2006 Diamond Jaxx Q & A With Ron Potesta

[Chris]

Hopefully Buffalo Wildwings will still be there with their award winning signature sauces =P~

[jaxxradio]

Nope, they past on doing radio as well.. no signature sauces this summer.. :(

[Outshined_One]

Hopefully Buffalo Wildwings will still be there with their award winning signature sauces =P~

 

Agh, don't make me hungry like that!!!

[Chris]

Nope, they past on doing radio as well.. no signature sauces this summer.. :(

 

:(

 

Can you comment on who has signed on for the broadcasts?

[jaxxradio]

I didn't think sponsors were that important.. you guys can find out on opening night in Birmingham.. (I got to keep SOME things a secret.. lol)

[Chris]

I didn't think sponsors were that important.. you guys can find out on opening night in Birmingham.. (I got to keep SOME things a secret.. lol)

 

So I take it that there will not be a broadcast for the Lambuth game?

[jaxxradio]

Actually, I forgot about the exhibition game against Lambuth. I honestly don't know if we will be broadcasting that game. It would be nice though.

[Brian]

Ok Ron, if it was all up to you...

 

Marshall is one of four pitchers Cubs manager Dusty Baker mentioned could be in the mix, joining Rich Hill, Angel Guzman and Jae Kuk Ryu. The four could open the season at their respective Minor League teams to continue to build up innings, because the Cubs don't need a fifth starter until April 15.

 

Who gets the nod?

[jaxxradio]

Guzman because he is the best pitcher of the four, provided he is 100%. I would also pick Guzman because I think the Cubs need to see what this kid can do in the show. Keep in mind, this isn't a full-time gig unless Prior or Wood are gone for a longer period of time.

[Jon]

Ron,

 

Several people on the board have been wondering what Sing's defense is like in a corner outfield position. What were your impressions with his abilities out there?

 

Thanks.

[jaxxradio]

Well he didn't embarass himself out there last season. He's average with the ability to be good in the outfield. He'll never win a gold glove but then again, his bat is his calling card.

[craig]

Ron, what was working for Marmol last night in the opener? Just a good game, or was he doing something different to get so many groundouts?

 

2. What can you tell us in terms of scouting stuff about Clay Rapada? I admit I'm surprised that he's emerged as the opening closer, since he's a lefty and already 25. He's a curiousity. Specific Q's:

a) On the site I look (minorleaguebaseball), it lists him at 6'5", 180. Is he really that skinny, or is that a typically prehistoric weight listing and he's reasonably filled out by now?

b) How fast is his fastball? Does he have the velocity to be a good big-league bet?

c) Iheard he looked good in one inning on a WGN spring game, but I didn't see him. Does he have an ordinary delivery, or something lower that might be especially tough on lefties? Does he pretty naturally project as a big-league LOOGY?

d) His career background is very unusual, if indeed he turns out to be a star AA reliever and an eventual big-leaguer. Usually any lefty who can walk and chew gum gets drafted, especially one's who are 6'5" and have any projection. Plus he was all-conference or something in one of his college seasons. yet he went undrafted. Was he injured, did he quit baseball for a while, get suspended or something, or what? Seems an unusual story. His first two pro years (02-03), there seemed no hint of potential, just a lefty roster filler: ERA over 5 as a 23-year-old in A-, and his K/IP those first two seasons was a blah 39K/64 IP, nothing to notice. Then, all of a sudden, he turned into a K-guy stud, with 91K/85IP in 04 and 61K/42IP last year, all while being an anti-HR guy besides. What happened? Why wasn't he drafted in the first place? And what flipped him from a no-K roster-filler into a high-K very effective minor leaguer? Got healthy and got fast? Dropped his arm slot and went crazy? Mastered a slider so that now he's got a knockout pitch he didn't have before? Very unusual.

[rawaction]

I'm not Ron, but I can help you out a little, Craig. I actually had questions about Rapada, but you took them all. :D

 

Rapada had very good velocity in Lansing a couple years back. Regularly threw 91-94 mph, kinda dropped down from the side. Very tough for lefties to pick up. His 2nd pitch was a solid slider (I believe).

 

He was pretty raw when I saw him, and yeah he was 180 at best back in those days.

[jaxxradio]

Craig, I'm sorry I wasn't able to get back to you sooner. If you guys have listened to the first four broadcasts, you know that I have had some MAJOR drama with the crowd noise or lack there of. Anyway, everything is set to go after a trip to my favorite audio store in the whole world (Radio Shack).

