In today's Charleston Daily Mail, I have two articles on the front page of the sports section, as well as my first-ever photograph published in The Daily Mail.
The picture accompanies my article on Poca track and field standout Christian Buckley. For the full article -- and picture -- click here.
My other article features Capital junior Seth Roadcap, a catcher/pitcher, and his father Steve Roadcap, a former Minor League Baseball manager and current certified professional scout with the Cincinnati Reds. Steve formerly served as a MiLB manager in the Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners and Philadelphia Phillies organizations. In addition, he also formerly served as a catching coordinator for the Mariners. For the full article in the Daily Mail, click here.
Prior to beginning his new career as a scout in Nov. 2010, Steve served as manager for the Double AA Reading Phillies and Single A Lakewood Blueclaws, both affiliates of Philadelphia.
It's been a long journey, but Steve said he's happy to now serve as scout with the Reds, because it affords him more opportunities to be with his family, including watching Seth play baseball.
“I started out managing with the Cubs, then I went to Seattle," Steve said. "I was a catching coordinator over there for three (years) and I managed for three, and then went to Philadelphia and I was there for five, managing the Double A the last couple years. When this opportunity was presented to me, the Reds made the call and offered me this position. I couldn’t turn it down because it got me home more and I was able to watch Seth play more, so that was the most important thing for me.”
Now, Steve is responsible for scouting more than 20 Minor League teams across three different leagues
“I have six or seven teams in the South Atlantic League, nine teams in the Midwest League and six in the South Atlantic League," Steve said on Sunday afternoon after attending a game in Bradenton, Fla.
In September, Steve scouts the Major Leagues, as the minors shut down for the season.
Last year, Steve even contributed his scouting skills in the playoffs.
“With the Reds making the playoffs last year, it was a great opportunity, they trusted me and gave me the opportunity to advance scout, and I advance scouted the (St. Louis) Cardinals," Steve said. "Unfortunately, we didn’t get an opportunity to play them.”
For Seth, with Steve as a scout now, his dad has the opportunity to watch Seth play baseball more often.
“Whenever he was a manager with the Phillies in Single A and Double AA, he was never able to see any of my games," Seth said. "I sort of got used to it, but I would rather him see some of my games. I know it’s hard on him, because I know he loves watching me play.”
When Steve is away, Seth said he solicits advice by phone, but when Seth's dad is home, the two work together.
“It’s sort of hard on him to help me sometimes, because whenever he’s not home he can only do it verbally over the phone and just talk to me about it," Seth said. "Whenever he’s home he tries to help me do better. We always go hit together when he’s home. Whenever he’s not home he pushes me and I try to go by myself and do the stuff, work harder and stuff like that.”
Capital coach Robert Massey said Steve is eager to help the entire Cougars team, too, not just Seth.
“When his dad’s in, his dad is 100 percent working with him, and it’s not just him, it’s with all of our kids," Massey said. "He takes them all to the cage. He’ll get them extra work when I’m not available."
For Steve, increased time home means more baseball instruction for Seth, but it also translates to more family time.
“We try and get some drills in, we try to get some things done," Steve said, "but it’s also good just to be home and spend some quality time with the family, but don’t get me wrong, we’ll still go in the cage and we’ll hit and we’ll do some drills."
Finally, below are some extra quotes I wanted to share that did not make my Daily Mail article or the above post.
Steve Roadcap, classified professional scout with the Cincinnati Reds
-on his son Seth's opportunities meeting future Major League Baseball players
“He’s got a couple good relationships going. One with (Minnesota Twins pitcher) Vance Worley, the other (Baltimore Orioles outfielder) Adam Jones. Two pretty nice names. I know he got to be close with and has communicated with them."
-on how he thinks Seth feels about his transition from Minor League manager to professional scout
"I think he misses me being on the field a little bit. I don’t know if he likes me being home because I know I’m pretty hard, but I just want the kid to learn how to play the game the right way, and I think that’s kind of a lost art of the game. He’s learning how to play the game the right way.”
-on missing Seth's baseball games when Steve was a manager
“He caught a lot in middle school and I never got to see him play a game in middle school, and that’s why it was very difficult.”
-on his son Seth taking up the position of catcher, after Steve served as catching coordinator to the Mariners
“It’s something that he loves to do and if you’re a catcher, you have to love to do it, because it’s the hardest position on the field. You got to be willing to get back there and get dirty and be tired and take some foul balls. So far, he’s liked it. He’s getting better. He’s got a lot of things to work on, but he’s having fun. That’s the main part.”
Seth Roadcap, junior catcher/pitcher for Capital
-on his position preference
“My favorite position is catching, but when they need me to pitch, I’ll try to do my best and do a good job for them.”
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