Just cleaning out the notebook with some leftover quotes from the Winter Tour last Wednesday.

Mickey Morandini
“Lakewood is such a great environment. I know the players really enjoy playing in front of big crowds which we have here and I’m really looking forward to Opening Day.”

“I love everything about coaching. I love teaching the kids and I love seeing them grow into better and better players. I’ve been friends with Ruben for a while and now with my kids being older it made sense for me to start getting back into the game of baseball.”

“I’d love to manage in the bigs, but right now my job is to send Charlie the most polished players I can send him. People ask me what type of manager are you? I’ll say that I’m patient, and will be able to give the kids plenty of time to develop. The most gratifying part for me is to see the kids in April and see how much they’ve gotten better by September.”

Ruben Amaro
“We are very fortunate to have the support of all the people in this room and I applaud all of you for your support.”

“I believe Jimmy (Rollins) is the most consistent shortstop in baseball…If things didn’t work out with Jimmy we were ready for Freddy Galvis, who may still get an opportunity to play Major League Baseball this year.”

“We like to shoot for a guy that may be more high risk/high reward type of player than most teams.”

–

You see some photos of the event on Facebook here.

Also within the next week or so we’ll start with our position by position looks at guys that might be with the BlueClaws in 2012.

Here are a couple of stories from the Winter Tour last night in Lakewood.

Mike McGarry of the Press of Atlantic City talked to Mickey Morandini and Jesse Biddle.

Morandini thought of becoming a coach or manager right after his retirement, but he had three young sons.

“When I retired, I told my wife I wanted to manage one day, but I had a 7-year-old, 4-year-old and 1-year-old,” he said. “I didn’t have time to go back on the road.”

Now, his boys are 17, 14 and 11, leaving him time to pursue a second baseball career.

(snip)

Biddle said Morandini is easy to get to know.

“He’s a really, really good baseball guy,” Biddle said. “He played the game the right way, so he can coach the game the right way.”

Biddle might have to sneak a favor from Morandini during the season. Biddle’s father, David, probably wouldn’t mind an autograph from his favorite player.

“I don’t know what the ethics are on that,” Biddle said with a laugh, “but my dad would be thrilled.”

Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Daily News talked to Charlie Manuel and Ruben Amaro about some of the spots open in the Phillies bullpen.

“If I was coming to spring training and I was a candidate for our bullpen,” Manuel said last night at the Phillies Winter Caravan, “I’d be hyped-up about making the team.”

Manuel offered the stories of Michael Stutes and Antonio Bastardo, key relievers from last season, who “came out of nowhere” and “were like icing on the cake.” He also mentioned how important it is for those two to continue progressing this season to prove that their reliability in 2011 was more than beginner’s luck.

(snip)

“Right now, we’re focusing on that low-hanging fruit, guys who haven’t signed yet, some guys who have some experience,” Amaro said. “We’re likely, probably not going to do a major-league deal, but it’s possible under the right circumstance. We do have some space on the roster. As far as our payroll’s concerned, we’re up against it, very close to being maxed out right now. We’ll see how it goes when we get closer to spring.”

Here is a Philly.com video talking to Manuel and Amaro. Look for some additional media later on and we’ll link it up here.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was one of the guests at the Phillies Winter Tour stop in Lakewood last night. We had a chance to talk with Manuel, who last year became the Phillies all time winningest manager and will enter his 8th season at the helm this year.

“I look back and it’s going by too quick- it has all gone by too fast. Time just seems like it flies by especially when you get a little age on you. I’ve been in the game all my life, and I’ve been very fortunate with the talent I was able to work with and very fortunate to get back to the big leagues as a manager.”

“We had a great season last year that ended in a tough way. It was special and then all of a sudden it seemed like we were out. Our goal every year ever since we won was to get back to the World Series and win it. I was talking to Halladay and a few of our players and we still feel like we’re ready to go [in Spring Training] and get started.”

