Interview with Cody Overbeck

* Interviews

Recently, I had the chance to talk to Lehigh’s first baseman Cody Overbeck. Though the talk may have been brief, his answers to my admittedly novice questions were pretty insightful. Jump it for the transcript of my phone call.  

PhuturePhillies: First off, you’ve been in the system since 2008, when you were drafted in the 9th round. How did you feel when the Phillies signed Jim Thome instead of [possibly] calling you up for 2012? Do you feel like you’ve been passed over?

Cody Overbeck: No, I don’t think that. I mean, anytime you have a chance to sign someone like Jim Thome,  I think [the organization]’s got to jump on that kind of opportunity, and they did, so I can’t really be upset about that. He’s a future Hall of Famer.

PP: Do you think you can help at the MLB level right now?

CO:  I like to think I can, you know. I’m not really sure until I get that shot, so hopefully.

PP: You kind of started out as a third baseman, but it seems over the years you’ve transitioned more towards first. Why did you decide to make the change, and do you still think you can help out at third base?

CO: Well, that really wasn’t up to me to change, it kind of just happened. Last year they picked up [Carlos] Rivero, and I guess they needed somewhere for me to go. I like to think I can play third if I’m needed to, so we’ll just have to see. I really don’t care where I play, to tell you the truth, so we’ll see.

PP: You spent some time last year in the Arizona Fall League, how was [the experience of] playing baseball once your season was over?

CO: It was okay, It was nothing I haven’t done before. Coming from college, starting a short season and then going to [the intstructional league], and the year before I went to [Instructionals] too, it’s nothing I haven’t done before. I guess I was used to it.

PP: Correct me if I’m wrong, but you played on the same team as Bryce Harper [in the AFL], how was that? He seems like an interesting character

CO: *laughes* yeah he was interesting. He’s a great player, the things he’s done at his age is impressive.

PP: I don’t know if you comment on it, but a few weeks ago when Cole Hamels threw at [Harper], do you think that was kind of deserved? (note: stupid question, terrible wording. Sorry Cody…)

CO: well, I don’t know. Obviously he came out and said he was throwing at him, but, you know, *laughes* I don’t think he deserved it, by any means, but whatever.

PP: Fair enough. How impactful is Ryne Sandberg as a manager?

CO: I like him. I’ve said this before, somebody as good as he was to stay as positive as he does, you know he doesn’t really say anything negative to the team as far as “not doing this” or “not doing that”. I think he’s a great manager, and I like playing for him.

PP: Do you think with the team you have right now in Lehigh, obviously off to a hot start, do you think you can make the playoffs again with the way you’re playing at this point?

CO: Yeah, definitely. We’ve won a lot of games so far, I think we’re just behind Pawtucket and leading the Wild Card right now. But I think we have a playoff team, I don’t really check the stats a lot, but I see no reason why we shouldn’t be in the playoffs.

Follow Cody on Twitter @CodyOverbeck, and please leave any comments/critiques about my interview, I always appreciate feedback. 

11 thoughts on “Interview with Cody Overbeck”

    1. Bryan, thanks for sharing the interview with us and most real fans appreciate your efforts to learn more about our prospects. As for Ty, my mother said if you can’t say something nice then keep quiet applies.

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      1. Bryan, how did Cody feel about playing Left Field as that may his quickest way to Philadelphia?

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  2. Thanks Bryan for doing these interviews! Always interesting to hear what the players have to say.

    Personally I’m always interested in these sorts of questions: What do you think are your strong suits (best pitch; ability to go the other way; power to pull; etc)? How have you improved the most since signing? What things are you working on now? How has the Phillies organization helped your development? What things have they asked you to change? What improvements have they helped you make? What’s the hardest part about the minor leagues?

    More broadly, I can’t comment on your interview style but it is better to have general topics you want to touch on and then try to have a conversation as opposed to going down a list of questions that may not be related from question to question.

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    1. I agree with this. I think those questions can provide a lot of insight into some behind the scenes stuff that’s hard to find information on.

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        1. I’d be curious to see if he (or anyone you interview), ever uses statistics to judge themselves, or to judge an opponent, or even advanced saber type statistics, or if they just don’t care about stats when they’re trying to learn the game. We rely on stats so much when we don’t get a regular first hand look at these guys, I wonder if they even care aside from basics like AVG, OBP (maybe), HR and such.

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        2. I just lke to know what mechanical changes did the Phillies suggest he incorporate at the plate since he was playing at Nebraska.

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        3. Can you ask Cody Ashe how difficult the move to 3B from 2B was? Also, ask if he ever heard of Richie Ashburn?

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