GaryMrMets
06-06-2004, 01:17 AM
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/8835088.htm
Posted on Fri, Jun. 04, 2004
Ramirez's presence anything but minor
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com
ATLANTA - Rookie pitcher Elizardo Ramirez jogged lightly with mentor Amaury Telemaco along the third-base line at Turner Field...wait a minute.
With Josh Hancock joining the team and needing a roster spot wasn't Ramirez supposed to be back in the minors yesterday, resuming his promising track as a starter in Double A?
Not yet. Not with the Phillies' bullpen reeling and unsteady after stinging, 10th-inning losses to the visiting Mets on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"The last two nights it's showed up big-time: We've got guys pitching out of their roles," manager Larry Bowa said, alluding to the scramble that closer Billy Wagner's extended trip to the disabled list has caused.
Roberto Hernandez, signed as a seventh-inning reliever, gave up the winning runs on Wednesday against the Mets. The day before default closer Tim Worrell did the same. Precocious rookie Ryan Madson gave up a three-run homer in the eighth Wednesday to start the Mets' comeback.
Uncertainty surrounding Hancock's ability to pitch past the sixth inning and worries about Randy Wolf's lingering elbow tendinitis, which cost him a start last month and limited him in his two starts since, prompted the Phillies to retain Ramirez, at least through the weekend. After that, perhaps they won't need seven relievers, since interleague play begins Tuesday (they won't have to pinch-hit for relievers).
It also allows them to keep top hitting prospect Chase Utley around longer when Placido Polanco comes off the disabled list Tuesday.
That's because yesterday they sent veteran corner infielder Shawn Wooten to Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, essentially choosing to keep versatile third-year outfielder Jason Michaels over him.
Wooten wasn't happy, Bowa admitted - but then, Wooten, 31, hasn't been very pleased lately. Partly due to an elbow injury in April he has gotten only 39 at-bats this season. However, after Bowa chose to use struggling backup catcher Mike Lieberthal to face the Mets' Braden Looper on Tuesday (Lieberthal had a good history against Looper), Wooten was visibly disturbed.
"Nothing surprises me any more," he said, despairingly.
Ramirez said that he was plenty surprised when he made the trip to Atlanta. Vicente Padilla went on the disabled list Sunday with right biceps tendinitis, which made Hancock's start against the Braves last night necessary. So Ramirez, 21, expected to return to the minors, where he was 5-1 with a 2.44 earned run average at Class A Clearwater before his call-up on May 23. He is the long reliever and entered last night essentially as Hancock's understudy, long or short.
Ramirez might be gone, anyway, when Polanco comes back after 3 days of minor league rehab, last night in Class AA Reading, then two with Scranton. Wooten can't return for 10 days, so the problem with what to do with Utley can be delayed - at least, as long as first baseman Jim Thome and third baseman David Bell stay healthy. Their balky backs prompted the Phils to seek Wooten as insurance, though, if necessary, Polanco can be a short-term solution at third, while utility infielder Tomas Perez and Utley are options at first.
Meanwhile, Wolf and Wagner remain optimistic if nothing else.
Wagner, who first hurt his left groin May 13, threw off the mound Wednesday for the first time since aggravating his groin strain May 22, with no ill effects. Similar sessions are scheduled for today and Sunday. He can throw to hitters Tuesday; if that goes well, he'll be back for Thursday's game at the Chicago White Sox, forsaking any minor league rehab assignment.
"The only thing I'd need to work on is sliders, and they all swing at the first pitch, so I'd never get to throw any," Wagner rationalized.
Wolf threw plenty and well Wednesday, leaving with a 3-0 lead in the eighth despite pitching through tendinitis similar to that which delayed the start of his 2002 season, his third full year.
"It isn't any worse," Wolf reported yesterday. "I can pitch with it."
Two years ago, Wolf, pitching for a contract extension and eager to impress as he entered his first season as an established entity, ignored the stiffness and pain in his elbow in spring training. It steadily worsened and cost him his first two starts of the season.
This time, he said, "I know what it feels like," so he won't throw hard (his fastball didn't top 86 mph on Wednesday) and, he said, with medication and therapy he could pitch effectively as it recedes.
