The Phillies 2017 Media Tour was in Williamsport tonight. I have collected a series of quotes from the event as tweeted by Mitch Rupert. Mitch is the Crosscutters’ beat writer for the Williamsport Sun-Gazette. You can follow Mitch on Twitter here.
Almost all the quotes are from Pete Mackanin and Steve Noworyta, Assistant Director, Player Development (under Joe Jordan).
I'll be at the Crosscutters' annual Hot Stove Banquet tonight, Pete Mackanin, Roman Quinn and Pat Borders among those attending
— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) January 16, 2017
Pete Mackanin: Trainer's report says Aaron Nola is at 100 percent with his arm and we're waiting for spring to see how he holds up.
— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) January 16, 2017
Pete Mackanin: Cesar Hernandez has turned himself into our everyday leadoff hitter and we think he can still get better.
— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) January 16, 2017
Steve Noworyta: Mickey Moniak will be challenged with an assignment to Lakewood because he has the makeup and tools to handle it.
— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) January 16, 2017
Steve Noworyta: Alberto Tirado is still going to be a starter going forward.
— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) January 16, 2017
Stave Noworyta: Nick Williams saw he was close to being in the big leagues and put way too much pressure on himself at the end of the year.
— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) January 16, 2017
Steve Noworyta: Arquimedes Gamboa will also make the Lakewood roster next this season despite missing the end of last year.
— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) January 16, 2017
Noworyta: Moniak's very mature in the way he handles himself. He's a young high school guy who I think will move quickly through the system.
— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) January 16, 2017
Steve Noworyta on Mickey Moniak adding size pic.twitter.com/v3erFPjvi1
— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) January 16, 2017
Roman Quinn: I was satisfied with what I did. I still could have done a little bit better with some things. But I wanted to get my feet wet.
— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) January 16, 2017
Pete Mackanin on Roman Quinn: "He needs to work on staying on the field. That's all there is to it … He can be a game-changer."
— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) January 17, 2017
Pete Mackanin on improvements Roman Quinn needs to make pic.twitter.com/LYKjCWOsGP
— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) January 17, 2017
Pete Mackanin on managing Ryan Howard's playing time last year pic.twitter.com/H1h4JXEmpt
— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) January 17, 2017
Pete Mackanin on the Phillies chances of contending again soon pic.twitter.com/ylGy9gOuvd
— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) January 17, 2017
Pete Mackanin: I feel like we underperformed last year. I think our guys are much better than what they played last year.
— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) January 17, 2017
Pete Mackanin: Ryan Howard is a class guy and he handled everything last year extremely well.
— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) January 17, 2017
Pete Mackanin: Jeremy Hellickson was a model of consistency last year. We're hoping Clay Buchholz is the same thing.
— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) January 17, 2017
Pete Mackanin: Signing Michael Saunders maybe gives us an opportunity to have Roman Quinn at AAA and make sure he stays when he comes up
— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) January 17, 2017
Thanks to everyone for following along tonight from the Cutters Hot Stove Banquet … That's all I got for you until Reading media day
— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) January 17, 2017
Thanks….news about the team from good sources is welcome. Thanks again.
Nola’s arm is at 100% now and we’re waiting for the spring to see how it holds up? that doesn’t sound too glowing to me.
The nugget for me is Alberto Tirado as a starter. If Velasquez tops out at 97, when was the last time the Phils had a starter who could reach 100? It would be interesting to see what the Phils think a successful season from Tirado would look like.
I know he was talking about M&M but I can tell you for a fact that Tocci isn’t getting any help putting on weight when he plays in a game environment basically all year round. I’m surprised that they haven’t told him to take a full off season and work solely on putting on weight. I’m a strength and conditioning coach for baseball players and have many players who have his frame yet still add muscle (it’s a misconception that someone can’t hold weight or add it bc of their frame, it can make it harder tho which is called an ectomorph). I realize the Phillies have personnel that are 10x smarter than I am but again id think a full off season would help more than playing which I know sounds strange however his baseball skill set isn’t in question.
Get Tocci married that in it self puts on 20 PDS.
He might also put on 20 lbs.
or ask Tocci to play video games in the off season, supply him with cheese steaks and soda and provide with free stubs for Golden Corral and/or Old Country Buffet
Tim….get him married, when he can get all the smorgasbord of nookie he wants now! Of course, then again, that may be the reason he cannot gain any weight.
As in the words of General Jack D. Ripper, he is “losing all his precious bodily fluids”
Roman to AAA
Lots of good information in Mitch Rupert’s report, including confirmation of what we expected — Moniak will go to Lakewood.
Gamboa to Lakewood is more of a surprise. I like challenging him and they can always move him back if he has growing pains. He might struggle to hit .200 there but if he can stay on the field and play good D it will be a positive experience.
Gamboa and Brito at Lakewood. Both are big time prospects.