Skip to main content

BlueClaws Quotables: Manager Marty Malloy Talks

Marty Malloy, image- Jay Floyd
During their opening home stand recently I had the opportunity to chat with new skipper of the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws Marty Malloy. 

The 45-year-old spent time as a player in the big leagues with the Braves and Marlins.  Since he retired from playing, Malloy, the 12th manager in BlueClaws history, has managed the Astros' Gulf Coast League team for the past three seasons.

Among the topics Malloy touches on are highly ranked prospects such as starting pitcher Sixto Sanchez and outfielder Mickey Moniak.  He also speaks on the leadership of some returning players, the crowds in Lakewood and more.  Read ahead for those quotes.

-I asked about his early impressions on Sixto Sanchez as well as Mickey Moniak...

It's a great impression what they've done.  You know, I'm very fortunate, lucky if you will, to have two guys of that caliber at that age at this level on this team.  And what they do bring to the table, it can only rub off in a good way for other kids that are here to go along this journey as well.

-I asked about returning players Harold Arauz, Zach Morris, Cord Sandberg and if they could be leaders toward guys wearing the Lakewood uniform for the first time...

It's so early in the season I don't think we have truly reached that point yet.  I kind of think behind the scenes is where this has happened, as far as what to expect, what to look for.  Rather it was it Hagerstown or it was in Kannapolis now leading up to (the team coming home).  Just for them to be able to share their past and what they've seen in this league for all these new guys that didn't know what to expect and what was going to take place.

-Speaking on his early impressions of Lakewood...

Unbelievable!  I've played in a lot of stadiums, including in the big leagues, and this stadium in a lot of ways reminds me of Louisville, Kentucky when I was in Triple-A.  One of my favorite places of all time.  So...to walk into this stadium, after coming off the road, to see this, is for the South Atlantic League I don't think you can beat it. 

-Additional thoughts on Sandberg...

He's somebody that has been in the trenches, that's had success, that's had failure, has been through the leagues, has been through the bus rides, just little things that he can share and be a positive influence on a day to day basis.  And, you know, a position player or a pitcher, so to speak, may be having a bad day or when everything's just not right and he's been through some ups and downs, so the fact that he can share experience from this league with these kids can only help.

He's got off to a good start, which we would have expected, but just to have his presence in there when times may not be going good, you know what you're going to get out of him.  It's, obviously, a good thing for the team.

-A few words on what fans can expect of pitcher Adonis Medina...

A power arm.  Got a good mix.  He's going to be consistently in the strike zone with a power arm.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

PhoulBallz Interview: RHP Ben Brown talks TJ recovery, O'Hoppe, cancelled season

Image- MiLB.com Out of action since last May when it was determined he required Tommy John surgery, righty pitching prospect Ben Brown is using the downtime of the pandemic hiatus to continue his physical recovery.  A 33rd round draft selection of the Phillies back in 2017, Brown made his professional debut that same year, posting a 2.57 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP in 10 appearances in the rookie level Gulf Coast League.  The following season, Brown began to make a name for himself in the GCL, striking out 16 batters in one July appearance.  He would post a 3.12 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 10 games (eight starts) before earning a promotion and finishing the season with a pair of outings with Class A short-season Williamsport. Brown, a Long Island, NY native, opened last year with Class A Lakewood.  In four appearances with the BlueClaws, he struck out 20, walked four and allowed no runs in 13 2/3 innings and looked well on his way to making an impact on betting odds and avai...

2019 Phillies Prospects Countdown: #7 LHP JoJo Romero

JoJo Romero, image- Jay Floyd With a growing crop of very talented pitching prospects in the Phillies organization, left-hander JoJo Romero is certainly among the standouts. The five-foot-11 200-pounder was the Phils’ 4th round draft selection in 2016. That year he helped Yavapai College, the same school that the Phillies drafted Kenny Giles from in 2011, clinch the JuCo World Series, leading the way with an 11-5 record, a 3.64 ERA and a 10.2 K/9 mark. He also tossed a complete game gem to earn the win in their title game. After signing with the Phillies, Romero made his professional debut as a member of the short-season Class A Williamsport Crosscutters. There, he notched a 2-2 record with a 2.56 ERA while striking out 31 and walking 11 in 45 2/3 innings. In 2017, he got off to a terrific start with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws. In 13 starts, Romero tallied a 5-1 record with a 2.11 ERA and a 9.3 K/9 mark and was honored as a South Atlantic League mid-season All-Star. R...

World Series Preview: Phillies vs. Astros

The Fall Classic is set to get underway on Friday with the Phillies opening on the road to take on the Astros in a best-of-seven series. This year marks 75 years since the first time a World Series was televised and this year each game will be broadcast on the FOX television network.  ESPN will have the radio broadcast and that feed can be streamed by using this link . Game 1 Friday, 8:03pm Eastern....in Houston.  RHP Aaron Nola (11-13, 3.25 ERA) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (18-4, 1.75 ERA).  In 16 road starts during the regular season this year, Nola notched a 5-9 record with a 3.00 ERA.  Nola has struck out 18 and walked three in 17 1/3 innings pitched this postseason.  Earlier this month, Nola tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings at Houston.  In 15 home starts during the regular season, Verlander sported a 10-1 record with a 1.64 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP.  Verlander has a 5.68 ERA and has not recorded a win in seven career World Series starts.  Verlander has...