GaryMrMets
07-06-2004, 12:36 PM
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/9087069.htm
Posted on Tue, Jul. 06, 2004
Spurned Milton hitting the high seas
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com
Jim Thome's going to Houston.
Eric Milton's going to the Gulf of Mexico.
"My wife was already making plans for us to go to Florida," said Milton, who, at 11-2, led the National League in wins on Sunday but was not selected to be an All-Star. "Next week I'll be in the Gulf of Mexico on my boat."
Thome made no such plans for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, other than to make sure his parents, in-laws and brothers were free so he could take them along. Thome led the league in home runs with 27, as of Sunday, when Marlins manager Jack McKeon, the NL skipper, picked him after the first baseman failed to beat out Albert Pujols in fan voting.
After players, coaches and managers didn't vote Milton on, McKeon didn't choose Milton, either, he said, because of his 4.48 earned run average. None of McKeon's appointees is within a run of that mark.
Milton also leads the league with 7.75 runs of support per outing. Big deal, said the Phillies.
"One guy definitely got screwed," groused manager Larry Bowa, a rival of McKeon's, enhanced after McKeon's Marlins overtook the Phillies last season in the wild-card race en route to winning the World Series. "It's a game of wins."
True enough, and Milton is a perfect 6-0 with a 4.21 ERA at Citizens Bank Park - an argument that appears to refute any homefield disadvantage stance, since Milton is 5-2 with a 4.80 on the road, even though he pitched in pitchers' hells against the Rockies, Diamondbacks and White Sox.
"I think I've done pretty well," said Milton, who, after being traded from the Twins in the offseason, not only is coming off knee surgery that cost him most of 2003 but also had to adjust to what he considers a different NL strike zone. "I'm 11-2. I'll take it."
Rightfielder Bobby Abreu, too, is satisfied with the .304 average, 17 homers and 17 steals he had when McKeon didn't add him. He knows his typically slow start hindered him again: He was hitting .243 as late as May 12.
"That's probably what did it," Abreu said. "I start slow."
Two other what-ifs
What if 2003 All-Star Randy Wolf, who's 3-3 with a 3.03 ERA, had been healthy in June? Tendinitis cost him at least five starts, so, since he's pitching better than last season, does it bother him that seven wins and a top-10 ERA might have earned a second All-Star berth?
"No, I really don't think about that," Wolf said.
So, what if Jimmy Rollins had hit first all season? When the team was announced Sunday, he was hitting .329 with 21 RBI since moving to the leadoff spot June 1. The Phillies opted to leave Marlon Byrd there after his splendid rookie season, when he replaced Rollins at leadoff. Byrd since has been demoted to Triple A.
So, would Rollins have earned a third trip in just four major league seasons?
Said Rollins, beaming, "Anything's possible."
Phillers
The return of Ricky Ledee from hemorrhoid surgery inched closer after he took batting practice Sunday for the first time then shagged flies yesterday. While the Phils are thinking about not asking him to take a minor league rehab assignment, the whole sliding-into-the-bases experience might delay his return past Thursday, his earliest possible return date...The Phillies, criticized for not All-Star campaigning, are stumping for Abreu via e-mail and through their connections with Latin-American communities. The voting for the final All-Star spot ends tomorrow.
Posted on Tue, Jul. 06, 2004
Spurned Milton hitting the high seas
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com
Jim Thome's going to Houston.
Eric Milton's going to the Gulf of Mexico.
"My wife was already making plans for us to go to Florida," said Milton, who, at 11-2, led the National League in wins on Sunday but was not selected to be an All-Star. "Next week I'll be in the Gulf of Mexico on my boat."
Thome made no such plans for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, other than to make sure his parents, in-laws and brothers were free so he could take them along. Thome led the league in home runs with 27, as of Sunday, when Marlins manager Jack McKeon, the NL skipper, picked him after the first baseman failed to beat out Albert Pujols in fan voting.
After players, coaches and managers didn't vote Milton on, McKeon didn't choose Milton, either, he said, because of his 4.48 earned run average. None of McKeon's appointees is within a run of that mark.
Milton also leads the league with 7.75 runs of support per outing. Big deal, said the Phillies.
"One guy definitely got screwed," groused manager Larry Bowa, a rival of McKeon's, enhanced after McKeon's Marlins overtook the Phillies last season in the wild-card race en route to winning the World Series. "It's a game of wins."
True enough, and Milton is a perfect 6-0 with a 4.21 ERA at Citizens Bank Park - an argument that appears to refute any homefield disadvantage stance, since Milton is 5-2 with a 4.80 on the road, even though he pitched in pitchers' hells against the Rockies, Diamondbacks and White Sox.
"I think I've done pretty well," said Milton, who, after being traded from the Twins in the offseason, not only is coming off knee surgery that cost him most of 2003 but also had to adjust to what he considers a different NL strike zone. "I'm 11-2. I'll take it."
Rightfielder Bobby Abreu, too, is satisfied with the .304 average, 17 homers and 17 steals he had when McKeon didn't add him. He knows his typically slow start hindered him again: He was hitting .243 as late as May 12.
"That's probably what did it," Abreu said. "I start slow."
Two other what-ifs
What if 2003 All-Star Randy Wolf, who's 3-3 with a 3.03 ERA, had been healthy in June? Tendinitis cost him at least five starts, so, since he's pitching better than last season, does it bother him that seven wins and a top-10 ERA might have earned a second All-Star berth?
"No, I really don't think about that," Wolf said.
So, what if Jimmy Rollins had hit first all season? When the team was announced Sunday, he was hitting .329 with 21 RBI since moving to the leadoff spot June 1. The Phillies opted to leave Marlon Byrd there after his splendid rookie season, when he replaced Rollins at leadoff. Byrd since has been demoted to Triple A.
So, would Rollins have earned a third trip in just four major league seasons?
Said Rollins, beaming, "Anything's possible."
Phillers
The return of Ricky Ledee from hemorrhoid surgery inched closer after he took batting practice Sunday for the first time then shagged flies yesterday. While the Phils are thinking about not asking him to take a minor league rehab assignment, the whole sliding-into-the-bases experience might delay his return past Thursday, his earliest possible return date...The Phillies, criticized for not All-Star campaigning, are stumping for Abreu via e-mail and through their connections with Latin-American communities. The voting for the final All-Star spot ends tomorrow.