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

Sunday School: Phillies History Lesson 73

Danny Ozark was the Phillies' manager from 1973-1979. During his tenure as the team's general, Ozark led Philadelphia to three straight division titles. In his playing days, Ozark was a first baseman, who was a career minor leaguer in the Dodgers system. When Ozark took over the team in 1973, the Phillies were fresh off 5 consecutive losing seasons and 3 straight last place finishes. During his first season in charge, the Phillies would again finish in last place, 20 games under .500, but as his core of young talent, like Mike Schmidt and Larry Bowa, developed, the Phillies' win totals rose. Within 2 years, the Phillies were above .500 and in the playoff hunt until late in the season and the most successful era of Phillies history was about to begin. By 1976, the Phillies were headed to the post-season for the first time since 1950. The Phils would enjoy a 10-game lead over their nearest division rival at the midway point of the season. Despite a lul, which saw their lead d...

PhoulBallz Interview: First round pick Bryson Stott

Bryson Stott, image- Jay Floyd Shortstop Bryson Stott , the Phillies' first round draft selection this year, has enjoyed a successful initial pro campaign.  En route to being recognized as an All-Star for the Class A short-season Williamsport Crosscutters the 21-year-old UNLV product has tallied a .295 average with six home runs and 25 RBI in 45 minor league contests. Last week I spoke with the lefty hitting Stott to discuss his transition to professional baseball, joining the Phillies organization and plenty more.  Read ahead for that interview.  -Obviously, your performance and the production on the field is going well, but how do you feel you have adapted to the pro life? It feels good.  You hear about the everyday grind, but you don't really believe it till you feel it. I would say that's the difference between college and the pros, is you're not practicing, you're playing games every day.  I would say that's the biggest difference.  But I...

Velasquez shut down, Eflin on deck?

Eflin with Reading in 2015, image- Jay Floyd Following Vincent Velasquez leaving his start after just two pitches for the Phillies on Wednesday, righty prospect Zach Eflin was pulled from his start for Triple-A Lehigh Valley at Gwinnett. The 22-year-old sports a 5-1 record with a 3.14 ERA and a .210 batting average against in 10 starts for the IronPigs this season. He could take the place of Velasquez if he is required to miss any additional time. Initial word on Velasquez after he threw two fastballs that clocked in the 86-87 MPH range (considerably slower than the 94 MPH he averages) and was swiftly pulled from his outing, is that he has a biceps strain. He'll be further evaluated in the coming days. Prior to the regular season, Eflin got a taste of competing against big leaguers when he was charged with 12 runs (nine earned) on 11 hits while striking out two and walking one with a wild pitch in three innings of work in an intrasquad exhibition that pitted the Phils...