GaryMrMets
08-04-2004, 06:04 PM
http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/sports/s080404f.htm
Pitching acquisitions cause pitching moves
Wednesday, August 4, 2004
By EDWARD de la FUENTE
Gannett News Service
SAN DIEGO
With Tim Worrell moved into Billy Wagner's spot, Felix Rodriguez and Todd Jones will be used, along with Rheal Cormier, in eating up the middle-inning spots that Ryan Madson, who is currently on the DL, was often used for. They are also expected to be options when the Phillies have eighth-inning leads, Worrell's old role.
Rodriguez joined the team late because his wife had recently given birth to a baby girl, and he didn't want to travel to Chicago for one game when the Phillies would be heading to San Diego next.
He took being traded in stride, though.
"In baseball, you're never surprised, because you never know," Rodriguez said. "But I'm coming to a good team. This team's got a chance to go to the playoffs."
However, he hadn't thrown in four days, since the day before being traded by San Francisco. That was a concern to Phillies manager Larry Bowa, as was the hard-throwing 31-year-old's struggles over the past month. In July Rodriguez had a 5.19 ERA in eight appearances, and opposing batters hit .324 against him.
"He's been off four days, but I know they (the Giants) used him a lot," Bowa said of Rodriguez, who has appeared in 53 games this year. "He'll probably have to do something (in the bullpen Tuesday)."
Even with the new additions, Bowa said the starting rotation will have to do a better job going deep into games, and the offense has to give the Phillies more leads, to help the bullpen.
"You bring pitchers in in the sixth and seventh innings, they're save situations," Bowa said. "That's for the closer to handle."
Former players on Bowa: As rumors swirl about Bowa's job status, former players have weighed in to provide their assessments of the clubhouse atmosphere. Sunday, former major-league infielder Tyler Houston, now a baseball columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, gave an unflattering portrait of Bowa in his explanation of the incidents leading to his September release by the Phillies.
Now Josh Hancock, the pitcher traded to Cincinnati in the Jones deal, told the Cincinnati Post of his experiences when called upon by the Phillies for a spot start against Atlanta in June.
"I went down to Atlanta and I just lost it," he said. "I had about 40 family and friends there. I was kind of surprised when they called me back up, because I had heard that when you get in Bowas bad graces, there's no turning back."
Phillies fodder: Right-hander Geoff Geary, a native of the San Diego area, was optioned to Class-AAA Scranton/Wilkes Barre before Tuesdays game to make room for Rodriguez. . . . The arrival of the two relievers caused a few changes to the Phillies numerical roster. Rodriguez took No. 47, right-hander Amaury Telemaco's old number; Telemaco is now wearing No. 57. Jones has No. 59, and bullpen coach Ramon Henderson switched from 59 to 31.
Pitching acquisitions cause pitching moves
Wednesday, August 4, 2004
By EDWARD de la FUENTE
Gannett News Service
SAN DIEGO
With Tim Worrell moved into Billy Wagner's spot, Felix Rodriguez and Todd Jones will be used, along with Rheal Cormier, in eating up the middle-inning spots that Ryan Madson, who is currently on the DL, was often used for. They are also expected to be options when the Phillies have eighth-inning leads, Worrell's old role.
Rodriguez joined the team late because his wife had recently given birth to a baby girl, and he didn't want to travel to Chicago for one game when the Phillies would be heading to San Diego next.
He took being traded in stride, though.
"In baseball, you're never surprised, because you never know," Rodriguez said. "But I'm coming to a good team. This team's got a chance to go to the playoffs."
However, he hadn't thrown in four days, since the day before being traded by San Francisco. That was a concern to Phillies manager Larry Bowa, as was the hard-throwing 31-year-old's struggles over the past month. In July Rodriguez had a 5.19 ERA in eight appearances, and opposing batters hit .324 against him.
"He's been off four days, but I know they (the Giants) used him a lot," Bowa said of Rodriguez, who has appeared in 53 games this year. "He'll probably have to do something (in the bullpen Tuesday)."
Even with the new additions, Bowa said the starting rotation will have to do a better job going deep into games, and the offense has to give the Phillies more leads, to help the bullpen.
"You bring pitchers in in the sixth and seventh innings, they're save situations," Bowa said. "That's for the closer to handle."
Former players on Bowa: As rumors swirl about Bowa's job status, former players have weighed in to provide their assessments of the clubhouse atmosphere. Sunday, former major-league infielder Tyler Houston, now a baseball columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, gave an unflattering portrait of Bowa in his explanation of the incidents leading to his September release by the Phillies.
Now Josh Hancock, the pitcher traded to Cincinnati in the Jones deal, told the Cincinnati Post of his experiences when called upon by the Phillies for a spot start against Atlanta in June.
"I went down to Atlanta and I just lost it," he said. "I had about 40 family and friends there. I was kind of surprised when they called me back up, because I had heard that when you get in Bowas bad graces, there's no turning back."
Phillies fodder: Right-hander Geoff Geary, a native of the San Diego area, was optioned to Class-AAA Scranton/Wilkes Barre before Tuesdays game to make room for Rodriguez. . . . The arrival of the two relievers caused a few changes to the Phillies numerical roster. Rodriguez took No. 47, right-hander Amaury Telemaco's old number; Telemaco is now wearing No. 57. Jones has No. 59, and bullpen coach Ramon Henderson switched from 59 to 31.