Skip to main content

PhoulBallz Interview: Reading skipper Greg Legg

Greg Legg, image- Jay Floyd
Last week I spent time with manager of the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils, Greg Legg.  The skipper offered his thoughts on several players including corner infielder Zach Green, backstop Deivi Grullon, starting pitcher JoJo Romero, outfielder Cornelius Randolph and others.  Read ahead to check out the interview.

-Zach Green's been consistent this year.  Showing a lot of power, when in previous seasons, due to injuries, maybe he didn't get to show it off that much.  Thoughts on him?

I think just being healthy.  Getting to play steady and getting to play the field and not having to worry about "Do I have to go down?" He's just taking advantage of the opportunity to play every day and it's been fun for Zach.  Years ago, the talent was all there, but now he's getting to showcase it.  I think just him playing and being free of injuries is letting him be him and doing what he's done probably his whole life. 

-Prior to the season, you were really high on Deivi Grullon and he's done nothing but excel this year.  It's exciting to see a guy like him really turn it on at the upper levels.  What your impression of him right now?

He keeps growing as a catcher, as a receiver.  Starting to take a leadership role, kind of figuring it out.  With him, our team's starting to play better.  I'm real thrilled for him.  With a bat in his hand, he's got a knack for putting the bat on the ball.  But now he's just showing more power.  I'm real happy for him.  I got one right!

-Some of this team's pitchers have been outstanding of late.  Mainly JoJo Romero, whose last five starts have been great, the opposite of his first five starts this season.  That's a nice turnaround to see.  Can you share some thoughts on him and maybe some of your other pitchers?

Hats off to Schrenky (pitching coach Steve Schrenk), the game plans they're coming up with and the work ethic of JoJo.  So, it's all them it's all in there and I think with the weather warming up and simplifying the game plan and JoJo just being JoJo.  He's done it his whole career and I think we're starting to see the real JoJo come out.  Couple other guys: (Edgar) Garcia's really doing the job out of the bullpen.  It's good to have (Ranger) Suarez back from his hamstring and we're starting to come together as a group and hopefully good things will happen. 

-How about some of these others guys that are sidelined?  Zach Coppola's on the disabled list.  What is his situation?

Not sure.  He's gonna see a doctor in the next few days.  He's out with an elbow injury.

-The other Garcia, Elniery.  What's can you share on him?

We're just giving him-- we're working on some things.  They just put him on the DL, with turf toe.

-Cornelius Randolph, he's performed perhaps as a guy his age, 20-years-old for the first couple months of the season, might have been expected to.  What are your thoughts on him?

Real thrilled.  The way he's going about his business.  The way he's playing. The way he's practicing.
His work ethic's outstanding.  Defensively, he's played real well.  Offensively, you look at the numbers and you say to yourself, "He's hitting right at .200?!"  The at bats have been a lot better than that.  The grind-- He's only going to keep getting better.  It's a huge adjustment.  I don't know what I would have done at 20.  I mean, you don't see a lot of 20-year-olds in the league.  There's a couple that have success. I think he means more to our team than the numbers he's putting up right now.  I look for him to improve.

-Reading's usually pretty well represented in the Eastern League  All-Star Game.  With your group, do you think there could be a lot of guys in that game?

There's a couple guys that have had good years and I hope they get voted in.  The more the merrier.  I hope seven or eight of them are in there.  We have a lot of good candidates.  As do some other teams.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

PhoulBallz Interview: Reading second baseman Jesmuel Valentin

Jesmuel Valentin, image- Jay Floyd Switch-hitting infielder Jesmuel Valentin has been a bit of an underrated contributor with the Double-A Reading Fightins. Heading into action on Friday, Valentin was batting .339 over his last 14 games. Overall this season, the 22-year-old is batting .282 with four home runs and 35 RBI in 64 games. Valentin, who plays mostly second base, but dabbles at shortstop a bit also, is the son of former big leaguer Jose Valentin . The Puerto Rico native was a supplementary round pick (51st overall) of the Dodgers in 2012. He was acquired by the Phils as part of the Roberto Hernandez trade in 2014. Recently, I spoke with Jesmuel about his team's success, growing up around the game and more. Read ahead for that full interview. -The Reading team has been great and you've contributed very nicely to the club's success. What are your thoughts on competition in the Eastern League this year? I just came here with the mindset that...

Rappers in Phillies Caps

Weekend greetings to you phine pholks out there. Today's post features pictures of rappers wearing Phillies caps. Why rappers in Phillies caps, you ask? Because... Any other questions? We will start things off properly by going with a highly recognizable hip hop star. 50 Cent stays constantly relavant by consistantly creating radio friendly material to help sell (G) units, while he "keeps it real" by still rapping about the thug life he lived before becoming the 2nd highest earning black entertainer in America. 50 is seen here in a recent interview rocking a throw-back Phillies cap. Next up we'll use a throw-back screen cap from what may be the very first major appearance by a rapper wearing Phillies gear. Chuck D, of legendary rap group Public Enemy, wore a Phillies cap in the music video for rap anthem Fight The Power in 1989. The song was the lead single from the soundtrack for Spike Lee's film Do The Right Thing . Next up we'll go with some home grown tal...

2018 Phillies Prospect Countdown: #25 Second Baseman Jesmuel Valentin

Jesmuel Valentin, image- Jay Floyd Second baseman Jesmuel Valentin has become a solid contributor at each level he has played and could possess the ability to continue that success as he approaches the big leagues. Last year in spring training with the big league team Valentin proved he could contribute and earned consideration at making the Phillies opening day roster. His 2017 was cut short at the Triple-A level due to an injury in May, so he wasn't healthy for a call up during the season. But now, fully healthy and on the diamond in the Roberto Clemente League (the Puerto Rico Winter League), Valentin is hopeful he'll get another shot at his big league dream this year. Selected as the 51st overall draft pick in 2012, Valentin was quickly a well-hyped prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers system. Upon signing his initial professional contract fresh out of high school, the switch-hitter debuted in the rookie level Arizona League, posting a .211 average while...