 

Let's talk about Marmol. The first thing that was obvious was his incredible velocity on the fastball. He was 93 on a slow gun here in Birmingham. He also had alot of sink on his fastball and curve, hence the groundballs.

 

Now let's talk Rapada. He is 6-5 and 185. Lean and mean as I like to say. He has four average pitches (fastball, change, slider and a sweeping curveball). Honestly, I think the fact that he uses all four pitches is a big reason for his success. Think about this: If a relief pitcher can locate all four pitches consistently around home plate, the batter has a 1 in 4 chance of guessing right instead of a say 1-2 chance.

 

I have no idea why Clay wasn't drafted but everybody else's loss is the Cubs potential gain. He has looked really good but I want to see what he does against a better hitting team. I can see him as a good LOOGY in the show if he continues to display good control.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Hey Ron, I was checking out the DJaxx web site today for the listed roster and noticed that David Cash was not on the DL anymore. Is that correct? How's he doing?

[jaxxradio]

Cash got taken off the DL on May 17th and was released that day. I'm not sure if he has latched on with another organization. Hopefully he will because Cash is a good guy.

[Pistolcub42]

Hey Ron,

 

What was your take on the Prior outing tonite? How was his fastball? control? Does he look close to being a major league pitcher again??

 

 

Thanks.

[jaxxradio]

He had a shaky first inning, but pitched really well over the last four innings. His curveball started out flat but got filthy good by the end of his outing. His fastball ranged from 88-91, topping out at 92.

 

I had him on as a pre-game guest. He said that location is more important to him than velocity and that alot of people make to big a deal about his velocity. He told me that he was in his comfort zone when he throws 91-93.

 

He is close to getting back into major league shape. Keep this in mind, this is his spring training. He should be pitching full tilt by the All-Star break.

[Jon]

Sounds good, Ron. It seems like his arm strength is building up a little slower than they would have liked, but it's getting there. But I was especially glad to hear his curve ball improving over the course of the game last night.

[jaxxradio]

I think he needs one or two more starts and he should be good to go in the show. Obviously, he would have to be limited to 80-90 pitches for a bit.. but he should be ready.

 

Call me an optimist, but if the Cubs can get at or near .500 by the all-star break, this team will go to the playoffs. A healthy Prior, Wood and D. Lee will go a long way in the second half.

[TXCubsFan]

Ron,

 

Though Carlos Marmol has gotten more attention in the past week through his great pitching with the parent club, another converted catcher, Randy Wells, has had an excellent campaign at West Tenn. His K/BB and WHIP ratios are excellent. That level of success at his age bodes well for his chances of making the Show eventually.

 

Several questions:

 

1. When do you expect he will make his first appearance with the parent club?

 

2. Assuming he eventually makes the 25-man roster, is his full potential as a reliever, closer, or starter?

 

3. On what does Randy need to work to get him to Wrigley? What is his pitch repetoire at this point?

 

4. How is his makeup?

 

Thanks!

[jaxxradio]

I like Randy alot. His mound presence and makeup are really good. He's one of those guys that's going to need to have pin-point accuracy from here on out in order to succeed since he doesn't have plus stuff. Obviously, he has had incredible location to this point.

 

I would think that he will make his Triple-A debut at some point this season. If/when that happens, Wells will need to continue to locate his pitches like he has here in West Tenn.

 

I'm not sure when he would make his MLB debut because he isn't on the forty-man roster. If the Cubs wanted to put him in the show right now, they would have to bump someone off the 40-man roster, which is something I highly doubt they want to do at this point. However, if he continues to have this much success, I could see him on the 40-man roster after the season ends.

 

Wells needs to be challenged. That's why I think he will be pitching in Iowa at some point in the second half of the season. I think he can become a solid three or four guy in the majors down the road as long as he continues to locate his pitches.

[Chris]

Last night I heard Sean clocked as fast at 96 mph on the gun in Huntsville. How accurate are their readings at Joe Davis Stadium? Thanks!

[jaxxradio]

The gun at Joe Davis Stadium is pretty legit. I know Gallagher has picked up some gitty-up on his fastball with the weight and strength he has gained.

 

I'll be interested to see what he throws like on Friday night.

[TXCubsFan]

Ron,

 

EPatt is having a fine season at West Tenn. Will he be ready for the parent club next spring? How is his defense?