“I’ve been around Jimmy [Thome] for about the first 15 years of his career. When I look at him-for him to hit 600 home runs- I’d sit around and talk to [Cleveland Indians General Manager] John Hart and [Assistant General Manager] Danny O’Dowd about what he’s going to do and I’d say that he was going to hit close to 500 home runs. Everything about his career has been great and as good of a player he is, he might be a better person. Thome is a guy who can walk through our clubhouse and have a positive impact.”

Earlier tonight, Adam Giardino sat down with 2011 BlueClaws LHP Jesse Biddle, the South Atlantic League All-Star left-handed pitcher, for an interview at the Phillies Winter Tour event in Lakewood.

“I think going into my second full season I have a better understanding of what I need to do and where I need to be at. I had a tough first month in Lakewood this season and my first goal is to not have that happen. Whatever level I’m at, I want to be able to come out of the gate ready to go and not go through that first slump.”

“I need to improve upon every pitch, which, everyone can improve on something. I think the thing I wanted to improve upon was using my body more—getting a little bit more out of my legs and my core.”

“I want to tell you that I’m going to be in Redding and that I’m going to be successful there [by the end of the 2012 season]. Growing up as a fan of the Phillies, that’s where you know the guys are going to make that next jump and that’s where you can find out how good you really are.”

“Mentally, I think the biggest jump you make is going from your first season to your second season. Before your first season you have no idea what’s going on. By the time you come out of your first season you feel like a seasoned veteran.”

We will be interviewing all of the guests tomorrow night at the Winter Tour (details of the event here - I’m posting this early afternoon on Tuesday and you have to reserve your spot by Wednesday at 9 am).

Those interviews will be posted here and on Facebook, Twitter, etc and we’ll have a few stories, some pictures, etc. It should be a great night.

We’d like, of course, some of the questions for the guests to come from you. Submit them here in the comments section, send us an email (radio at blueclaws.com), or on Twitter. Just leave your first name and hometown if you don’t mind.

Guests: Charlie Manuel (Phillies manager), Ruben Amaro (Phillies GM), Jesse Biddle (2011 BlueClaws pitcher and top prospect), Mickey Morandini (former Phillies 2B and new BlueClaws manager), Steve Noworyta (Phillies assistant director of minor league operations).

Thanks and we hope to get a number of great questions!

If you missed this on the main site, I thought I’d re-post here for those of you that read this blog through your Google RSS feeds (if you don’t but want to, you can sign up below).

We announced last week that new BlueClaws manager and former Phillies second baseman Mickey Morandini will be joining us on January 25th.

Then yesterday, we announced that 2011 BlueClaws LHP and top Phillies prospect Jesse Biddle will also be joining us.

Charlie Manuel and Ruben Amaro were in the original release. All the details can be found here. Hope to see you there.

The event is at Woodlake Country Club, $40/head. It’s a really fun night.

Here’s one article we missed last week in the aftermath of the Winter Tour: Dave Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News on Jesse Biddle, which you can read here.

“He’s everything you could ask of a young, first-round pick,” Phillies assistant general manager Chuck LaMar said. “He showed physical ability and the potential of three pitches: fastball, curveball and change. He attacked the strike zone and competed very well for a kid in his first year. He was impressive off the field as well. He handled himself very professionally. He was very mature. There’s a little extra pressure, not just because he was a first-round pick but because he’s from the Philly area.”

Biddle has remained in the Philly area this offseason, training at a facility in Chestnut Hill, where each workout concluded with him running home. Now, of course, he is dodging snowbanks and ice puddles.

“It’s getting tough to run outside,” he admitted with a laugh.

Full article.

Our buddy Josh Norris at the Trentonian recorded Jesse Biddle’s media session on Tuesday night at the Winter Tour. You can view it below. You can read Josh’s blog here.

Here are two stories from today’s papers regarding last night’s Phillies Winter Tour stop in Lakewood.

Mike McGarry in the Press of Atlantic City:

“I was there when they won the World Series,” Biddle said. “I didn’t know what to do. You look around the stadium and everybody was so into it.”

