GaryMrMets
03-27-2004, 07:46 PM
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/8288637.htm
Posted on Sat, Mar. 27, 2004
Phils' lineup lacks one piece
David Bell is back now, but they still await the return of Jim Thome to the everyday eight.
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
SARASOTA, Fla. - Larry Bowa would love to have Jim Thome with the rest of his everyday eight just once before the Phillies leave Florida and head to Philadelphia next week.
OK, more than once would be even better.
The first baseman, who was sidelined by a broken finger, hasn't been in the starting lineup since March 4, although he pinch-hit Thursday and is expected to be the designated hitter today against Boston in Fort Myers.
Third baseman David Bell returned to the lineup this week after having been sidelined since March 11 with tendinitis in his right shoulder.
"Offensively, we're not where we want to be," Bowa, the Phillies' manager, said after a 6-1 exhibition loss to Cincinnati yesterday at Ed Smith Field. "We've scored five runs in three games. You don't want to start off the season like that. We'll try to improve on that."
The Phillies (9-14) have averaged 4.3 runs in 23 games this spring. They averaged 4.8 in 28 games last spring. They have scored just seven runs in their current four-game losing streak. They have missed Thome and Bell.
But Bowa said that he isn't concerned about his offense.
Not yet.
"It'll be a concern a week from Monday, but not right now," he said, referring to the Phils' April 5 season opener in Pittsburgh.
Bowa had all the regulars but Thome in his starting lineup yesterday as the Phillies faced lefthander Jesus Sanchez. Sanchez allowed just three hits in six innings, and the Phils finished with five hits.
After the game, Bowa said that he didn't know what his opening-day lineup would look like. For example, he said, he wasn't sure if Jimmy Rollins or Placido Polanco would hit second behind Marlon Byrd.
That will sort itself out eventually. But catcher Mike Lieberthal said that it would be important to have everybody together in the lineup before the Phillies head north.
"You want your lineup together because everybody is hitting in different spots in the order," he said. "Even just to get used to hitting in the 6 hole instead of the 5 hole or who you're hitting behind. Do they like to run? Things like that."
Millwood shines. Fans might have looked at Kevin Millwood's spring ERA of 15.95 going into yesterday and wondered what was wrong.
Nothing, Millwood said. He was just working on a few things. He added that he would treat his final two spring starts more like regular-season starts.
Yesterday, in five innings, he allowed five hits, one run and two walks while striking out four.
"I feel good," he said. "My arm feels good. I feel like today was a big step for me."
Smith clears waivers. Lefthanded pitcher Bud Smith cleared waivers and will be at the Carpenter Complex today. The Phillies designated him for assignment Wednesday.
Smith, who has undergone two shoulder surgeries since October 2002, went 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in four Grapefruit League appearances. In 62/3 innings, he allowed six hits, four runs and five walks and hit one batter. In his last appearance, which came Monday against Pittsburgh, his fastball ranged between 79 and 83 m.p.h.
Smith, whom the Phillies acquired from St. Louis in the 2002 trade that sent Scott Rolen to the Cardinals, had been mentioned as a candidate for one of the Phils' two bullpen vacancies before camp opened.
General manager Ed Wade said that he expects the owners of the final bullpen and bench jobs to be decided just before or just after the April 3 exhibition game against Cleveland at Citizens Bank Park.
"I hope we're still making tough decisions by then," he said. "I hope an injury doesn't occur.
"We'll make some more moves before we break [camp], but we'll have surplus arms [when they head north]. I can see 14 or 15 arms and some extra position players."
Phillies recognized. In its annual preseason predictions, Baseball America named Thome its National League MVP. Bowa finished second for NL manager of the year to Chicago's Dusty Baker.
That prediction is opposite the one found in Sporting News, which slammed Bowa when it named Charlie Manuel its NL manager of the year.
"The perception [about me] starts in the city of brotherly love," Bowa said. "You guys do what you have to do. One day you'll be right because eventually everyone gets banged. But you're so far off base right here it's sickening."
Extra bases. Thome went 1 for 3 with a walk, a sacrifice fly and two RBIs in a minor-league exhibition yesterday in Tampa... . Lefthander Rheal Cormier hadn't allowed a run in seven innings this spring, but he had allowed five after facing five batters yesterday. He surrendered a walk and a single, then hit two batters before Wily Mo Pena hit a grand slam... . Bell went 1 for 3... . David Coggin, Amaury Telemaco and Geoff Geary each pitched a scoreless inning... . Brett Myers will pitch against former Phillie Curt Schilling today.
