SeaWolves City Podcast

Our guest this week is none other than SeaWolves catcher, Chace Numata! (21:15) Originally drafted by Philadelphia out of Pearl City, HI in 2010, this is Numata’s 10th season in the minors and first with the Tigers. We discuss his key to success in this business and why he is so grateful to be a part of this particular pack of Wolves. He reveals how the late, great Roy Halladay changed his career and how he is able to bestow that same wisdom on his current pitching staff. We chat about his heritage and being in a Hawaiin fraternity of baseball players and how he always feels the support of his family despite them being 4,500 miles away on Oahu. Tom, Greg and Evan (3:05) also break down the Eastern League western division playoff picture and as Erie currently stands 2.0 games ahead of Bowie. We get into the starting pitching and the newcomer, Joey Wentze’s first two outings. Finally, the guys are nice enough to give Evan a send off on what is his final episode hosting this awesome podcast, enjoy!

Episode 13 features Erie starter, Tarik Skubal! We break down (25:52) his strong start to Double-A, becoming the first SeaWolves arm to strikeout 10 or more in his first three starts in franchise history. Tarik discusses his collegiate career at the lone D-1 school that offered him, Seattle University and overcoming Tommy John surgery. As a ninth-round selection last year, Skubal joins this hot group of Wolves who currently sit atop the Western Division standings. We discuss his passions out side of the game and how his connection to his hometown of Kingman, AZ has always been strong and influential. We also get into his competitive drive, molded by growing in a home as the fourth of five Skubal brothers.

Also, Tom Reisenweber joins Greg (3:00) & Evan to break down the weekend against New Hampshire and the three wins last week against Binghamton up at NYSEG Stadium. We get into the SeaWolves playoff chances and what Erie needs to do in order to make the postseason for the first time since 2013. Enjoy!

Episode 12 features Erie outfielder, Cam Gibson! (20:20) A man who has laid life and limb, quite literally, on the line for his team this season, Cam has carved out his own unique in Erie this year which is heart & hustle. We discuss Gibson's "old soul" which is reflected on and off the field along with why 1953 would have been the perfect year for Cam to be born. Instead he lives among the millennials without social media and without a care for his body once he steps in between the line. We get Cam’s perspective on the second half turnaround and where he feels his game has grown the most this season. Greg, Tom, and Evan (2:45) break down Erie’s week which saw them climb into first place on Saturday. An amazing night as Erie celebrated 25 seasons with its humble beginnings as we break down the pre-game ceremonies with Michael Fulmer, Brandon Douglas, Jamie Johnson, Rick Kirsten and many more flocking back to their former stomping grounds for a little SeaWolves reunion. That and much more, enjoy!

This week we are pleased to welcome Drew Carlton! Drew (20:25) has been the anchor of an Erie bullpen which has seen steady improvement as the season has moved along. We get into his experience as an Easter League All-Star, his team-player temperament learned and engrained at Florida State University, and his mentality along with thoughts on what it takes to be the guy who gets the final out. Also Evan & Greg (3:20) discuss the team’s continued streak in the second half, some dominant performances through the first two games of the Flying Squirrels series, and how Evan may or may not have saved Richmond’s stadium from certain doom.

This week, roving pitching instructor AJ Sager (27:52) drops by the booth to discuss his transition from a college football player to professional pitcher, the current state of Erie's talented rotation and balancing winning with development. Greg, Tom & Evan (3:19) chat at the round table about the SeaWolves nemesis in Altoona, the post-All-Star Break beginning, and how Tom's coverage of the Futures and All-Star Games in Cleveland went. Enjoy!

This week we welcome Jose Azocar on the SeaWolves City Podcast! The Erie outfielder was selected as a first-time All-Star and has been the FUN-personified member of the SeaWolves team. We discuss (35:39) the 13-2 start to the second half, how Jose always seems to be in good spirits and developed his passion growing up in Venezuela. Greg, Tom and Evan (3:20) rejoin the Round Table to chat about a hectic homestand, the emergence of second-half heroes and prospect predictions. All of that and more, enjoy!

On Episode 8, we welcome Erie reliever Ethan DeCaster! An 18th round selection a year ago, DeCaster is the first member of the 2018 draft class to reach the Triple-A ranks. We discuss his quick movement through the Detroit system (39:48), a five-year collegiate career spent between Creighton and Duke University, and how he perfected his unique pitching motion. Greg Gania, Tom Reisenweber and Evan Giddings (9:11) chat about UPMC Park upgrades and the strong second half start, plus Matt Manning (2:55) & Isaac Paredes (5:06) discuss their reaction to be named to the 2019 All-Star Futures Game. Enjoy!

On this Hall of Fame edition of the SeaWolves City Podcast, Detroit Tigers legend and 2018 member of the MLB Hall of Fame, Alan Trammell drops by to discuss life as an inductee, the Tigers rebuild, and his current role in the organization. Greg Gania and Evan Giddings are also joined by Tigers beat writer for MLB.com, Jason Beck to break down Detroit's 2019 draft class, timelines for Erie's top prospects, and Beck's humble beginnings which started just an hour up the road from UPMC Park. Enjoy!

Episode 6 is here! Erie infielder Josh Lester joins the pod this week to discuss the team's first half, his offensive adjustments which led to a breakout 2018 season, his college days at Missouri, winning the 2006 Little League World Series, what Netflix show he is binge-watching and much more!

Greg Gania, Tom Reisenweber and Evan Giddings also convene to discuss the last road trip, the injury status of Casey Mize, the recently released All-Star ballot, and how they might improve double-headers in Minor League Baseball.

Joining the pod on Episode 5 is Casey Mize! Detroit's No. 1 overall draft choice a year ago drops by (27:15) to chat about development versus competition, his greatest accomplishment at Auburn, and how technology and analytics have helped fine-tune his game. Greg, Tom, and Evan (2:00) also discuss the tough homestand for Erie and break out the crystal ball to make predictions about the end of the first half. Enjoy!