Offseason Interview: Ken Oberkfell
Zephyrs manager Ken Oberkfell is enjoying his time off and getting recharged for another baseball season, which would be his 12th season as a manager, fourth in Triple-A.
Oberkfell makes his offseason home in Houston, Texas. He will not have to suit up until Spring Training in March, but enjoys his down-time. "I finally get the time to do normal stuff like working on my house that I don't get a chance to do living away during the season," said Oberkfell.
Oberkfell just completed a remarkable first season in New Orleans, leading the Zephyrs to their first playoff appearance since 2001. The season will not only be remembered for how the Zephyrs made it to the PCL Championship Series, losing to the Sacramento RiverCats after defeating the Nashville Sounds in the first round, but 2007 will be remembered for how they made it.
On August 26th in the team's regular season home finale, Zephyrs fans bid farewell to a team that was overall a success in their first season as a New York Mets affiliate, but one that had dropped to third place in the division after spending the majority of the season on top.
But the team surprised everyone when they won seven of eight on their season-ending road trip to reclaim the PCL American South Division crown by a full two games.
"That was a great experience, a great group of guys," said Oberkfell. "The thing I'll remember about that team is that they didn't quit. It came down to the last week of games on the road and the guys just didn't quit - that's what stands out the most."
The Zephyrs got help from a few players that fans didn't get much of a chance to see at home, but ones that they should be excited to see next year if they don't make the big leagues out of Spring Training - pitchers Kevin Mulvey and Carlos Muniz.
Mulvey, a starting pitcher from Double-A Binghamton, joined the Zephyrs on the road on September 1st. He started and got the win in the Zephyrs division and playoff-clinching win over the Round Rock Express on September 2nd, then started and got another win when the Zephyrs defeated the Nashville Sounds to move on to the PCL Championship Series, both road games.
"Mulvey did a great job. He seems very mature for a 22-year-old, and hadn't played that much. But he's got big-league stuff."
Muniz, a reliever also from Double-A Binghamton, played in three regular season games after joining the team on August 29th. To end the regular season, Muniz pitched 5.2 innings and gave up only four hits and allowed no runs.
"I hadn't seen Muniz at all until he showed up here, but he looked very good and he did a great job," said Oberkfell.
Although the nature of Triple-A baseball means teams lose a lot of their best players right before a potential playoff chase with September call-ups, Oberkfell said it gives teams a chance to see some young players that might make the team the following year.
"It's always great to get guys at the end of the season that you might end up having as Triple-A players to start the following season," said Oberkfell. "They got a chance to pitch in the playoffs, which is a great experience and gets them more prepared for next year."
Oberkfell will get a chance to start looking at his potential Zephyrs team and get an idea of what kind of talent will play in New Orleans once Spring Training begins. But for now he is enjoying having time to spend with his family, take care of his house and enjoy a popular Fall hobby - football.
"In college I'm a fan of the University of Illinois, they've had a great year," said Oberkfell. "I don't know who is going to make to New Orleans (for the BCS Champsionship), there are a number of great teams.
"In the NFL unfortunately I'm a fan of the St. Louis Rams from growing up in St. Louis. They're having a tough year. In the Super Bowl I can't see anyone beating the New England Patriots."