Skip to main content

PhoulBallz Interview: Reading catcher Chace Numata

Chace Numata, image- Jay Floyd
Reading catcher Chace Numata is off to a terrific start to the young season.  Through three contests, the 24-year-old is 6-for-12 (.500 avg) with two doubles a homer and three RBI.

Originally a 14th round draft choice by the Phillies in 2010, the Hawaii native is excited to be playing in the Double-A Eastern League this year.  Prior to Reading's exhibition game last week at the Phils' Triple-A affiliate in Lehigh Valley, I chatted with Chace about this season, his past and his time in big league camp this year.  Read ahead for that full interview.


- I playfully wanted to ask you about being the Phillies' leader in batting average during spring training...

I was?

- Yeah, you batted .500!

That's right.  That's right.  I only got two at bats, but I think just being in big league camp and having those big league at bats, it was incredible.  The first at bat I struck out, obviously, but for some reason I was still kind of happy that I was playing, so going into that second at bat I felt like, alright it can only get better from here and, you know, it just so happened that I got a hit.

- Who did you face?  Do you have each moment committed to memory?

Don't remember.  I kind of blanked out for a solid two minutes.

- Who would you say helped a lot with you on the offensive side of your game to help you lock in that team batting crown?

Rob Ducey helped me out a lot last season and I kind of took what he told me into the off-season and then this spring, I got to work with Matt Stairs.  He helped me.  My swing was a little rusty coming into spring training and he just taught me some little things like stay back and work with the top hand, so my barrel can stay on plain instead of dropping.  Kinda went from there and tried to pick everyone's minds while I was there in big league camp.

- I haven't seen you in person since about four years ago when you were with Lakewood and my memories of you from then include you representing that team when they hosted the Sally League All-Star Game and of course catching Roy Halladay in his rehab appearance there.  Do those two things stand out for you, as far as career highlights?

Of course.  It still does.  Making All-Star rosters, that's definitely a great thing, but if I had to pick one moment from my professional career, it would be catch Doc Halladay.  You know?  Kinda like a surreal moment.  It's one of those things, you see him pitch on TV all the time and then here he is, sitting next to me in the locker room.  It's one of those things that I'll never forget. 

- Have you ever caught anyone else in a rehab outing or session that stands out as memorable?

I caught Jamie Moyer.  I thought that was a trip.  You know, a guy that had been playing in the league for such a long time and catching his bullpen, a 200-win guy.  I thought that was really cool.  I caught Cole Hamels a few times.  Pretty much everyone that came down and rehabbed while I was rehabbing as well, so it was really cool to see them in the training room and just talk stories with them and not feel like I'm left out.  

- I feel like it was a long road for you to get to Reading.  Maybe you feel the same way.  But after missing nearly a full season with injuries (wrist and elbow issues) in 2014, then playing the past two years in Clearwater, what does it mean to you to open the season with Double-A Reading?

Incredible!  Coming into the 2017 season, being a free agent, then signing back with the Phillies, I think this year has been really awesome.  Going to big league camp as a non-roster invitee, and then being able to leave Florida for the first time in three years I think, you know it's been a while that I've been in Single A.  A change of scenery, it's Double-A you know, Baseballtown.  It's definitely a cool experience!

- So, you mention Baseballtown there and I'm sure you've already heard the reputation that FirstEnergy Stadium has as a hitters' park.  How will you plan to guide and lead this pitching staff in what can be troublesome territory?

You know what?  I that's just getting in touch with my pitchers.  Being able to have a similar game plan.  Most of the pitchers here, I've already caught them, so we have a similar game plan, knowing that it is a small ballpark, you know, but they still have to hit it good to get it out.  And just remembering that it's in their hands and they're going to get guys out more than hitters are going to get hits.

- What does the chance to play an exhibition in Lehigh Valley mean to you, being able to see the park and what is ahead, up a level?

This game is almost like a fresh start, going into our 2017 season with our Double-A Squad and against out Triple-A squad.  It'll be cool being back on the field.  It's almost like spring training all over again.  You know, obviously, we're out here trying to beat them, but we're also out here still trying to have fun and work on some things that we need to do as a team. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Lidge Shaky, T-Mac Honored in Trenton

TRENTON, NJ- Brad Lidge made his second rehab appearance for the Double A Reading Phillies on Thursday night and it didn't go as well as the veteran reliever or the team had hoped. Lidge struggled with his command and turned in a rather poor outing for the club that entered the night in a playoff race, 1 game behind division rival Trenton for the Wild Card spot in the Eastern Division. On the disabled list since spring training with a strained right rotator cuff, Lidge experienced an elbow strain when he was working back from that issue in late May. In his outing against the Yankees affiliate in Trenton, Lidge displayed difficulty with his control as he threw three wild pitches, hit two batters, walked another and gave up a single, all while letting up two earned runs on 28 pitches in 2/3 of an inning. After the disappointing performance, Lidge was composed and focused on some positive aspects, having reached 89 and 90 MPH on scouts' radar guns, according to some reports. ...

A Letter to This Guy

Dear Cardinals fan, When a homerun ball is hit in your direction, do not close your eyes and raise both hands far above your head, leaving your face/chest/neck/head defenseless. Jayson Werth long balls to the cranium are probably not very comfortable. Next time, let the guy in the pajama pants behind you take a crack at it. He may not know how to dress well, but he keeps his eyes open in the face of killer shots from World Champion outfielders. Love, PhoulBallz.com PS- Stay hot.

Kendrick & LaGrossa- Second Phils/Survivor Marriage

On Saturday, Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick married 3-time Survivor contestant and former Flyers employee Stephenie LaGrossa. The couple exchanged vows in front of 105 guests at the Silverado Resort in Napa, California. Their special day featured many personalized aspects, including cocktail hour snacks modeled in the fashion of mini Philly cheesesteaks, as well as the couple's two dogs, Bebe and Champ, serving as flower girl and ring bearer during the ceremony. The pets wore a white dress and a tuxedo, respectively. Kendrick is now the second Phillies pitcher to marry a former contestant of the CBS reality competition program, as lefty Cole Hamels wedded Heidi Strobel, who appeared on the sixth season of Survivor, in 2007. _________________________________________________________________ Be sure to follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter, for updates, stats and info, by clicking HERE . Photos- People.com