John From Albany - Interview with Binghamton Rumble Ponies Manager Lorenzo Bundy

 

Before the Binghamton Rumble Ponies game on Friday Night, I had the opportunity to talk to Rumble Ponies Manager Lorenzo Bundy.  Note: this was before the promotion of Brett Baty to Binghamton was announced. 

John From Albany: How do you like your first year in Binghamton?

Lorenzo Bundy: It’s been challenging but I’m enjoying it.  I’ve never been to Binghamton before so it’s a great opportunity for me.  I never managed Double-A before…I managed 6 years in AAA and 5-6 years in A-Ball so when we got off to that slow start this year and lost the first ten I told the guys after 40 years in baseball, I get my first win in Double A.  Because I never managed in Double A before.

JFA: Lately the team has been playing very well.  Had did you go from there to here?

Lorenzo Bundy: I think a lot of this is COVID related because a lot of these guys hadn’t played baseball in a long time…and you don’t want to make excuses or anything like that…but this is a different year…it really is…it is what it is.  Some of these guys didn’t get a chance to play at all last year and we had an abbreviated Spring Training…And granted some of those games in the ten game losing streak were self-inflicted…we had some leads and let them get away but to their credit, they continued to work and we kind of see more of less what we think is a competitive baseball team as a group…we have a couple of prospects that are starting to play like prospects…and have done well…we can mention Tylor Megill, our Opening Day Starter…he’s done pretty well…we’re really proud of him and what he’s done in his first two starts in the big leagues.

JFA: Were you surprised how quickly he progressed from here to the big leagues?

Lorenzo Bundy: Not really, One, because of the amount of injuries...he also was doing his job.  He needed to go to AAA, he accepted the challenge there, and then he was the guy I thought was next in line and sure enough he’s had two good starts for them

JFA: Can I ask you about Mark Vientos, is he now going to an outfielder or is he going to back and forth and play 1^st, 3^rd, and outfield?

Lorenzo Bundy: He is going to play all three. We understand especially in today’s game, versatility is very important, and if Mark continues to swing the bat well, that will give the parent club options, we can play him in left, we can play him at 3^rd, we can play him at 1^st, and it’s only going to help him. Have bat will travel.

JFA: Zack Scott recently mentioned that he wanted to get the minor league players more versatile.

Lorenzo Bundy: That’s exactly right and he’s been very receptive to it.  I think out of the three positions first base is the one he doesn’t like but we’ve been working on that and hope to make him an average player at all of them to go along with that bat

JFA: Carlos Cortes used to play a lot of INF, this year he has played strictly in the OF, is that where he will be going forward?

Lorenzo Bundy: Strictly an outfielder, we get him out there every now and then to get some ground balls.  Sometimes at the double A level we run short on bodies in a hurry sometimes, I think Carlos has made the adjustment to the OF really well, he’s played very good in LF, he’s getting more time in RF, we pretty much know he’s not going to be a CF, but he needs to play those corners and I’ve been very happy with how he’s played out there.  

JFA: Speaking of the Outfield, what about Jake Mangum?

Lorenzo Bundy: Jake’s had a little bit of a roller coaster year.  He came in here on fire and then he went into a funk for 45 at-bats and now he’s playing well again.  I think its kind of evened out for Jake right now.  First, he gives us stability in CF. He’s a plus defender.  He not a flyer, but he plays hard and brings that energy every time and surprisingly he’s hit 3 or 4 balls out of the park.  He hit a long one last night (Thursday, 7/8/21).  We know what Jake needs to do, get on base, set that the tone for the team and play that good defense.

JFA: Who do you think is closest to the big leagues?

Lorenzo Bundy: That’s a toughie. When you are left-handed – you are really phone call away.  I would put both of those guys [Binghamton Left-Handed Pitchers Josh Walker and Andrew Mitchell] neck and neck. Josh Walker had a great start for us last night (Thursday) and last month Mitchell has been really, really, good.  Early in the year he kind of struggled against lefties a little bit, but now he’s found everything.  Now with the new rule – you must face three hitters, Mitchell has been very good against Right-Handed Hitters, his breaking ball has been really good and Right-Handed Hitters don’t get a good look at it neither.  If you talk about those two guys – that left arm – it’s valuable.

JFA: Is there a plan post draft to bring players up from Brooklyn and send players from Binghamton to Syracuse? Has the organization discussed that at all?

Lorenzo Bundy: I know we have those three kids in Brooklyn, and they are all playing pretty well.  It’s going to be interesting to see.  I think a lot will probably depend on the draft.  I don’t know what they are doing with these kids, whether or not they are going to send them to the full season club or keep them in the complex…so I think a lot has to do with what they do with the kids that come out of the draft but obviously Baty, Mauricio, and Alvarez are well thought of and deservingly so, they’ve all been playing well, whether there’s movement or not, you’ll probably find out when I find out.  

JFA: One of the challenging things for a minor league manager – you have a lot of different personnel on your team. For instance, you have three good catchers, Nick Meyer, Hayden Senger, and David Rodriguez – 3 very good catchers.  How do you keep players motivated, and in the lineup, how do you manage that?

Lorenzo Bundy: It’s really tough – especially with that catcher’s position – because there’s only one catcher. The outfield you have three, the infield 4 but that catching position is really tough, and especially when all three of those guys bring something to the table, and the big thing now is that instead of seven days a week, we only play 6.  Everybody loves the off day except for the manager because that’s one less day for these kids as far as opportunities to play and show what they can do.  We try and keep them happy; we try and give them opportunities to play.  Meyer has played a few games at 1^st base, Rodriguez played first before he went up to Triple A, he DH’d.  With the DH, you try to keep them happy, try to give them opportunities to play and have some success. 

JFA: Thank you very much for your time Lorenzo.  We hope to talk to you again in the future.