A Sit Down With Phillies President David Montgomery
By Brian McCollum
Brian McCollum is an inspiring journalist and blogger for Team to Beat, he is currently attending Temple University.
Note: This is only part of the Q&A Brian McCollum had with David Montgomery, you can read more at http://teamtobeat.wordpress.com/2011/01/26/local-gems-a-sit-down-with-phillies-president-david-montgomery/ where Montgomery talks about Spring Training, Citizens Bank Park, the Phans, R2C2, Future of the Organization, Prospects and more!
David Montgomery has one of the toughest jobs.
He is the President of a Major League Baseball team. Not just any team but his hometown team, the Philadelphia Phillies.
David Montgomery, who grew up in Roxborough, PA just outside of Philadelphia, was born and raised in Philadelphia. He grew up watching the local professional Philadelphia teams play.
He graduated from William Penn Charter High School, went to University of Pennsylvania. He started working for the Phillies some 30 years ago.
Phillies president, David Montgomery, speaks at a press conference four years ago.
On Tuesday, January 25th, 2011 he spoke a capacity crowd at Springfield Township High School in Erdenhiem, PA. He was a featured speaker in a “Local Gems” program that the Township runs, highlighting local celebrities and famous people who have made an impact on the township and the community.
Montgomery spoke about his job as President of the Phillies, and what his job entitles. As well as spoke about what makes this franchise unique. Fan support, as Montgomery stated during his discussion, has helped the franchise become successful both on and off the field.
“The players can ‘feel’ the fans,” Montgomery stated and continued, “One of the things that Cliff Lee mentioned was the fact that the fans don’t need a teleprompter to get loud.”
He said the players notice the fans, and notice that they travel well. Whether it’s as many Phillies as Nationals fans in D.C. or Phillies fans out west, everywhere they go, the team always sees Phillies fans, Montgomery stated.
“It’s that passion for sports in Philadelphia,” he said. “Whether it’s at home or on the road or even at Spring Training at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Phillies fans travel excellently.”
Read more of the blog here A Sit Down With David Montgomery
After Montgomery finished his talk and the Question/Answer segment, he was kind enough to sit down with me to answer some questions.
BM: “What’s the deal with [Jamie] Moyer? Do you know what his plans are?”
DM: As you know, he recently had Tommy John Surgery on his left arm. He is going to rehab as if he is going to pitch again, just not this season… in 2012. Of course he will be age 50. He would also like to expand into broadcasting if he can not pitch again as well as help the expansion of his charity, Camp Erin into 25 major league cities (cities with at least one MLB team).
BM: “Tell me about this Scoreboard upgrade”
DM: In ‘04 when Citizens Bank Park first opened it was only Standard Definition, since no one even thought about High Def. But if would of waited until ‘06, it would have been High Definition. It got to the point where the SD Scoreboard became too much to operate and service, thus the upgrade.
BM: “Your thoughts on the right field situation with Werth leaving”
DM: As you know, we made an offer to Werth. It was a three year with an option for a fourth year. He obviously left. But we feel that given the proper at bats, Ben Francisco can become a more significant hitter with more at bats. Of course, there is Dom Brown who is also going to play a big part. We also have a AAA prospect in John Mayberry as a right-handed bat, and of course we can use [Ross] Gload for Werth’s production with the bat.
BM: “Alright, how about your thoughts on Joe Blanton”
DM: Blanton is going to be the fifth starter. We are just fine with Blanton as our fifth starter or whoever else it made be: Kendrick or Worley.
More of the Q&A with Montgomery is located on the Team to Beat’s website.
By Brian McCollum
Brian McCollum is an inspiring journalist and blogger for Team to Beat, he is currently attending Temple University.
Note: This is only part of the Q&A Brian McCollum had with David Montgomery, you can read more at http://teamtobeat.wordpress.com/2011/01/26/local-gems-a-sit-down-with-phillies-president-david-montgomery/ where Montgomery talks about Spring Training, Citizens Bank Park, the Phans, R2C2, Future of the Organization, Prospects and more!
David Montgomery has one of the toughest jobs.
He is the President of a Major League Baseball team. Not just any team but his hometown team, the Philadelphia Phillies.
David Montgomery, who grew up in Roxborough, PA just outside of Philadelphia, was born and raised in Philadelphia. He grew up watching the local professional Philadelphia teams play.
He graduated from William Penn Charter High School, went to University of Pennsylvania. He started working for the Phillies some 30 years ago.
Phillies president, David Montgomery, speaks at a press conference four years ago.
On Tuesday, January 25th, 2011 he spoke a capacity crowd at Springfield Township High School in Erdenhiem, PA. He was a featured speaker in a “Local Gems” program that the Township runs, highlighting local celebrities and famous people who have made an impact on the township and the community.
Montgomery spoke about his job as President of the Phillies, and what his job entitles. As well as spoke about what makes this franchise unique. Fan support, as Montgomery stated during his discussion, has helped the franchise become successful both on and off the field.
“The players can ‘feel’ the fans,” Montgomery stated and continued, “One of the things that Cliff Lee mentioned was the fact that the fans don’t need a teleprompter to get loud.”
He said the players notice the fans, and notice that they travel well. Whether it’s as many Phillies as Nationals fans in D.C. or Phillies fans out west, everywhere they go, the team always sees Phillies fans, Montgomery stated.
“It’s that passion for sports in Philadelphia,” he said. “Whether it’s at home or on the road or even at Spring Training at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Phillies fans travel excellently.”
Read more of the blog here A Sit Down With David Montgomery
After Montgomery finished his talk and the Question/Answer segment, he was kind enough to sit down with me to answer some questions.
BM: “What’s the deal with [Jamie] Moyer? Do you know what his plans are?”
DM: As you know, he recently had Tommy John Surgery on his left arm. He is going to rehab as if he is going to pitch again, just not this season… in 2012. Of course he will be age 50. He would also like to expand into broadcasting if he can not pitch again as well as help the expansion of his charity, Camp Erin into 25 major league cities (cities with at least one MLB team).
BM: “Tell me about this Scoreboard upgrade”
DM: In ‘04 when Citizens Bank Park first opened it was only Standard Definition, since no one even thought about High Def. But if would of waited until ‘06, it would have been High Definition. It got to the point where the SD Scoreboard became too much to operate and service, thus the upgrade.
BM: “Your thoughts on the right field situation with Werth leaving”
DM: As you know, we made an offer to Werth. It was a three year with an option for a fourth year. He obviously left. But we feel that given the proper at bats, Ben Francisco can become a more significant hitter with more at bats. Of course, there is Dom Brown who is also going to play a big part. We also have a AAA prospect in John Mayberry as a right-handed bat, and of course we can use [Ross] Gload for Werth’s production with the bat.
BM: “Alright, how about your thoughts on Joe Blanton”
DM: Blanton is going to be the fifth starter. We are just fine with Blanton as our fifth starter or whoever else it made be: Kendrick or Worley.
More of the Q&A with Montgomery is located on the Team to Beat’s website.
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