2006 Diamond Jaxx Q & A With Ron Potesta

[Chris]

http://www.jonmdavis.net/ronpotesta.jpg:

 

From diamondjaxx.com

 

Ron begins his fourth season as the “voice” of the Diamond Jaxx. He came to Jackson from Vero Beach, Florida where he served as the broadcaster for the Vero Beach Dodgers during the 2002 season. Ron has also broadcast for the Elmira Pioneers, Abilene Prairie Dogs and Lubbock Crickets. Ron grew up in Leetonia, Ohio. Before getting into professional baseball, he was given the opportunity to broadcast high school baseball, football and basketball for several radio stations in Youngstown, Ohio. Ron got married during the 2003 Southern League All-Star break. He, his wife Kym and their dog Mincer reside in Jackson.

 

Ron Potesta, Director of Media Relations & Broadcasting for the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, has graciously agreed to take questions during the 2006 season from posters on NSBB! If you would like to send a comment to Ron, or if you would like to ask Ron a question, feel free to post it here.

 

This session will be coordinated as in accordance with The NSBB Q & A Guidelines as well as the NSBB Member Guidelines.

 

As Tim recently stated, The Jaxx have been very good to us at NSBB. They were the first minor league franchise to give us press access, they have been great at lining up players for us, they have given us many shoutouts over their broadcast and even let one of us in the booth! In 2006, the Jaxx have already offered us press passes and access to the players after the games. We'll be able to continue and expand our interviews with the players and hopefully bring even more in-depth coverage of the team than last year.

 

Thank you to Ron for again taking the time to interact with us on such an up close and personal level. A special thank you is also extended to the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx for their great relationship with NSBB. Be sure to visit The Official Website of the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx during the 2006 season!

 

As always, thank you to all of you for making NSBB such a wonderful community! Go Jaxx!

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Thanks for all the work you've done with NSBB, Ron!

 

Who do you think will begin the season in the Diamond Jaxx' starting rotation? Carlos Marmol, Sean Marshall and Randy Wells seem like solid bets. I've seen rumors of Sean Gallagher and a couple of guys rebounding from injuries, Chadd Blasko and Rocky Cherry.

[Outshined_One]

Howdy Ron!

 

There have been some coaching changes made this season with the DJaxx, most notably with the promotion of Von Joshua. What can fans of the Diamond Jaxx expect in terms of the changes with the new coaching staff? Do the new guys bring in any different philosophies or techniques from those who have moved on?

 

Also, what are your thoughts on Brian Dopirak? Do you think he can bounce back this coming season?

[jaxxradio]

First off, let me thank the great folks at NSBB for allowing me to answer your questions this season.

 

California Raisin, in answer to your question, there is a very good chance that Marmol, Marshall and Wells are good bets. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Blasko and Cherry begin the 2006 season here as well. I doubt if Gallagher starts here, but he has a very real chance of getting here later in the season if he dominates the FSL. Obviously there is a long way to go before the 24 man roster is announced but there is alot of talent from the names being bandied about.

 

Outshined One.. I have never met any of the new coaches, including Pat Listach. Unfortunately, I have no idea what their philosophies and techniques are but I can't wait to find out. I'm especially looking forward to working with Tom Beyers. He was in the Dodgers family and even though he and I never met, I have been told great things about him. As for Dopirak, maybe I am in the minority here.. but unless he has a great spring, he shouldn't be on this team. Don't get me wrong, he probably will be on the team regardless, I just think that he needs to master High-A ball before he tries his hand at the much more difficult Double-A ball.

[Outshined_One]

So which guys do you see returning to West Tenn this year who finished up with them last year?

[jaxxradio]

We should have Marmol, Wells, Coats, Rojas, Patterson and Montanez returning from the playoff roster. That's my first of many predictions for the season.

 

We should have an infield of:

 

1B: Dopirak

2B: Patterson

SS: Rojas

3B: Moore

 

Not sure what the outfield is going to be like but I'm willing to bet that Coats is the full-time center-fielder if he plays here. Buck still has a chance to start the season in Triple-A Iowa.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Ron,

With the roster you expect to be with the Jaxx this season, are there any that would not come as a surprise to see get called up to Chicago sometime this season? After seeing Murton make the jump, I hope that means the organization will not be afraid to dip into AA again if it means they're getting the best available player to step in.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Ron,

 

If the ownership situation isn't resolved, are there any indications the Cubs might end their affiliation with the team after this season?

[jaxxradio]

Pedro, I would think that the Cubs wouldn't have a problem bringing a player up if they feel that this player can help them. As far as which player has a shot at going to the show this year, I think I will wait to make a prediction until I see the final roster on April 1st or 2nd. My question to you is, Is Pedro There??

 

Vance, I don't think the ownership situation has anything to do with the affiliation contract. I think the fact that we don't draw any fans here is the bigger problem. Hopefully a contract extension will happen.

