anybody (in the starting rotation), more than likely he'd be at the top of the list to come right back.

Wathan also made it clear during the series that he plans to continue to use new acquisition Nick Williams in center field and in the leadoff spot, where he has batted in his first three games with the club. An eventual return of Quinn could result in some shuffling, as both that position and that spot in the batting order previously belonged to Quinn.

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...

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...

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...