GaryMrMets
03-31-2004, 04:38 PM
http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/sports/s033104b.htm
Milton gets to know his catcher
Wednesday, March 31, 2004
By EDWARD de la FUENTE
Gannett News Service
BRADENTON, Fla.
This will be a season of adjustment for Phillies left-hander Eric Milton as he pitches in the National League for the first time.
On Tuesday, he got to know the catcher who will be receiving the majority of his starts, Mike Lieberthal. The two formed a battery for the first time this spring against Pittsburgh at McKechnie Field.
Because of circumstance, the two did not work together until Milton's second-to-last start of the exhibition season. Milton, who was acquired in a trade with Minnesota last December, has gone to great lengths to study his new teammates, particularly fellow left-hander Randy Wolf, in an effort to learn the tendencies he will face.
He also expects Lieberthal to offer some insight.
"We got pretty familiar real quick," Milton said. "I have to (lean on him). I don't know many hitters at all. He's got the experience."
They figured each other out as Milton gave up a third-inning, three-run home run to Raul Mondesi on a full count.
Milton, who wasn't throwing the fastball as well as he'd liked, threw consecutive change-ups to Mondesi before Lieberthal called a fastball inside. But Milton left the pitch over the plate, and Mondesi drove it over the left-center field wall.
"If he had thrown another change-up, it would have been three in a row," said Lieberthal, on what he and Milton discussed afterward. "So I called the fastball, but he left it down the middle. With him being such a control guy, I was looking for the inside-corner punchout."
Milton said he didn't feel his best anyway Tuesday.
"It was pretty much my rhythm," Milton said. "My arm, my body felt great. I couldn't get my fastballs inside to righties. But my curveball was outstanding."
Pirates 6, Phillies 5: The Phillies opened the scoring on a three-run home run by Lieberthal in the first inning, but Mondesi's homer fueled a four-run third inning.
Pinch-hitter Jose Castillo produced the winning run in the ninth on a walk-off solo home run off right-hander David Coggin. The game would have been declared a tie had the Pirates failed to score in the inning.
Pat Burrell hit a two-run double in the fifth for the Phillies (10-17), who managed eight hits against four Pirates pitchers.
Phillies fodder: Jim Thome went 1-for-4 with a home run and a walk in a minor-league exhibition game against Tampa Bay Tuesday in St. Petersburg, Fla. . . . Right-hander Kip Wells will be the Pirates' opening-day starter against the Phillies April 5, opposing right-hander Kevin Millwood. The Pirates will start right-handers Kris Benson and Josh Fogg the rest of the three-game series at PNC Park against Randy Wolf and Vicente Padilla. . . . Catcher Michel Hernandez was optioned to minor-league camp Tuesday, reducing the number of players in major-league camp to 35. The Phillies claimed Hernandez off waivers last week from Boston and placed him on the 40-man roster. . . . Catcher Jeremy Salazar was released Tuesday. Salazar, 27, hit .238 with 19 home runs and 150 RBIs over six minor-league seasons and has been invited to spring training the past three years. . . . The Phillies play their final home game of the Grapefruit League season against Minnesota at 1:05 p.m. today. Millwood faces RHP Joe Roa.
Milton gets to know his catcher
Wednesday, March 31, 2004
By EDWARD de la FUENTE
Gannett News Service
BRADENTON, Fla.
This will be a season of adjustment for Phillies left-hander Eric Milton as he pitches in the National League for the first time.
On Tuesday, he got to know the catcher who will be receiving the majority of his starts, Mike Lieberthal. The two formed a battery for the first time this spring against Pittsburgh at McKechnie Field.
Because of circumstance, the two did not work together until Milton's second-to-last start of the exhibition season. Milton, who was acquired in a trade with Minnesota last December, has gone to great lengths to study his new teammates, particularly fellow left-hander Randy Wolf, in an effort to learn the tendencies he will face.
He also expects Lieberthal to offer some insight.
"We got pretty familiar real quick," Milton said. "I have to (lean on him). I don't know many hitters at all. He's got the experience."
They figured each other out as Milton gave up a third-inning, three-run home run to Raul Mondesi on a full count.
Milton, who wasn't throwing the fastball as well as he'd liked, threw consecutive change-ups to Mondesi before Lieberthal called a fastball inside. But Milton left the pitch over the plate, and Mondesi drove it over the left-center field wall.
"If he had thrown another change-up, it would have been three in a row," said Lieberthal, on what he and Milton discussed afterward. "So I called the fastball, but he left it down the middle. With him being such a control guy, I was looking for the inside-corner punchout."
Milton said he didn't feel his best anyway Tuesday.
"It was pretty much my rhythm," Milton said. "My arm, my body felt great. I couldn't get my fastballs inside to righties. But my curveball was outstanding."
Pirates 6, Phillies 5: The Phillies opened the scoring on a three-run home run by Lieberthal in the first inning, but Mondesi's homer fueled a four-run third inning.
Pinch-hitter Jose Castillo produced the winning run in the ninth on a walk-off solo home run off right-hander David Coggin. The game would have been declared a tie had the Pirates failed to score in the inning.
Pat Burrell hit a two-run double in the fifth for the Phillies (10-17), who managed eight hits against four Pirates pitchers.
Phillies fodder: Jim Thome went 1-for-4 with a home run and a walk in a minor-league exhibition game against Tampa Bay Tuesday in St. Petersburg, Fla. . . . Right-hander Kip Wells will be the Pirates' opening-day starter against the Phillies April 5, opposing right-hander Kevin Millwood. The Pirates will start right-handers Kris Benson and Josh Fogg the rest of the three-game series at PNC Park against Randy Wolf and Vicente Padilla. . . . Catcher Michel Hernandez was optioned to minor-league camp Tuesday, reducing the number of players in major-league camp to 35. The Phillies claimed Hernandez off waivers last week from Boston and placed him on the 40-man roster. . . . Catcher Jeremy Salazar was released Tuesday. Salazar, 27, hit .238 with 19 home runs and 150 RBIs over six minor-league seasons and has been invited to spring training the past three years. . . . The Phillies play their final home game of the Grapefruit League season against Minnesota at 1:05 p.m. today. Millwood faces RHP Joe Roa.