GaryMrMets
06-28-2004, 02:53 PM
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/9029287.htm
Posted on Mon, Jun. 28, 2004
Sitting doesn't sit well with Lieberthal
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com
BOSTON - Nobody anticipated facing Curt Schilling more eagerly than Mike Lieberthal, hitless in nine at-bats against his former battery mate. Lieberthal said he was heating up over the past few weeks, noted that he was batting .283 on the road, and added his troublesome knee was feeling great.
So, nobody was more displeased at Fenway Park yesterday than Lieberthal. After Saturday's game, in which he didn't play, he learned he wouldn't play yesterday, either. In a postgame meeting Saturday, manager Larry Bowa indicated to Lieberthal that he was leaning toward starting backup Todd Pratt in a second straight game for the first time since Lieberthal returned healthy in 2002.
"He told me [Saturday] night he was thinking about it, but I had a pretty good idea. He told 'Pratty' [Saturday] night he was catching," Lieberthal said. So Lieberthal spent yesterday disheartened, embarrassed, angry and, he said, "More surprised than anything."
That's because, he contended, the atrocious April in which he batted .174 is a memory after a .265 May and a .305 June. His RBI total of 26 reflects his continual spotty production with runners in scoring position, when he's hitting just .127. This, after hitting .313 (.319 with runners in scoring position) with 81 RBI last season.
"I want him to hit like he did last year. He was our most consistent hitter last year, without a doubt. We need his bat," Bowa said. Bowa saw little advantage to starting Lieberthal against Schilling, who entered 6-0 with a 2.28 earned run average in Fenway. "This is a good day to get your head cleared."
What is clear to Lieberthal is Bowa's current regard for him.
"I work harder than anybody here. The only message it sends to me is the confidence he has in me. He feels more confident with Pratty in the lineup than me," Lieberthal said. "This is Boston. On Sunday. Against Schilling. I've got a lot of people in town. It's disheartening."
Pratt entered the game 1-for-3 against Schilling, but was 0-for-4 yesterday.
The developments of the last two games do not necessarily indicate any long-term decrease in playing time for Lieberthal in favor of Pratt, which is what Lieberthal was worried about.
"The same thing happened to [Pat] Burrell last year," Lieberthal said, referring to the leftfielder's seasonlong descent into the hell of hitting .209.
Bowa acknowledged that Burrell's current slump needs to end, too. He's hitting .176 in June with hints of 2003 spread all over his at-bats. Last season, his obvious tension at the plate had him pressing and guessing. But through May of this season, he was batting .313 with 10 homers and 42 RBI, closer to the plate with a more compact swing.
"He was making a conscious effort going the other way," said Bowa, who contended, "He's not anywhere near the problems he had last year."
Bowa said no plans have been made for Burrell to receive a refresher course from hitting guru Charlie Manuel. Bowa also wouldn't commit to limiting Burrell's playing time in favor of Jason Michaels, either, occupying the role of Jim Thome protector.
Home, sweet bandbox
The Phillies finally acknowledged what seemed obvious since Citizens Bank Park opened for exhibition games: Many of their hitters are trying to hit home runs. Batting practice routinely is a swing-altered home run derby for light hitters and sluggers alike, and that's extending into at-bats in games.
"We've got to lead the league in lost balls," Larry Bowa said, referring to the souvenirs deposited in the stands during batting practice. He excluded Jim Thome, Mike Lieberthal and David Bell, routine-driven and disciplined during their sessions, but admitted, "I think a lot of hitters are lifting the ball."
When the Phils faced Pedro Martinez on Friday, for many their first look at the Green Monster, they flied out nine times to leftfield among Martinez's 21 recorded outs.
"None of them made it to the wall" that is just 310 feet down the leftfield line, Bowa noted.
The Phillies have hit just .243 at home compared with .271 on the road (opponents bat .260 at the Bank). Chief Phillies culprits: Lieberthal (.200), Placido Polanco (.230), Bell (.241), Burrell (.269) and Bobby Abreu (.266), all of whom have significantly better road averages than home marks.
Phillers
After rookie Ryan Madson's steely performance in Saturday's win (2 1/3 innings, no runs), he secured the bleeding-stopper job lost by flailing veteran Roberto Hernandez...Hernandez worked with pitching coach Joe Kerrigan the last 2 days on starting his hands lower in his delivery...Jason Michaels' offense has Larry Bowa leaning toward using him in centerfield over the next couple of weeks at home instead of defensive standout Doug Glanville...Randy Wolf was fine after Saturday's four-inning start, his first after a DL stint with elbow tendinitis...Closer Billy Wagner, pitching mop-up, gave up four runs in the eighth yesterday, including a three-run homer to Mark Bellhorn. It was a typical mop-up performance for Wagner, who pitches much better when it matters.
