GaryMrMets
11-21-2003, 09:54 PM
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/phi/news/phi_news.jsp?ymd=20031121&content_id=606846&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi
11/21/2003 1:00 PM ET
Lieberthal already pumped for 2004
Phils catcher finished season with strong September
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com
PHILADELPHIA -- During Mike Lieberthal's last visit to Philadelphia, around Halloween, he spent a late Sunday afternoon at the new home of the pro football team.
There he watched the Eagles slip by the New York Jets, the second of the team's five straight wins. He felt the excitement at Lincoln Financial Field as quarterback Donovan McNabb led his team above .500 for the first time in the 2003 season.
Lieberthal walked away that afternoon impressed by the grass field and overall beauty of a brand-spanking-new stadium.
Fast forward to April 2004, when Lieberthal and his teammates inhabit their new home across the street. While the two-time All-Star catcher knows that's becoming closer to reality, he's not sure when it will sink in that he's actually home.
"I think I'll walk on the field for at least half the season and say, 'Wait a second. There's no way I'm still in Philadelphia,' " he said. "I'll feel like they must be road games."
Over those next six months -- seven if Lieberthal and company have their way -- the Phillies will discover life away from the artificial turf of Veterans Stadium. The Phillies will learn that the grass is always greener.
While the Kentucky bluegrass sod has been laid, the Phillies planted more encouraging seeds this month when they acquired Billy Wagner from the Astros. His arrival has instilled confidence throughout the team.
"Our team is definitely much better off. He's awesome," Lieberthal said. "There are holes we still have to fill -- a starter, if Millwood leaves, and some bullpen help. But I think we realize our team is special, especially with a new stadium. That will create a lot of excitement.
The career Phillie showed no signs of tiring in September, when his team needed him most. His five home runs in September were second on the team to Jim Thome's 10. He also drove in 24 runs and hit .283 for the month -- the third-highest mark on the team.
Overall, he hit for the highest average of his career (.313), and notched his highest at-bat, hit and RBI totals since 1999. Despite playing sparingly in Spring Training with a pelvic injury, Lieberthal began the season hot and never cooled off.
But the Marlins were simply on fire as the season entered the final stretch. A sweep at Pro Player Stadium during the season's final week officially ended the season for the Phillies.
That forced Lieberthal to watch those same Marlins storm their way past the Giants, Cubs and Yankees in the postseason, to capture their second World Series crown.
"It was tough to watch because we played them the whole year, and to think we were that close," he said. "On the other hand, I always thought they were better than what everybody said. I was only surprised when they came back from against the Cubs, and had to get by (Mark) Prior and (Kerry) Wood. But the way they were playing when they got there, I'm definitely not surprised they won it."
Could it now be the Phillies turn?
"I think we have more of a veteran team that's been through (a pennant race) and knows how to play. There should be more excitement now because of how close we were at the end of the season."
Ken Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/images/2003/04/30/vE2oweqf.jpg
Mike Lieberthal hit .313 with 13 homers and 81 RBIs during a solid 2003 campaign. (Jill Weisleder/Dodgers)
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/images/2003/08/03/BZ66NCro.jpg
Mike Lieberthal caught more than 130 games for the first time since 1999 last season. (H. Rumph Jr./AP)
11/21/2003 1:00 PM ET
Lieberthal already pumped for 2004
Phils catcher finished season with strong September
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com
PHILADELPHIA -- During Mike Lieberthal's last visit to Philadelphia, around Halloween, he spent a late Sunday afternoon at the new home of the pro football team.
There he watched the Eagles slip by the New York Jets, the second of the team's five straight wins. He felt the excitement at Lincoln Financial Field as quarterback Donovan McNabb led his team above .500 for the first time in the 2003 season.
Lieberthal walked away that afternoon impressed by the grass field and overall beauty of a brand-spanking-new stadium.
Fast forward to April 2004, when Lieberthal and his teammates inhabit their new home across the street. While the two-time All-Star catcher knows that's becoming closer to reality, he's not sure when it will sink in that he's actually home.
"I think I'll walk on the field for at least half the season and say, 'Wait a second. There's no way I'm still in Philadelphia,' " he said. "I'll feel like they must be road games."
Over those next six months -- seven if Lieberthal and company have their way -- the Phillies will discover life away from the artificial turf of Veterans Stadium. The Phillies will learn that the grass is always greener.
While the Kentucky bluegrass sod has been laid, the Phillies planted more encouraging seeds this month when they acquired Billy Wagner from the Astros. His arrival has instilled confidence throughout the team.
"Our team is definitely much better off. He's awesome," Lieberthal said. "There are holes we still have to fill -- a starter, if Millwood leaves, and some bullpen help. But I think we realize our team is special, especially with a new stadium. That will create a lot of excitement.
The career Phillie showed no signs of tiring in September, when his team needed him most. His five home runs in September were second on the team to Jim Thome's 10. He also drove in 24 runs and hit .283 for the month -- the third-highest mark on the team.
Overall, he hit for the highest average of his career (.313), and notched his highest at-bat, hit and RBI totals since 1999. Despite playing sparingly in Spring Training with a pelvic injury, Lieberthal began the season hot and never cooled off.
But the Marlins were simply on fire as the season entered the final stretch. A sweep at Pro Player Stadium during the season's final week officially ended the season for the Phillies.
That forced Lieberthal to watch those same Marlins storm their way past the Giants, Cubs and Yankees in the postseason, to capture their second World Series crown.
"It was tough to watch because we played them the whole year, and to think we were that close," he said. "On the other hand, I always thought they were better than what everybody said. I was only surprised when they came back from against the Cubs, and had to get by (Mark) Prior and (Kerry) Wood. But the way they were playing when they got there, I'm definitely not surprised they won it."
Could it now be the Phillies turn?
"I think we have more of a veteran team that's been through (a pennant race) and knows how to play. There should be more excitement now because of how close we were at the end of the season."
Ken Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/images/2003/04/30/vE2oweqf.jpg
Mike Lieberthal hit .313 with 13 homers and 81 RBIs during a solid 2003 campaign. (Jill Weisleder/Dodgers)
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/images/2003/08/03/BZ66NCro.jpg
Mike Lieberthal caught more than 130 games for the first time since 1999 last season. (H. Rumph Jr./AP)