Tagged: Sam Salabura

A Day With A “Clubbie” Part 2

Hey Drillville,

Here is the remaining part of the interview with Drillers Clubhouse Manager, Sam Salabura.

7. What is your schedule like during the off-season?

Usually during November I got back to Arizona and work the Arizona Fall League for the Rockies and other organization’s prospects. Then when I come back around the middle of December and usually pick up a side job for a few months. Before you know it, it is time to head back out to Arizona for spring training and repeat the process.

8. I know there has to be one that stands out, but who was the dirtiest player you ever had to deal with?

I really feel bad about this question, and don’t want to throw any one under the bus. What I will say is that there are definitely people in the locker room that are extremely messy, and there are some players that are very clean. That is pretty much what you are going to get out of me.

9. What is your ultimate goal while working in sports?

I obviously want to be a clubhouse manager for either a Major League Baseball team, or an NBA team at some point in the future. I would also say keeping moving up would be my main goal.

10. With many of the minor league players from Latin America, are there any situations that arise from a language barrier?

Oh yea there are a few situations that arise daily in the locker room. One thing is that I can communicate in Spanish a little bit with them. But I give Dan Pace (Cultural Development Coordinator) a bunch of credit in that department. He does a great job at getting the Latin American players acclimated to the U.S.A, playing baseball over here in the states, and the lifestyle changes needed to be a successful baseball player.

11. What is the main difference from Drillers Stadium and ONEOK Field?

The main thing that I notice is that there is more space here at ONEOK. At the old park there was never enough room for all of the players.

I just wanted to say one last thing before you left. I am really big on twitter now and if anyone would like to follow me they can find me at: @Bura13.

A Day With A “Clubbie” Part 1

With the Tulsa Drillers season at full-blown speed right now, there wouldn’t be a better time to catch up with the Drillers Clubhouse Manager, Sam Salabura. While the Drillers are currently on their first road trip of the 2011 season taking on Corpus Christi and San Antonio, Sam took some time out of his schedule to answer a few questions for the Drillville faithful.

 1. So how did you get started with the Tulsa Drillers?

            Well I knew I wanted to pursue a career in sports, so when I attended college I graduated with a degree in sports management. I started out as a Clubhouse Manager for a Cardinals affiliate in Davenport, Iowa close to my hometown of Chicago. I found about the open position with the Drillers and knew some people in the Rockies organization and got hired on.

2. Have you always been primarily a baseball fan? If not what other sports do you enjoy?

            I like baseball, and the White Sox are my team, by far. But I am also a huge basketball and football guy. As you could also assume, I am a pretty big (Chicago) Bulls guy.

3. I know you recently got back from Arizona. What was a typical day during Spring Training with the Rockies?

            The first few weeks we had to get everything set up at the new complex that we share with the Diamondbacks. After that we broke up into shifts for the daily duties when the Rockies were in camp. The field setup shift was from 6:00 AM to around 1:00 PM, after that the locker room shift was from 12:30 PM to about 6:00 PM.

4. What are the average day-today duties with the Drillers during the season?

            In spring training there are more guys that handle the clubhouse but during the season I am the only guy with the Tulsa Drillers. I pretty much do a little of everything from washing the uniforms after games, to cooking the pre-game meal, and even taking all care of all packages each player gets.

5. Do you still talk to former Driller players who are now in the show?

            I try to keep up with them, but with my busy schedule and their busy schedule it is really hard. Usually we keep up through texts, because it is so much easier than over the phone.

6. Have you ever been a part of a player getting called up to the Majors? If so, can you tell us about it?

            Yes I actually have. Jhoulys Chacin, got the call up two years ago and it was a pretty cool moment around here. At that point in time he was extremely overwhelmed getting called up, since he was only in Double-A. Hopefully it won’t be the last call up, sometimes I wish I could go with the guys when they get called up to the show, but I just have to wait my turn like them.

A View From The Locker Room with Clubhouse Manager Sam Salabura

With the Tulsa Drillers season at full blown speed right now, there wouldn’t be a better time to catch up with the Drillers Clubhouse Manager, Sam Salabura. While the Drillers are currently on their first road trip of the 2011 season taking on Corpus Christi and San Antonio, Sam took some time out of his schedule to answer a few questions for the Drillville faithful.

 

 

1. So how did you get started with the Tulsa Drillers?

            Well I knew I wanted to pursue a career in sports, so when I attended college I graduated with a degree in sports management. I started out as a Clubhouse Manager for a Cardinals affiliate in Davenport, Iowa close to my hometown of Chicago. I found about the open position with the Drillers and knew some people in the Rockies organization and got hired on.

 

2. Have you always been primarily a baseball fan? If not what other sports do you enjoy?

            I like baseball, and the White Sox are my team, by far. But I am also a huge basketball and football guy. As you could also assume, I am a pretty big (Chicago) Bulls guy.

 

3. I know you recently got back from Arizona. What was a typical day during Spring Training with the Rockies?

            The first few weeks we had to get everything set up at the new complex that we share with the Diamondbacks. After that we broke up into shifts for the daily duties when the Rockies were in camp. The field setup shift was from 6:00 AM to around 1:00 PM, after that the locker room shift was from 12:30 PM to about 6:00 PM.

 

4. What are the average day-today duties with the Drillers during the season?

            In spring training there are more guys that handle the clubhouse but during the season I am the only guy with the Tulsa Drillers. I pretty much do a little of everything from washing the uniforms after games, to cooking the pre-game meal, and even taking all care of all packages each player gets.

 

5. Do you still talk to former Driller players who are now in the show?

            I try to keep up with them, but with my busy schedule and their busy schedule it is really hard. Usually we keep up through texts, because it is so much easier than over the phone.

 

6. Have you ever been a part of a player getting called up to the Majors? If so, can you tell us about it?

            Yes I actually have. Jhoulys Chacin, got the call up last year and it was a pretty cool moment around here. At that point in time he was extremely overwhelmed getting called up, since he was only in Double-A. Hopefully it won’t be the last call up, sometimes I wish I could go with the guys when they get called up to the show, but I just have to wait my turn like them.