The joy carried into the streets around Citizens Bank Park.

“Everybody was so happy,” he said. “It didn’t really hit me about how much (Philadelphia) loves its baseball until that night.”

In today’s Asbury Park Press, from Chris Christopher:

Ruben Amaro Jr., the Philadelphia Phillies’ senior vice president and general manager, extended his right hand to Jesse Biddle, one of the team’s top pitching prospects.

“How ya doin?” Amaro asked with a smile.

“I’m doin’ great,” Biddle responded, smiling back.

The exchange took place Tuesday night at the Woodlake Country Club, site of the Phillies Winter Tour.

Biddle, 19, will likely pitch this season for the Lakewood BlueClaws, the Phillies’ low Class A team that hopes to win its third straight South Atlantic League title.

The APP article has a great picture of Ruben Amaro signing a kid’s jersey (WS ring plainly visible).

We had a chance to talk with Phillies Employee Assistance Professional, and former pitcher Dickie Noles (right in photo, talking to Scott Palmer) at last night’s Winter Tour. You can listen to the interview in full by clicking here. Some excerpts below.

(on his current role) I’m the employee assistance professional. I handle players and any work-site and job related, or family, or life related issues. I’m a guy they can go to, a mentor for the minor leaguers, and they can find expert consultation.

(on his transition to his current role) It was not that easy. I remember it like yesterday. When I was being persuaded to do this, we had a wonderful guy who was doing it, Dr. William O’Brien. We never had EAPs when I played. We probably needed them more than anyone though, but we didn’t have them.

My first encounter with an EAP was Sam McDowell with the Texas Rangers. The next guy was an EAP state cop, Jimmy Nestor. I looked at him, he looked like Clint Eastwood, and Sam McDowell was a John Wayne looking guy. My thought was when an EAP walked into a room, you didn’t want to talk to them if you didn’t have to. So I was in that state of mind, but these guys persuaded me to it.

I had traveled with Dr. O’Brien. My role was to talk about drugs and alcohol to the minor league players, as well as pitching inside.

It’s very difficult to seek help for anyone, especially males. Building trust is the easiest way to do that. A lot of guys that come from Williamsport, they’re new. All I’m doing is reading policy and procedure, so they’re looking at me as a cop almost. You have to win their trust. Be there, and let them see you and realize that I’m there to help. What helps me is that I’ve been there, I’ve put the uniform on, and I’ve had some problems that I’ve overcame in my life. That helps a little bit too…They look at me and say “Well he’s played the game” so if they want to come to me it makes it a little easier. But then you have to show them you know what the heck you’re talking about.

(on speaking to high school students) I used to do it a lot, I’d like to do more of that. But the way baseball is set up now it’s almost a 365-day a year sort of thing. You have a lot of stuff from the commissioner’s office like steroids and therapeutic use exemptions and that sort of stuff that keeps you tied up. But that’s where my love is. I love kids.

There’s more in there, including some stuff on the 1980 Phillies and his teammate Greg Gross (also at last night’s event), who was a few years older than Noles and who Noles credits for helping to ease the transition into the Major Leagues.

Later on, during the program, Noles was asked as part of the interactive Q&A (in this case by Phillies GM Ruben Amaro) what the defining moment of his career was:

My first game in the big leagues. When I got drafted out of high school, it was rough for me. We didn’t get too many fans [in the minors], so when I got to the big leagues, it was a dream come true. We all want to reach the big leagues, that’s the pinnacle.

I didn’t have to go home to North Carolina and hear a guy ask me “When are you going to make it to the big leagues?”

Noles added that he fell in love with baseball around the time of…the 1969 Mets. “But it was bumpy on the way. The first guy I faced in the big leagues, hit a home run.”