[Brian]

Randy Wells seems to be a guy that the Cubs think very highly of (i.e. he was invited to big league ST, there is Cubs.com article about him, and Pat and Ron were talking highly of him as he breezed through an inning of work against the giants) .... my question does he have ML quality stuff in your opinion and if so will he most likely be a bullpen guy or does he have a shot at being a starter.

 

I'm looking forward to listening to Jaxx games!

[rawaction]

Ron, if you had to pick the pitcher from the 2005 Jaxx who would have the best ML future, who would it be?

 

Marmol, Marshall, Pinto, Nolasco, Wells, and Rich Hill

[jaxxradio]

I like Randy. He pitched well for us in the brief time he was with us. I would not be a bit surprised to see he and Marmol do extremely well for the Jaxx this season. I am very excited about this rotation. Hopefully, the rest of the pieces are just as good.

 

In order, here is who I like from the pitchers listed..

Nolasco, Marmol, Hill, Wells, Marshall and Pinto

 

I have Nolasco at number one because he is the best pitcher overall. As much as the Cubs needed a major league ready CF, this deal could very well come back to haunt the Cubs big-time in the long run (especially if Pinto ever gets his control harnessed).

 

Marmol is number two because he has the ability to be a stud as either a starter or a reliever. I am hoping it's as a starter because he can flat-out deal when he's on.

 

Hill is a very interesting player. I love his curve-ball and his fastball is alot better than some of the so called experts would suggest. If he keeps his control and keeps the pitches down, he could be a potentially dominating starter or a shutdown LOOGY.

 

I have already talked about Wells, so I'll say this about Marshall. He could jump to number one on this list if he stays healthy. This kid has an abundance of talent, but everytime he's ready to break-through, he breaks down. If Sean stays healthy, he will be a fixture in the Cubs rotation.

 

Pinto is a mixed-bag. When he is on, there aren't a whole lot of lefties better. The problem is he has lousy control. Honestly, I don't see Renyel succeeding because of it. However, if he can do what Hill did this past season, He has the stuff to be a top of the rotation type starter.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Here's another question about Randy Wells for you, Ron. Wells has a fastball, a slider and a change and apparently has been working on a sinker and two-seamer (according to cubs.com). I was wondering if you had seen him throw the sinker or two-seamer last year and how would you rate all the pitches he has thrown in games.

 

Do you think Randy's major league career is in the pen or in the starting rotation?

[jaxxradio]

I don't recall seeing the sinker or two-seamer last year, but my memory isn't what it should be.

 

Honestly, I think Randy is one of those guys that could flourish in either scenario but I doubt if he becomes a starter right out of the gate this year. It all depends on the health of Cherry and Connolly.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Thanks, I'm a big fan of Randy. The main reason I asked that was because Randy looks like he has the potential to be a big-time closer.

 

Overall, what are your thoughts on Rocky Cherry? He got hurt before I started listening to your broadcasts regularly so I know very little about him compared to other pitchers in the system.

[jaxxradio]

I thought Rocky was solid in his three starts before he got hurt. I'm looking forward to seeing him on the mound, hopefully for a full season this summer.

 

T minus 30 days and counting...

[Diffusion]

Hi Ron,

 

What do you think of Carlos Marmol's changeup? Is it good enough now, or could it perhaps be good enough in the future, that he could stick as a starter in the long-term?

[jaxxradio]

He still needs to work on his change-up but there is alot of potential there. The biggest thing Carlos needs to do is continue to make the transition from position player to pitcher and work on his control. He has three pitches (fastball, curve, change) that could very well be above average major league quality pitches when it's all said and done.

[putmeincoach]

Ron,

I was wondering if you had seen enough of Thomas Atlee's pitching, that is, from more of an inside perspective, to give me some feedback on where he might be at with his career. More specifically: Where do you see him over the next few years? Will he play for Chicago, Iowa, Tenn, or simply head home? Have we seen the best of him? Does he have what it takes? Would a trade help with his chances?

Thanks!

[jaxxradio]

I like Thomas.. he's a good guy to have in the clubhouse. As far as his pitching goes, he should start the year in West Tenn. Unfortunately for Thomas, age is starting to become a factor so he needs to have a big year. I don't think we have seen his "career year" yet. Hopefully we see it this year with the Jaxx.

[Bear Cub]

Ron, thanks for all the info. I was wondeering if there was a Nic Jackson sighting while you were in Mesa?

[jaxxradio]

You got me confused with Nathan. I haven't nor will I be going to Mesa. I got too many things to do in Jackson.

[UBlink]

You got me confused with Nathan. I haven't nor will I be going to Mesa. I got too many things to do in Jackson.

 

Have you got Dos Panchos signed up yet? Yummm

[jaxxradio]

Don't get me started.. they bailed out on me this year.. no burritos sighting this summer

[UBlink]

Don't get me started.. they bailed out on me this year.. no burritos sighting this summer

 

OK, here's another idea. Since you've got the NSBB sponsorship to prove you've got national coverage, how about Tripp Country Hams in Brownsville? They advertise on the 'net and ship nationwide. Surely they might be willing to get a little national (and international) exposure. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.