GaryMrMets
08-04-2004, 05:57 PM
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/9313266.htm
Posted on Wed, Aug. 04, 2004
Phillies Notes | All Bowa can do now is wait and try to relax
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
SAN DIEGO - Larry Bowa reclined, smiled and even laughed a little yesterday in his office at Petco Park.
His job is on the line, but his "mind is clear," he said.
On Monday, in between Sunday's loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field and last night's series opener against the San Diego Padres, who lead in the National League wild-card race, Bowa relaxed.
He chilled at the pool.
Got a massage.
Had a nice dinner.
"I couldn't care less about the talk," he said. "I couldn't care less about it. We're the only team in the history of baseball where you lose four or five games and the manager gets fired. I couldn't care less about it. I just go out and do the best I can."
Bowa by nature is extraordinarily intense, but over the last few days he has appeared surprisingly relaxed considering the speculation that swirls around him. There are strong indications that the Phillies could make a managerial change if the team doesn't begin to play better immediately.
"It's out of my hands," Bowa said. "I make out a lineup, I prepare them, tell them what to try to do. If the players do it, you're a genius. If they don't do it, you're gone. That's the way it is. That's the way it's always been.
"It's a little more magnified in Philadelphia, but that's the way it is. That's part of the action."
The action hasn't been great lately.
The Phillies entered the night 1-6 on a 13-game road trip that dropped them to just one game over .500.
The Atlanta Braves, meanwhile, have extended their lead in the NL East. And the Padres, Cubs, San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros have made gains in the NL wild-card race.
"People have a tendency to forget how many people we've had hurt, especially pitchers," Bowa said. "You don't have pitching, you don't win. It's simple. That's just the way baseball is. You go through seasons where the injuries are few and far between, and then you go through one where every other day somebody comes up hurt.
"You just roll with the punches, and hope that the people that make those decisions see what's happening."
Righthander Vicente Padilla hasn't thrown a pitch for the Phillies since May 29. Closer Billy Wagner is on the disabled list for the second time this season, and it could be two weeks or more before he returns. Other pitchers on the disabled list have included lefthander Randy Wolf, righthander Ryan Madson, righthander Roberto Hernandez, righthander Amaury Telemaco, and righthander Brian Powell.
"You can slant it any way you want, but that's the bottom line," Bowa said. "You win and lose with pitching. Our defense has been pretty good all year, especially in the infield. We've just been very inconsistent. That's what happens."
Entering last night, the Phillies had a 4.53 ERA, 13th out of 16 teams in the National League. Phillies starters have a 4.95 ERA, also 13th in the league. Phillies pitchers had a 5.84 ERA in June, worst in the league. They had a 4.79 ERA in July, 14th in the league.
But Bowa continued to praise the effort of his players. He pointed out that most of his position players showed up early yesterday afternoon for extra hitting.
But will it translate into wins this week?
Bowa, as relaxed as he seems to be, must hope so.
F-Rod arrives. Relief pitcher Felix Rodriguez arrived in San Diego, and the Phillies optioned righthander Geoff Geary to triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room for him on the 25-man roster.
Rodriguez said he wasn't surprised to be traded. The Phillies sent outfielder Ricky Ledee and minor-league pitcher Alfredo Simon to the Giants on Friday to make that deal happen.
"I'm coming to a good team," Rodriguez said. "The Giants are a good team. The Phillies are a good team. It's about the same."
Rodriguez has a $3.15 million player option after the season. If he declines, he becomes a free agent.
"I can't talk about that right now," he said. "I have to concentrate on and play baseball. I'm not worried about money. I grew up with nothing, and right now I'm living a better life."
Posted on Wed, Aug. 04, 2004
Phillies Notes | All Bowa can do now is wait and try to relax
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
SAN DIEGO - Larry Bowa reclined, smiled and even laughed a little yesterday in his office at Petco Park.
His job is on the line, but his "mind is clear," he said.
On Monday, in between Sunday's loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field and last night's series opener against the San Diego Padres, who lead in the National League wild-card race, Bowa relaxed.
He chilled at the pool.
Got a massage.
Had a nice dinner.
"I couldn't care less about the talk," he said. "I couldn't care less about it. We're the only team in the history of baseball where you lose four or five games and the manager gets fired. I couldn't care less about it. I just go out and do the best I can."
Bowa by nature is extraordinarily intense, but over the last few days he has appeared surprisingly relaxed considering the speculation that swirls around him. There are strong indications that the Phillies could make a managerial change if the team doesn't begin to play better immediately.
"It's out of my hands," Bowa said. "I make out a lineup, I prepare them, tell them what to try to do. If the players do it, you're a genius. If they don't do it, you're gone. That's the way it is. That's the way it's always been.
"It's a little more magnified in Philadelphia, but that's the way it is. That's part of the action."
The action hasn't been great lately.
The Phillies entered the night 1-6 on a 13-game road trip that dropped them to just one game over .500.
The Atlanta Braves, meanwhile, have extended their lead in the NL East. And the Padres, Cubs, San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros have made gains in the NL wild-card race.
"People have a tendency to forget how many people we've had hurt, especially pitchers," Bowa said. "You don't have pitching, you don't win. It's simple. That's just the way baseball is. You go through seasons where the injuries are few and far between, and then you go through one where every other day somebody comes up hurt.
"You just roll with the punches, and hope that the people that make those decisions see what's happening."
Righthander Vicente Padilla hasn't thrown a pitch for the Phillies since May 29. Closer Billy Wagner is on the disabled list for the second time this season, and it could be two weeks or more before he returns. Other pitchers on the disabled list have included lefthander Randy Wolf, righthander Ryan Madson, righthander Roberto Hernandez, righthander Amaury Telemaco, and righthander Brian Powell.
"You can slant it any way you want, but that's the bottom line," Bowa said. "You win and lose with pitching. Our defense has been pretty good all year, especially in the infield. We've just been very inconsistent. That's what happens."
Entering last night, the Phillies had a 4.53 ERA, 13th out of 16 teams in the National League. Phillies starters have a 4.95 ERA, also 13th in the league. Phillies pitchers had a 5.84 ERA in June, worst in the league. They had a 4.79 ERA in July, 14th in the league.
But Bowa continued to praise the effort of his players. He pointed out that most of his position players showed up early yesterday afternoon for extra hitting.
But will it translate into wins this week?
Bowa, as relaxed as he seems to be, must hope so.
F-Rod arrives. Relief pitcher Felix Rodriguez arrived in San Diego, and the Phillies optioned righthander Geoff Geary to triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room for him on the 25-man roster.
Rodriguez said he wasn't surprised to be traded. The Phillies sent outfielder Ricky Ledee and minor-league pitcher Alfredo Simon to the Giants on Friday to make that deal happen.
"I'm coming to a good team," Rodriguez said. "The Giants are a good team. The Phillies are a good team. It's about the same."
Rodriguez has a $3.15 million player option after the season. If he declines, he becomes a free agent.
"I can't talk about that right now," he said. "I have to concentrate on and play baseball. I'm not worried about money. I grew up with nothing, and right now I'm living a better life."