We had a chance tonight to speak with Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. at the Phillies Winter Tour stop in Lakewood. You can listen to the entire interview in audio form by clicking here. Below find some text comments…

You’re trying to acquire as much talent as you can so you can help the major league club. If you include Blanton and Halladay, and Lee, and Oswalt, we’ve moved 13-14-15 guys off our roster that are making an impact, but that’s part of developing talent. Our guys have been challenged to replenish that and have done a good job.

(On the 2010 BlueClaws) They had some very very athletic kids, some of whom we could have moved. Greatathlets. Great attitudes. Valle really improved. Jiwan James really improved. Josh Zeid put himslelf on the map. Colvin and others, like Cosart, really came into their own. It’s a really good group that made a mark. Singleton is obviously one of the better hitters in our organization.

(On BlueClaws 1B Jonathan Singleton) He’s going to get a chance to play some left field. We messed with it during instructional league but he seems like he’s excited to get the opportunity. Anyone that knows him knows he wants to play big league baseball. If this is the path he takes, that’s great. If anyone can swing the bat like he can, we’ll find a place for him to play.

(building the system) Chuck (Lamar)’s done a great job putting the right people in the right spots. We’ve gotten great support with the fanbase and atmosphere. I come here sometimes and get very envious. When I was playing in Lo-A…I came through the Angels. Quad Cities was one for us, in Iowa. Those are tough places to play. You’re a young player, you’re alone. I think the support system they get here in Lakewood and from the fans in fantastic.

(winning at the minor league level) The number one priority is to develop Major Leaguers, but it’s also important to develop championship caliber Major Leaguers. Winning means a lot. We like to try to create winning atmospheres in the system because we need that at the Major League level.

There’s more in the audio version, which is about 9 minutes and 45 seconds.

We can confirm that both Phillies first round pick Jesse Biddle (a potential 2011 BlueClaw) and BlueClaws manager Chris Truby will both be in town for the Phillies Winter Tour on Tuesday night.

Both were confirmed for the original date on Wednesday, but with the snow, the event was PPD and re-scheduled for Tuesday.

Click here for the full release, and you can reserve your spot by calling Amy at 732-901-7000 ext 172.

Brief bios of Biddle and Truby below the fold.

(more…)

Forgot to post this here yesterday, but the Phillies Winter Tour stop in Lakewood which was supposed to be last night is now Tuesday night, also at Woodlake Country Club.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. will be joined by Phillies hitting coach Greg Gross and Phillies special assistant Dickie Noles. More guests could be added in the coming days.

Amaro was named General Manager in November of 2008 after serving as Assistant GM for the previous 10 years. A former Phillies batboy, Amaro played with the Phillies and two other teams over a seven-year Major League career. In just two seasons as General Manager, he has traded for All-Stars Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt and then in December brought Lee back to Philadelphia.

Gross, an outfielder, and Noles, a pitcher, were teammates on the 1980 World Champion Phillies.

Gross played for the Phillies from 1979-1988 as part of a 17-year big league career. He was a coach both with the Phillies (2001-2004) and in their minor league system (2005-2010). After two-and-a-half years with Lehigh Valley, Gross was promoted to Phillies hitting coach in July of 2010.

Noles, who pitched four years with the Phillies (1979-1981 and 1990) as part of an 11-year career, will also be at the Winter Tour. He is a member of both th National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors and the New Jersey Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors. He educates Phillies minor leaguers on the dangers of alcohol and other drugs. He has also spoken to thousands of schools.

Here is the full release. You can sign up by calling Amy at 732-901-7000 ext 172.

The Phillies Winter Tour is coming to Lakewood Wednesday night.

We’ll get to meet Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, general manager Ruben Amaro, BlueClaws manager Chris Truby, and Phillies 1st round pick and potential 2011 BlueClaw, left-hander Jesse Biddle.

BlueClaws Blog and BlueClaws.com will have interviews and comments from all of the guests. Any questions that you would like us to ask (particularly for Biddle and/or Truby)?

Leave them in the comments section and we’ll do the best we can. Thanks.

Note: You can still sign up by calling Amy at 732-901-7000 ext 172 (before 11 am on Tuesday).