GaryMrMets
03-30-2004, 04:48 PM
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/8307836.htm
Posted on Tue, Mar. 30, 2004
Padilla stronger after ordeals
The Phils pitcher has had a fine spring: a 1.89 ERA, and 15 strikeouts against just four walks.
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Vicente Padilla is more focused, more confident.
He is more driven than ever.
There seems to be a difference in the Phillies righthander these days. Listen to manager Larry Bowa and pitching coach Joe Kerrigan, catcher Mike Lieberthal and pitcher Roberto Hernandez. Listen to his agent, Rudy Valenzuela.
"He's matured," Valenzuela said. "He's a little more serious. His focus is a little different in that he knows how quickly things can change."
Padilla's life changed forever in October in Nicaragua. On his way from Managua to his hometown Chinandega, Padilla's BMW went off the road and flipped over. His childhood friend Abraham Flores died.
Padilla walked away with a few bumps and bruises.
A few months later a Nicaraguan newspaper columnist wrote that Padilla, who doesn't speak to reporters, has a serious alcohol problem. The Phils and Valenzuela quickly denied it.
Those off-season difficulties haven't seemed to affect Padilla this spring. He entered last night's game against Detroit with a 1.89 ERA in five starts. In 19 innings, he had allowed 14 hits with four walks and 15 strikeouts. Opponents had hit only .206 against him.
"Vicente is a very private person, but what he wanted more than anything was to dedicate this season to his friend and remove any doubts that anybody might have about his commitment," Valenzuela said. "And the only way he can do that is by performing well."
Bowa has said on several occasions this spring that he thinks Padilla has been more focused. Kerrigan has seen it, too. From his side sessions to fielding practice to warmups in between innings, they have seen Padilla work with a purpose every time he steps onto the field.
If that effort continues into the season, they think the results could be impressive. Kerrigan often compares Padilla's stuff to Pedro Martinez's. Bowa considers Padilla, who went 14-12 with a 3.62 ERA last season, one of the best righthanders in baseball. Hernandez, a reliever who pitched with Atlanta last season, said Padilla's four-hit shutout of the Braves last April was the best pitching performance he saw at any point last season.
And a couple weeks ago, Phillies closer Billy Wagner kidded with Padilla that as good as he is he should win more than 14 games.
"It takes a while for somebody to feel like he belongs," said Hernandez, the native Puerto Rican who has befriended Padilla this spring. "He's a guy that knows his capabilities. I think he knows that he's a big part of our success. He's got a couple years under his belt right now, and there's no reason why he should be - in our minds or in his mind - a .500 pitcher.."
The final jobs. Bowa said yesterday that there are "a lot of decisions" to make with the final bench and bullpen jobs, which Phillies general manager Ed Wade said could be done Saturday. Rosters must be set by 2 p.m. Sunday. There is one job open on the bench, with outfielder Doug Glanville and infielder Chase Utley fighting for it. There are two jobs open in the bullpen, with Amaury Telemaco, Ryan Madson, David Coggin and Geoff Geary in the mix.
Bowa also said options won't be a factor. Utley and Madson have options, so they could start the season in triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Telemaco and Coggin are out of options.
Extra bases. Ricky Ledee, who has had a rough spring, homered and doubled in the loss to Detroit... . Tomas Perez, who had been bothered with inflammation in his big right toe, played second base. He went 0 for 2... . Tigers starter Nate Cornejo and manager Alan Trammell were ejected in the bottom of the sixth after Cornejo hit Ledee with a pitch. Both benches had been warned after Padilla hit Carlos Pena, who had singled and doubled off Padilla earlier, in the top of the sixth... . Rheal Cormier pitched two scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 5.00... . Wagner, who has a 5.00 ERA, allowed three hits and two runs in an inning. He also broke two Tigers' bats.
Posted on Tue, Mar. 30, 2004
Padilla stronger after ordeals
The Phils pitcher has had a fine spring: a 1.89 ERA, and 15 strikeouts against just four walks.
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Vicente Padilla is more focused, more confident.
He is more driven than ever.
There seems to be a difference in the Phillies righthander these days. Listen to manager Larry Bowa and pitching coach Joe Kerrigan, catcher Mike Lieberthal and pitcher Roberto Hernandez. Listen to his agent, Rudy Valenzuela.
"He's matured," Valenzuela said. "He's a little more serious. His focus is a little different in that he knows how quickly things can change."
Padilla's life changed forever in October in Nicaragua. On his way from Managua to his hometown Chinandega, Padilla's BMW went off the road and flipped over. His childhood friend Abraham Flores died.
Padilla walked away with a few bumps and bruises.
A few months later a Nicaraguan newspaper columnist wrote that Padilla, who doesn't speak to reporters, has a serious alcohol problem. The Phils and Valenzuela quickly denied it.
Those off-season difficulties haven't seemed to affect Padilla this spring. He entered last night's game against Detroit with a 1.89 ERA in five starts. In 19 innings, he had allowed 14 hits with four walks and 15 strikeouts. Opponents had hit only .206 against him.
"Vicente is a very private person, but what he wanted more than anything was to dedicate this season to his friend and remove any doubts that anybody might have about his commitment," Valenzuela said. "And the only way he can do that is by performing well."
Bowa has said on several occasions this spring that he thinks Padilla has been more focused. Kerrigan has seen it, too. From his side sessions to fielding practice to warmups in between innings, they have seen Padilla work with a purpose every time he steps onto the field.
If that effort continues into the season, they think the results could be impressive. Kerrigan often compares Padilla's stuff to Pedro Martinez's. Bowa considers Padilla, who went 14-12 with a 3.62 ERA last season, one of the best righthanders in baseball. Hernandez, a reliever who pitched with Atlanta last season, said Padilla's four-hit shutout of the Braves last April was the best pitching performance he saw at any point last season.
And a couple weeks ago, Phillies closer Billy Wagner kidded with Padilla that as good as he is he should win more than 14 games.
"It takes a while for somebody to feel like he belongs," said Hernandez, the native Puerto Rican who has befriended Padilla this spring. "He's a guy that knows his capabilities. I think he knows that he's a big part of our success. He's got a couple years under his belt right now, and there's no reason why he should be - in our minds or in his mind - a .500 pitcher.."
The final jobs. Bowa said yesterday that there are "a lot of decisions" to make with the final bench and bullpen jobs, which Phillies general manager Ed Wade said could be done Saturday. Rosters must be set by 2 p.m. Sunday. There is one job open on the bench, with outfielder Doug Glanville and infielder Chase Utley fighting for it. There are two jobs open in the bullpen, with Amaury Telemaco, Ryan Madson, David Coggin and Geoff Geary in the mix.
Bowa also said options won't be a factor. Utley and Madson have options, so they could start the season in triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Telemaco and Coggin are out of options.
Extra bases. Ricky Ledee, who has had a rough spring, homered and doubled in the loss to Detroit... . Tomas Perez, who had been bothered with inflammation in his big right toe, played second base. He went 0 for 2... . Tigers starter Nate Cornejo and manager Alan Trammell were ejected in the bottom of the sixth after Cornejo hit Ledee with a pitch. Both benches had been warned after Padilla hit Carlos Pena, who had singled and doubled off Padilla earlier, in the top of the sixth... . Rheal Cormier pitched two scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 5.00... . Wagner, who has a 5.00 ERA, allowed three hits and two runs in an inning. He also broke two Tigers' bats.