Skip to main content

Fightins Quotables: OF Zach Coppola talks spring training

Zach Coppola, image- Jay Floyd
In an occasional role with the big league Phillies this spring outfield prospect Zach Coppola impressed many.  In 10 games, the 23-year-old lefty batted posted a .273 average with two RBI and three stolen bases.

A 13th round draft selection by the Phils in 2015, Coppola has been a steady moved in the team's developmental ranks over the last couple of season.

Coppola, a .290 career hitter in the minors, could be a valuable contributor in years to come for the Phillies.

Last week, prior to opening the season with Double-A Reading, I talked with Zach about his time around the big club this pre-season.  Read ahead for that full interview.


-How would you describe your time around the major league team in spring training?

It was really fun just getting to know those guys, being around them, just seeing how they go about their business. It was cool especially with the new culture going on up there. It was an exciting time.

-With that mention of a new culture, you're referring to a more analytics based focus.  Is that stuff that you think will really help you guys?

Yeah, I think so. I mean with all the video stuff coming in and all the statcast and all that it’s pretty cool to look at. It’s definitely different. I think it’s definitely going to help us look further into more detailed stuff and get to know other people more, get to know ourselves more. So, I think it’s going to be pretty good.

-Down there in the Phillies complex, it's probably easy for a representative from the big league team to come by and present some information.  Do you have any idea yet how meetings might go to review new statistical details during the season?

I’m not entirely sure about that. I know we’ll have our video guy on the road with us this year, so I think that’s pretty cool. That’ll be good to look at the starting pitchers and get tendencies and stuff like that. I’m not entirely sure, in relation to the other stats and stuff like that, I’m not entirely sure how we’ll see those.


-Was there anyone that you picked up a lot from in spring training?

Just being with all the outfielders. You know, like Aaron Altherr and Nick Williams those guys just going about their business in the right way. Seeing how they do their outfield work and Sam Fuld working with the outfield guys, seeing them just talking situations and stuff like that I thought it was really cool just being in the dugout listening to them and (seeing) how they go about their business and stuff.

-Were there any memorable at bats for you during the big league games?

I had one myself, a game-tying two-RBI single which was pretty cool. The crowd was pretty loud, so that was fun. It was against the Pirates. It was just a cool situation, I came in the game in a big situation.

.-The season's starting out for you guys at home.  What are your thoughts on getting out here and playing in front of local Phillies fans?

These fans are some of the best in the league.  Home games are great. Playing on the road is great. You do see a lot of Phillie fans at all sorts of stadiums.  So, it's gonna be fun.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

PhoulBallz Q&A with Mike Stutes

Mike Stutes completes "The Reading Phils Mike Tri-fecta" over three days, here on PhoulBallz.com. Stutes, a 22 year old, was an 11th round selection by the Phillies in the 2008 amateur draft. Stutes, a right handed starting pitcher, helped lead Oregon State to the College World Series championship in both 2006 and 2007. Stutes and teammate Vance Worley are the first players to begin a season at Reading the year after being drafted since Pat Burrell did it in 1999. Stutes was the Phils' minor league pitcher of the month in August '08, when he went 4-1 with a 1.72 ERA in 6 starts. Check out my Q&A with the third Mike below. Can I get you to talk about the coaching staff and how they help you deal with ups and downs? They've been real positive with me. I started out good and then I hit a rough patch. They've stuck with me through it all. I haven't heard any negative words from them. Every day they try to come out, work with me, try to get me turned around...

Jason Knapp Q&A

PhoulBallz .com was fortunate enough to meet with Phillies prospect Jason Knapp just one day after he caught the attention of the baseball world with his 7 shut out innings, 14 strike out performance against the Indians' Lake County team. - I asked Jason, the Lakewood BlueClaw , for some thoughts about his big game... I had pretty good command of three pitches (fastball, curve, change up). I was on the same page with my catcher, D'Arnaud , and I ended up, ya know, I felt pretty good. - In a great performance like that, how much credit goes to Travis D'Arnaud , the catcher? More than you might expect, definitely. I didn't shake him off once. He told me what to throw and I do what I'm told. And if it works out, a lot of the credit goes to the catcher. - Does the lack of run support (Lakewood has scored 3 total runs in his 3 starts), in your few starts, increase your stress level, or enhance your focus? No, I just try to go out and do my job every outing. Ya know, we...

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...