We sat down with BlueClaws manager Mark Parent earlier today for a new ClawCast, which you can listen to by clicking here.

Some comments below…

On Leandro Castro and Sebastian Valle: Staying on the ball and hitting it to right-center field is how you compete at the higher levels, and that’s what their doing right now. When you stay on the ball, you get better. I wish they had the chance to go watch big league BP one day, that’s all they do, hit it to right-center.

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Some comments from BlueClaws pitching coach Steve Schrenk in this new ClawCast:

On Cosart: “He’s getting better. Tuesday he had everything working for him really well. It’s easy when everything’s going good, but it’s those days that aren’t when I’d like to see him get a little better. His change-up has improved a bunch and he’s throwing his curveball for strikes as well.”

More on Cosart: “As far as just pure stuff he’s way above anyone I’ve ever had at this level, or the Florida State League, especially as his fastball goes. He still has to develop his change and curve to get big league hitters out, but that’s part of being here. He’s one of the best in our organization right now. He’s got a long ways to go, but on physical ability, it’s there.”

On Brody Colvin: “Going out there and making pitches and being agressive, he’s probably the most improved. He’s listening and taking it out to the games. Being a good listener is important. He’s got another good arm. His velocity has come back up…92-93 and he’s hit 95. We have a lot of good arms in the system and these two guys are right there…I know there’s going to be bumps in the road, but to string together three or four good starts has been real good.”

On Colby Shreve: “He’s still going to be up and down but the fastball velocity is getting better and he’s got a good change-up. I don’t think he was ready this spring but it was good timing for him to come up [in the end of April] and he’s shown some good things.”

We sat down with BlueClaws hitting coach Greg Legg for this ClawCast (listen here) yesterday afternoon. Some quick comments from Legger…

• On Sebastian Valle: He’s staying on the ball a lot better. Early part of the year, he was trying to hit a home run on every pitch and over swinging. We got him to get into good counts and swing a little bit easier, not always swinging to kill the ball…He thinks a lot is expected of him offensively and I think he just put too much pressure on himself early on.
• On Jonathan Singleton: He was a big debate. Does he come with us or stay down there to get the work he needed. I did not get to see him play a whole lot but I suggested 30 days in extended because of the two road trips to start the year. When you’re on the road, you get the cage for 45 minutes. 13 guys, 45 minutes, you do the math…His approach is simpler, is more big-leagueish if you will…He stays on the ball and doesn’t try to do too much. He sees the ball and trusts his hands better than a lot of younger guys who think they have to get the head out. It’s simple, quiet and low-maintenance.
• On Leandro Castro: We talk about trying to stay on the ball and go the other way. He probably thinks of himself as more of a power hitter than he is. Just want him to stay on and use the field a lot more. His field is just the right of center and over, and when he does that, he’s fine (this was before his walk-off home run).

Enjoy. There’s a lot more in there too.

Before Monday’s game at Delmarva we sat down with BlueClaws RHP Jordan Ellis, who has essentially assumed the closer’s role, earning his second save of the year in Sunday’s win. Listen here.

He’s given up two earned runs in his last 17.2 innings and nothing but two hits in his last 10.2 innings pitched.

“I think just being here another year, realizing what needs to be done and being more mentally prepared and involved in the game has all helped a lot,” he said, when asked how he is a better pitcher this year than last. But too, he has walked far less in 2010 than he has in 2009.

“A lot of it just comes from mechanics and repeating your delivery. Last year I had a lot of problems with that and it led to a lot of miscues and walks. This year, the coordinator and the pitching coaches suggested quickening my delivery to reduce mistakes and it’s worked out.”

You can listen to the full interview here.

Before Monday’s game against Hagerstown, we sat down with BlueClaws 1B Jonathan Singleton, who is off to a 14-37, 3 HR start with Lakewood since being promoted on May 13th.

Singleton, an 8th round pick in 2009 (Long Beach, California), is the 20th ranked prospect in the system per Baseball America.

He talks about his quick start, recent adjustments he’s made, what big leaguers he likes to watch, and more.

“I wasn’t surprised [that I started the year in extended spring training], because I did need to work on my defense,” he said. “But in the long run it did help. I hit the ball a lot better than I was during regular spring training and improved my defense.”

UPDATE: Would help if I posted the listen link (click here).

We sat down with Phillies Assistant GM Chuck LaMar earlier today for a podcast. You can listen to the full interview here.

