ClawCasts

Former BlueClaws broadcaster Ben Wagner caught up with former BluleClaws manager Dave Huppert in Allentown earlier this week.

The man who called every BlueClaws game that year interviews the man who managed every game that year. The two reflect back on that 2006 season, the team's dreadful start, to the great pitching staff, the clincher, and much more.

Enjoy!

Read more about ClawCast; '06 Claws manager Dave Huppert .

The BlueClaws have named Trevor May the starter in game two of the playoffs. Josh Ellis caught up with the 6' 4" righty from Kelso, WA and this is what he had to say:

On pitching game two of the playoffs:

"I got a lot of respect to pitch in that game because its such a pivotal game, either to clinch things or keep it alive"

On Kannapolis:

They're a very very good hitting team with lots of guys hitting over .300 but at the same time they like to hit home runs, doubles and hit the ball off the wall so you can promote weaknesses like that."

"I had six walks agains them last time so I wanna cut down on that."

Read more about Interview with BlueClaws Starter Trevor May .

Greg Giombarrese had a chance to sit down with BlueClaws first baseman Jim Murphy for a ClawCast in advance of the playoffs.

The night of the interview, Murphy went 4-4 with a walk, and his six RBI doubles in his last four games.

Topics in the interview include getting ready for the postseason, him peaking at the right time, playing with teammates Anthony Gose and Harold Garcia, and much more.

Read more about ClawCast: Jim Murphy .

Greg Giombarrese had a chance to sit down with BlueClaws centerfielder Anthony Gose, who at the time of this interview leads all of Minor League Baseball with 75 stolen bases. Gose talks about getting ready for the playoffs, their upcoming opponent, Kannapolis, his season stealing bases,and much more.

 

Read more about ClawCast: Anthony Gose .

Greg Giombarrese had a chance to sit down with former BlueClaws pitcher Jason Knapp earlier this week at Lake County, Knapp's new home after being a part of the Cliff Lee deal last month. Topics include:

• How he found out about the deal
• His initial reaction to the deal
• How he feels after a shoulder injury
• Philosophical differences between the Phillies and Indians
• His time in Lakewood
• Did he want to pitch against his former team?
• and more...

Read more about ClawCast with former BlueClaws P Jason Knapp .

Greg Giombarrese had a chance to sit down for a ClawCast with BlueClaws shortstop Troy Hanzawa. Topics include:

• His first full season as a pro baseball player
• The upcoming playoffs
• Pride in his defensive game
• Stephen Strasburg, his college teammate at San Diego State
• Much more...

Read more about ClawCast with BlueClaws SS Troy Hanzawa .

What's it like being a pitching coordinator in charge of almost 100 pitchers at six stops all over the Phillies organization?

Well, that's what Gorm Heimueller does on a daily basis, and we sit down to talk with him here.

Topics include current BlueClaws pitchers such as Justin De Fratus, Jesus Sanchez, and Trevor May, some former BlueClaws pitchers such as Kyle Drabek, organizational philosophy, the instructional league, and much more.

Read more about ClawCast with Gorm Heimueller .

Greg Giombarrese had  a chance to sit down with Phillies Assistant General Manager Benny Looper. They talk generally about organizational philosophy, young players, Looper's time in the Mariners organization where he had Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez, and more.

 

Read more about Sitting Down with Phillies Asst. GM Benny Looper .

Between the BlueClaws and Lake County Captains doubleheader, Josh Ellis talked with BlueClaws starting pitcher Justin De Fratus about his switch to the rotation, the appearance by Brett Myers and the chance to play playoff baseball.

Read more about Interview with Starting Pitcher Justin De Fratus .

Greg Giombarrese had a chance to sit down with BlueClaws catcher Travis d'Arnaud, one of the top prospects in the Phillies organization, before Saturday's ballgame at Charleston.

Topics include: d'Arnaud dealing with his slow start offensively and where he feels his game is today, staying sharp defensively, working with new pitchers and dealing with new hitters, and scouting reports on a few BlueClaws pitchers.

Read more about ClawCast with BlueClaws catcher Travis d'Arnaud .

Greg Giombarrese had a chance to sit down with BlueClaws pitcher Matt Way. The first-year pro has allowed just one earned run over 14 innings in his first two BlueClaws starts. Topics include: amateur baseball in Alaska, playing in college with BlueClaws 1B Jim Murphy, his start with Lakewood and to his pro career, and more.

 

Read more about ClawCast with BlueClaws Pitcher Matt Way .

Greg Giombarrese sat down with BlueClaws manager Dusty Wathan for a "State of the 'Claws" podcast. We talk about a wide array of topics, including the new-look bullpen, the new starters, getting ready for the playoffs, Travis d'Arnaud, D'Arby Myers, and much more.

 

Read more about State of the Claws with Dusty Wathan .

Greg Giombarrese caught up with Mike Morvay, the Asst. Groundskeeper for an interesting look into the life of keeping the playing surface of FirstEnergy Park as beautiful as it is all season long and more. Read more about Interview with the Asst. Groundskeeper Mike Morvay .

Josh Ellis sat down with Hal Hansen, Director of Promotions with the BlueClaws, to discuss the Bob Dylan Show, featuring Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson which occured at FirstEnergy Park last week. They discuss all the operational, set up and tear down as well as the next two concerts set to take place at FirstEnergy Park. Read more about Interview with Director of Promotions Hal Hansen .

Entering play on Saturday 7/25, the BlueClaws have averaged 6.3 runs over their last 19 games and have pounded out 38 hits in the first three games of a series at Asheville (all wins).

We sit down with hitting coach Greg Legg to talk about why. He comments on Travis d'Arnaud, Anthony Gose, Harold Garcia, Troy Hanzawa, D'Arby Myers, and more.

Read more about ClawCast with BlueClaws Hitting Coach Greg Legg .

Greg Giombarrese sat down with BlueClaws pitcher Jesus Sanchez for a ClawCast interview. Sanchez, before his start on July 24th, was 6-5 having won five of his last six decisions after starting 1-4. A former catcher, Sanchez is in his first year as a pitcher, and talks about the transition, and how he's feeling after 90 innings pitched, considering he had never pitched before.

 

Read more about July 24th Interview with BlueClaws RHP Jesus Sanchez .

At the time of this interview, BlueClaws pitcher Jacob Diekman has allowed just one run over 13.1 innings since switching to sidearm. Here, he sits down for an interview with Greg Giombarrese to talk about the transfer from overhand to sidearm, his new career, his Nebraska background, and much more.

 

Read more about Interview w/ BlueClaws LHP Jacob Diekman .

Interview with BlueClaws outfielder Anthony Gose. Read more about Interview with Outfielder Anthony Gose .

Interview with BlueClaws First Baseman Jeremy Hamilton. Hamilton was named SAL Player of the Week. Read more about Interview with First Baseman Jeremy Hamilton .

Highlights from the BlueClaws 9-4 win on Monday, July 13th against the Bowling Green Hot Rods. Read more about Highlights From July 13th .