Posted on Sat, Mar. 27, 2004
Phils' lineup lacks one piece
David Bell is back now, but they still await the return of Jim Thome to the everyday eight.
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
SARASOTA, Fla. - Larry Bowa would love to have Jim Thome with the rest of his everyday eight just once before the Phillies leave Florida and head to Philadelphia next week.
OK, more than once would be even better.
The first baseman, who was sidelined by a broken finger, hasn't been in the starting lineup since March 4, although he pinch-hit Thursday and is expected to be the designated hitter today against Boston in Fort Myers.
Third baseman David Bell returned to the lineup this week after having been sidelined since March 11 with tendinitis in his right shoulder.
"Offensively, we're not where we want to be," Bowa, the Phillies' manager, said after a 6-1 exhibition loss to Cincinnati yesterday at Ed Smith Field. "We've scored five runs in three games. You don't want to start off the season like that. We'll try to improve on that."
The Phillies (9-14) have averaged 4.3 runs in 23 games this spring. They averaged 4.8 in 28 games last spring. They have scored just seven runs in their current four-game losing streak. They have missed Thome and Bell.
But Bowa said that he isn't concerned about his offense.
Not yet.
"It'll be a concern a week from Monday, but not right now," he said, referring to the Phils' April 5 season opener in Pittsburgh.
Bowa had all the regulars but Thome in his starting lineup yesterday as the Phillies faced lefthander Jesus Sanchez. Sanchez allowed just three hits in six innings, and the Phils finished with five hits.
After the game, Bowa said that he didn't know what his opening-day lineup would look like. For example, he said, he wasn't sure if Jimmy Rollins or Placido Polanco would hit second behind Marlon Byrd.
That will sort itself out eventually. But catcher Mike Lieberthal said that it would be important to have everybody together in the lineup before the Phillies head north.
"You want your lineup together because everybody is hitting in different spots in the order," he said. "Even just to get used to hitting in the 6 hole instead of the 5 hole or who you're hitting behind. Do they like to run? Things like that."
Millwood shines. Fans might have looked at Kevin Millwood's spring ERA of 15.95 going into yesterday and wondered what was wrong.
Nothing, Millwood said. He was just working on a few things. He added that he would treat his final two spring starts more like regular-season starts.
Yesterday, in five innings, he allowed five hits, one run and two walks while striking out four.
"I feel good," he said. "My arm feels good. I feel like today was a big step for me."
Smith clears waivers. Lefthanded pitcher Bud Smith cleared waivers and will be at the Carpenter Complex today. The Phillies designated him for assignment Wednesday.
Smith, who has undergone two shoulder surgeries since October 2002, went 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in four Grapefruit League appearances. In 62/3 innings, he allowed six hits, four runs and five walks and hit one batter. In his last appearance, which came Monday against Pittsburgh, his fastball ranged between 79 and 83 m.p.h.
Smith, whom the Phillies acquired from St. Louis in the 2002 trade that sent Scott Rolen to the Cardinals, had been mentioned as a candidate for one of the Phils' two bullpen vacancies before camp opened.
General manager Ed Wade said that he expects the owners of the final bullpen and bench jobs to be decided just before or just after the April 3 exhibition game against Cleveland at Citizens Bank Park.
"I hope we're still making tough decisions by then," he said. "I hope an injury doesn't occur.
"We'll make some more moves before we break [camp], but we'll have surplus arms [when they head north]. I can see 14 or 15 arms and some extra position players."
Phillies recognized. In its annual preseason predictions, Baseball America named Thome its National League MVP. Bowa finished second for NL manager of the year to Chicago's Dusty Baker.
That prediction is opposite the one found in Sporting News, which slammed Bowa when it named Charlie Manuel its NL manager of the year.
"The perception [about me] starts in the city of brotherly love," Bowa said. "You guys do what you have to do. One day you'll be right because eventually everyone gets banged. But you're so far off base right here it's sickening."
Extra bases. Thome went 1 for 3 with a walk, a sacrifice fly and two RBIs in a minor-league exhibition yesterday in Tampa... . Lefthander Rheal Cormier hadn't allowed a run in seven innings this spring, but he had allowed five after facing five batters yesterday. He surrendered a walk and a single, then hit two batters before Wily Mo Pena hit a grand slam... . Bell went 1 for 3... . David Coggin, Amaury Telemaco and Geoff Geary each pitched a scoreless inning... . Brett Myers will pitch against former Phillie Curt Schilling today.