LaMar, who said for the first time in 25 years he hasn’t done any amateur scouting, focusing on the pros, had some comments on a variety of topics…

• Jarred Cosart: He’s got outstanding stuff…He’s getting more consistent with his mechanics and he’s throwing strikes…We’re more pleased with his approach to the game and how he’s grown up over the last year. When he was signed, he has very good ability but he wasn’t ready to go through the wears and tears…He has done an outstanding job.
• Jonathan Singleton: He was good enough to break camp here. I held him back (a lot of people wanted to send him here from the start) but in 25 years of doing this, I’ve learned you have to be very careful with power hitters. If you find a young man with power in an advanced league, they worry more about making contact. To be a good power hitter you have to have the mentality. I did not want to place him over his head to start so he wouldn’t worry about batting average.
• Jonathan Villar: Freddy Galvis and Troy Hanzawa were much more refined than Villar and consistent defensively at this level. But Villar has more physical ability not just offensively, than Troy or Freddy, but defensively too. If he learns from his mistakes, there’s no telling where he’ll end up. But after the first six weeks he may be the most improved player on the team.

We sat down with BlueClaws RHP Jarred Cosart before Sunday’s game in Greensboro (listen here). Some selected comments from Cosart, with more in the interview:

• His start last night (6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 10 K): “I went out there yesterday with a bit more of a purpose, I didn’t think I was as focus last time. Did a little more conditioning, wanted to get my legs underneath a bit more.”
• The Mother’s Day start (4 IP, 5 ER): “I was a little overhyped, my mom was there for Mother’s Day, and tried to overthrow a little bit.”
• On his blister: “It developed the start before…and it was a big blood blister that Mickey [Kozack, trainer] popped. It looked fine, we came here [Greensboro]. And it started swelling up in the 2nd inning, and then the 3rd inning it completely busted open. He had some powder and he super-glued it every night.”
• In the off-season: “I really hit the weight training a lot, getting my legs underneath me. I didn’t realize how long the season really is. I had a personal trainer in Houston and was in touch with the Phillies the whole time.”
• Working with Roy Halladay: “He’s a real quiet, down to earth guy…he takes the work-ethic to an extreme, getting after it…You see him in the weight room and it makes everyone else want to work harder…He’s one of the best, and that’s where I want to be.”
• Halladay’s early arrivals: “A little to early for me…But he’s non-stop, from 5:30 to 12, every day, no offdays.”
• Does he have a player he likes to watch pitch? “Josh Beckett. I’d like to see myself throwing like him, same pithces, same delivery, and he’s from Texas too.”
• Still working on: “Change-up. I only threw three last night, but it’s something I’d like to work on moving up, to get that extra pitch.”

Listen to the full interview here.

Just sat down for a few minutes with BlueClaws relief pitcher Eric Massingham, who has not allowed an earned run in 10.1 innings since giving up five in the 9th on April 22nd against Hagerstown.

“I tired to keep doing what I’ve been doing,” he said. “If you play enough, you’re going to have bad outings. I just tried to move on and do what I know, hit spots and mix up pitches.

“It takes a while to recover, statistically and emotionally from an outing like that, and I have some work to do but I’m glad to be back in the mix.”

Massingham was a Cal-Poly teammate of current BlueClaws 3B Adam Buschini.

Listen to the full interview here.

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Here are tonight’s game notes. Jonathan Pettibone looks to rebound from a rocky outing (1.2 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 4 ER) in a loss to Savannah on Saturday. First pitch from Greenville just after 7:00.

Matt Way was named Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending May 10th (details here). Before Wednesday’s game at Greenville, we sat down with Matt, who talked about a variety of topics.

• On his last start: We’ve been working on some mechanical things lately, so from every start it’s been a different feeling…It was starting to feel good in the bullpen when I was warming up, but it was just the same pre-game jitters.
• Back injury from the spring: I’m still battling right now. I’m still going to the training room every day, ice, heat, that stuff. I was a little behind, the velocity hasn’t come back yet. And then some rhythm and timing issues.
• His change-up: I really developed it up in Alsaka. I played for the same coaches, my dad and Ed Conway from the time was 5 until I was 18. That was something we worked on a lot. Ed would have us do a lot of change-up catch. It’s a lot different than a breaking ball where it won’t affect your arm and put that much pressure on your joins and your elbows. We just worked on it a lot, fine tuning it.
• Breaking ball today to last year: I’m still working. Breaking ball, slider, cutter. I’ll use it later in the game, but as long as the fastball and change-up is working, I haven’t had a lot of pressure to go to the breaking ball yet. As we face teams a second time, I’ll be forced to go to the change-up.

Listen to the full interview here.