If it recedes.
If not, there's always Ramirez.
Posted on Fri, Jun. 04, 2004
Ramirez's presence anything but minor
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com
ATLANTA - Rookie pitcher Elizardo Ramirez jogged lightly with mentor Amaury Telemaco along the third-base line at Turner Field...wait a minute.
With Josh Hancock joining the team and needing a roster spot wasn't Ramirez supposed to be back in the minors yesterday, resuming his promising track as a starter in Double A?
Not yet. Not with the Phillies' bullpen reeling and unsteady after stinging, 10th-inning losses to the visiting Mets on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"The last two nights it's showed up big-time: We've got guys pitching out of their roles," manager Larry Bowa said, alluding to the scramble that closer Billy Wagner's extended trip to the disabled list has caused.
Roberto Hernandez, signed as a seventh-inning reliever, gave up the winning runs on Wednesday against the Mets. The day before default closer Tim Worrell did the same. Precocious rookie Ryan Madson gave up a three-run homer in the eighth Wednesday to start the Mets' comeback.
Uncertainty surrounding Hancock's ability to pitch past the sixth inning and worries about Randy Wolf's lingering elbow tendinitis, which cost him a start last month and limited him in his two starts since, prompted the Phillies to retain Ramirez, at least through the weekend. After that, perhaps they won't need seven relievers, since interleague play begins Tuesday (they won't have to pinch-hit for relievers).
It also allows them to keep top hitting prospect Chase Utley around longer when Placido Polanco comes off the disabled list Tuesday.
That's because yesterday they sent veteran corner infielder Shawn Wooten to Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, essentially choosing to keep versatile third-year outfielder Jason Michaels over him.
Wooten wasn't happy, Bowa admitted - but then, Wooten, 31, hasn't been very pleased lately. Partly due to an elbow injury in April he has gotten only 39 at-bats this season. However, after Bowa chose to use struggling backup catcher Mike Lieberthal to face the Mets' Braden Looper on Tuesday (Lieberthal had a good history against Looper), Wooten was visibly disturbed.
"Nothing surprises me any more," he said, despairingly.
Ramirez said that he was plenty surprised when he made the trip to Atlanta. Vicente Padilla went on the disabled list Sunday with right biceps tendinitis, which made Hancock's start against the Braves last night necessary. So Ramirez, 21, expected to return to the minors, where he was 5-1 with a 2.44 earned run average at Class A Clearwater before his call-up on May 23. He is the long reliever and entered last night essentially as Hancock's understudy, long or short.
Ramirez might be gone, anyway, when Polanco comes back after 3 days of minor league rehab, last night in Class AA Reading, then two with Scranton. Wooten can't return for 10 days, so the problem with what to do with Utley can be delayed - at least, as long as first baseman Jim Thome and third baseman David Bell stay healthy. Their balky backs prompted the Phils to seek Wooten as insurance, though, if necessary, Polanco can be a short-term solution at third, while utility infielder Tomas Perez and Utley are options at first.
Meanwhile, Wolf and Wagner remain optimistic if nothing else.
Wagner, who first hurt his left groin May 13, threw off the mound Wednesday for the first time since aggravating his groin strain May 22, with no ill effects. Similar sessions are scheduled for today and Sunday. He can throw to hitters Tuesday; if that goes well, he'll be back for Thursday's game at the Chicago White Sox, forsaking any minor league rehab assignment.
"The only thing I'd need to work on is sliders, and they all swing at the first pitch, so I'd never get to throw any," Wagner rationalized.
Wolf threw plenty and well Wednesday, leaving with a 3-0 lead in the eighth despite pitching through tendinitis similar to that which delayed the start of his 2002 season, his third full year.
"It isn't any worse," Wolf reported yesterday. "I can pitch with it."
Two years ago, Wolf, pitching for a contract extension and eager to impress as he entered his first season as an established entity, ignored the stiffness and pain in his elbow in spring training. It steadily worsened and cost him his first two starts of the season.
This time, he said, "I know what it feels like," so he won't throw hard (his fastball didn't top 86 mph on Wednesday) and, he said, with medication and therapy he could pitch effectively as it recedes.
If it recedes.
If not, there's always Ramirez.