Posted on Mon, Jun. 28, 2004
Sitting doesn't sit well with Lieberthal
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com
BOSTON - Nobody anticipated facing Curt Schilling more eagerly than Mike Lieberthal, hitless in nine at-bats against his former battery mate. Lieberthal said he was heating up over the past few weeks, noted that he was batting .283 on the road, and added his troublesome knee was feeling great.
So, nobody was more displeased at Fenway Park yesterday than Lieberthal. After Saturday's game, in which he didn't play, he learned he wouldn't play yesterday, either. In a postgame meeting Saturday, manager Larry Bowa indicated to Lieberthal that he was leaning toward starting backup Todd Pratt in a second straight game for the first time since Lieberthal returned healthy in 2002.
"He told me [Saturday] night he was thinking about it, but I had a pretty good idea. He told 'Pratty' [Saturday] night he was catching," Lieberthal said. So Lieberthal spent yesterday disheartened, embarrassed, angry and, he said, "More surprised than anything."
That's because, he contended, the atrocious April in which he batted .174 is a memory after a .265 May and a .305 June. His RBI total of 26 reflects his continual spotty production with runners in scoring position, when he's hitting just .127. This, after hitting .313 (.319 with runners in scoring position) with 81 RBI last season.
"I want him to hit like he did last year. He was our most consistent hitter last year, without a doubt. We need his bat," Bowa said. Bowa saw little advantage to starting Lieberthal against Schilling, who entered 6-0 with a 2.28 earned run average in Fenway. "This is a good day to get your head cleared."
What is clear to Lieberthal is Bowa's current regard for him.
"I work harder than anybody here. The only message it sends to me is the confidence he has in me. He feels more confident with Pratty in the lineup than me," Lieberthal said. "This is Boston. On Sunday. Against Schilling. I've got a lot of people in town. It's disheartening."
Pratt entered the game 1-for-3 against Schilling, but was 0-for-4 yesterday.
The developments of the last two games do not necessarily indicate any long-term decrease in playing time for Lieberthal in favor of Pratt, which is what Lieberthal was worried about.
"The same thing happened to [Pat] Burrell last year," Lieberthal said, referring to the leftfielder's seasonlong descent into the hell of hitting .209.
Bowa acknowledged that Burrell's current slump needs to end, too. He's hitting .176 in June with hints of 2003 spread all over his at-bats. Last season, his obvious tension at the plate had him pressing and guessing. But through May of this season, he was batting .313 with 10 homers and 42 RBI, closer to the plate with a more compact swing.
"He was making a conscious effort going the other way," said Bowa, who contended, "He's not anywhere near the problems he had last year."
Bowa said no plans have been made for Burrell to receive a refresher course from hitting guru Charlie Manuel. Bowa also wouldn't commit to limiting Burrell's playing time in favor of Jason Michaels, either, occupying the role of Jim Thome protector.
Home, sweet bandbox
The Phillies finally acknowledged what seemed obvious since Citizens Bank Park opened for exhibition games: Many of their hitters are trying to hit home runs. Batting practice routinely is a swing-altered home run derby for light hitters and sluggers alike, and that's extending into at-bats in games.
"We've got to lead the league in lost balls," Larry Bowa said, referring to the souvenirs deposited in the stands during batting practice. He excluded Jim Thome, Mike Lieberthal and David Bell, routine-driven and disciplined during their sessions, but admitted, "I think a lot of hitters are lifting the ball."
When the Phils faced Pedro Martinez on Friday, for many their first look at the Green Monster, they flied out nine times to leftfield among Martinez's 21 recorded outs.
"None of them made it to the wall" that is just 310 feet down the leftfield line, Bowa noted.
The Phillies have hit just .243 at home compared with .271 on the road (opponents bat .260 at the Bank). Chief Phillies culprits: Lieberthal (.200), Placido Polanco (.230), Bell (.241), Burrell (.269) and Bobby Abreu (.266), all of whom have significantly better road averages than home marks.
Phillers
After rookie Ryan Madson's steely performance in Saturday's win (2 1/3 innings, no runs), he secured the bleeding-stopper job lost by flailing veteran Roberto Hernandez...Hernandez worked with pitching coach Joe Kerrigan the last 2 days on starting his hands lower in his delivery...Jason Michaels' offense has Larry Bowa leaning toward using him in centerfield over the next couple of weeks at home instead of defensive standout Doug Glanville...Randy Wolf was fine after Saturday's four-inning start, his first after a DL stint with elbow tendinitis...Closer Billy Wagner, pitching mop-up, gave up four runs in the eighth yesterday, including a three-run homer to Mark Bellhorn. It was a typical mop-up performance for Wagner, who pitches much better when it matters.