Last year was very tough on Colby Shreve. Not only did he miss 2008 with Tommy John Surgery, he missed 2009 after getting a bone spur, requiring more surgery from the noted Dr. James Andrews.

That’s all behind him now, however. Shreve made his pro debut Monday and his first pro start on Thursday, allowing just one run over 5.1 innings in a win over Kannapolis. He feels 100%, and he’s obviously excited to be pitching in real games.

“It was a significantly shorter rehab [last year] but after instructs, I got back into it, and the season ended,” he said before Friday’s game in Kannapolis.

“I think it was good for me though to have an off-season. The year before I was in Florida rehabbing the entire time.

“It’s been a long journey, but it’s good to be back.”

You can listen here to the full podcast.

We sat down for a new ClawCast with manager Mark Parent before Wednesday’s game at Kannapolis. Some comments include the improved starting pitching, college players vs inexperienced high school players, the emergence of Josh Zeid at the back of the bullpen, and what he wants to see in the next three weeks of the season.

You can listen here.

Before Sunday’s game we sat down with BlueClaws 1B Darin Ruf for a ClawCast and pre-game radio interview. You can listen here.

Ruf touched on a few topics, including:

• His current hot streak, on which he has nine hits in his last four games: “It’s just one of those things…I was 0-11 before that…But baseball is a funny game like that.”
• A leadership role within the locker room: “The other day, Hewitt came up to me what my approach was at the plate, and he’s a really good hitter in his own right. But we’re all talking to everyone, and that’s the important thing. Everyone is trying to learn.”
• How close was he to playing football in college, rather than baseball at Creighton: “It was tough at the time because I had to commit to Creighton in the fall, football season in Nebraska. I was getting a little interest from some smaller schools but obviously for the better I made the decision to go to Creighton and it couldn’t have worked out any better.”

We sat down earlier today with Phillies minor league pitching coordinator Gorm Heimueller for a ClawCast. A bunch of topics including the current starting rotation and a little more. Listen here.

• “I come in and see Pettibone give up one run, Hernandez and Cosart throw shutouts. It’s a young but capable and talented staff.”
• On Nick Hernandez: “He commands his fastball. We preach that from day one when they sign a contract…He’s got a good change-up and one thing he worked on in instructional league is a slider…The other day he had an umpire that had a real low zone and he took advantage.”
• On Jarred Cosart: “I think we knew physically the arm that he’s blessed to have. The thing with Jarred was the minor injuries that prevented him from pitching. But he’s in as good a shape as he’s been in since he’s been with us.”
• On Brody Colvin: “Just like Kyle Kendrick, Jason Knapp, Carlos Carrasco…being able to command a fastball. I sound like a broken record but that’s what it’s about. Here, where the crowds are great, it’s a lot differnet. He’ll have his ups and downs, but to me, being able to experience this when he was pitching in high school last year is important. He’s got the aptitude and desire to make it work for him.”
• Spring Training from his perspective: “Hectic. At one point we had 87 pitchers. Basically I set up the schedule. We start with bullpens, than batting practice, then the schedule for their five games. It’s a giant crossword puzzle. But it’s fun to see everyone and try to fit them. But this is the best part. Spring training is nice the first few days when you see everyone and the last day when you leave. The rest is a necessary evil.”

There’s more in the interview. Enjoy.

We’ve put up a couple of new ClawCasts, one with OF Anthony Hewitt and another with RHP Brody Colvin. Hewitt is off to a hot start, 9-22 with two home runs and eight RBIs (in his six games). Colvin will make his second start as a BlueClaw on Friday, the home opener.

Some selected comments…

Brody Colvin

• I have to work in to get them off the plate, and stay focused throughout the game.
• I was very very close [to being an LSU Tiger], considering I was at orientation, getting my books, and saw my name on the LSU locker.
• Coming into pro ball, I threw a split-change, but they changed it to a circle-change. We’ll get it sooner or later.
• Definitely excited to get the opener, hopefully it’s a good one.

Anthony Hewitt

• I feel great, real relaxed and confident. Just in my own zone.
• I did [expect a hot start]. I felt real good and I’m seeing the ball real well. I’ve been loose and relaxed.
• I just hit every day, worked on my bat path to the ball, and that’s all I focused on this off-season. I want my bat to stay in the zone longer. Last year I was in and out of the zone very quick.
• Doesn’t matter to me where I’m hitting. I’ll go out there and try to hit the ball hard. Being in the spot I’m in now doesn’t phase me. It doesn’t matter.
• I’ve had a few family members have said they’ll come down [from Brooklyn]. I’m looking forward to that.