Schmidt gives views on Hall of Fame shutout
Mike Schmidt always comes to spring training armed with some strong opinions, but the Hall of Fame third baseman did not want to get overly involved in talk about baseball's steroid era.
Schmidt gives views on Hall of Fame shutout
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Mike Schmidt always comes to spring training armed with some strong opinions, but the Hall of Fame third baseman did not want to get overly involved in talk about baseball's steroid era, which took center stage last month when the Baseball Writers Association of America did not vote to induct any of the players on the Hall of Fame ballot.
“I sort of ride the fence on that whole steroid-era issue,” Schmidt said. “I don’t have a definite opinion like some of my fellow Hall of Famers. Some of the guys were very, very adamant about a person being associated with steroids: ‘They’ll never be in the Hall of Fame. If they are, I’ll never come back.’ I’ve heard that from some of my fellow members and I think that’s absolutely ridiculous.”
Schmidt, in camp until March 20 as a special instructor, said he is concerned about players like Mike Piazza and Craig Biggio being “lumped in with guys who have a stronger relationship with the PED issue.”
“If a guy played and had great numbers in his generation, ask yourself if he was involved,” Schmidt said. “It’s just too bad. I think time will cure that. I really do think Biggio and Piazza will eventually become Hall of Famers.
“The guys who failed tests or the facts show or they admitted they were involved with PED use, that’s one thing. But to assume a guy did because his teammate did or he has a big neck or a big head or there was a spike in his numbers, to assume that is not right.”
Schmidt also had some interesting opinions about new third baseman Michael Young and his relationship some early conversations he has had with first baseman Ryan Howard.
- On Young: “Michael Young could retire tomorrow and he would be a strong candidate for the Hall of Fame. He’s probably two Michael Young years away from being a first ballot Hall of Famer. I don’t know what his career hitting numbers are, but he’s a little like Derek Jeter, is he not? If he played in New York, imagine what people would be saying about Michael Young’s career? Somebody would have mentioned the Hall of Fame a long time ago.”
- On Howard: “I’ve got to tell you right out of the chute, Ryan Howard to me is very interested in my input about his hitting. That makes me really feel good. We’ve chatted over the years about hitting. I’ve always been a Ryan Howard fan, but he’s picking my brain a little bit more. He looks good. He’s doing some of the things we talk about. It’s not going in one ear and out the other. He’s taking it all in. I’m only in my second day here and I’m really excited. I feel like I’ve made more strides in my temporary coaching role than I ever had to this point. Of course we’ll see in a couple weeks how it all works out as they get game at-bats.”
- On how he’s trying to help Howard, who batted .173 against lefties last season: “I guess what we’re kind of working on is a mindset that may allow him to become a little stronger in those at-bats (against tough lefties). A little more contact. He’s still going to strikeout. I’m in the top 10 all time in strikeouts so I’m pretty comfortable with striking out. But I think he needs to and we were talking about ways where we might get him to be a little less strikeout prone … when you get that nasty left-hander to get him out.”
Extra bases. The Phillies will play a five-inning intrasquad game Friday before opening their Grapefruit League schedule against the Houston Astros Saturday at Bright House Field. Cole Hamels will start for the Phillies and former Phillies minor-leaguer Jarred Cosart is expected to be among the pitchers for Houston. … Outfielder Laynce Nix has a bone spur in his right foot, but he is not expected to miss any time because of it.
Interesting interview from an interesting guy. I always liked his perspective on the game and he gets extra points for his loyalty to Pete Rose. I'm glad to hear RH picking his brain, but what took him so long? With all due respect to Mike, I'd just as soon open this page and read that Tony Gwynn stopped by to talk hitting with RH, as he did a few years back. Having said that, if you were too young to follow this guys career, I feel sorry for you. And has there ever been a better homerun call made, then the 500 calls made by Harry?
Make public the list of players found to be using in that Mitchell Report. What was it, 100 players? Before one of those chemically enhanced cheats walk into that HOF, Rose had better be there first. The guy was a first class jerk, but there is nothing out there that said he gambled on the game as a player.- I respect Schmidt as a player, but as a retiree he continues to disappoint. Greats like Frank Robinson not wanting steroid users in the Hall, and boycotting it if it happens are not, and NEVER will be, "absolutely ridiculous". Thank God he didn't chime in on hitting guru Magoo's lineup. But you gotta smile a little that he knows his ranking among all-time strikeout leaders. Probably the 2nd best glove (behind Brooksie) ever on a third baseman.
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I wish Charlie would gamble on his team to win, like Rose did. Maybe he would make better late inning moves...— guru26- Schmitty is still my favorite all time Phillie. Would love to see him on the coaching staff beyond just spring training.— burholme
- Hopefully Schmidt is talking to Howard about a concept preached even lower levels of baseball, that being going to the plate with "an idea" of what you're doing. Howard needs to come to the plate especially against tough lefties of just getting on base. Developing an inside out swing on outside pitches. I'm not a Howard basher, but you can't just complain about the shift all the time, you can't just go up there trying to drive the ball every at bat. Listening to and reading thoughts of hitting from the manager I glean that he wants Howard to go up there and try to drive the ball every at bat. People in general don't change behaviors much, so it may be a stretch, but if Howard becomes less one dimensional, I think it helps the ball club.— retzlaff
- Howard needs to check out his earlier tapes of 2006-07-08. Howard is way too upright in his stance and way too far off the plate. Schmidt began his career way off the plate and realized that by getting a bit closer, the offspeed outside pitches (sound familiar) could be fouled off or even driven to the opposite field. Howard would also benefit from having a closed stance, getting his front foot closer toward center field. His weakness is the outside breaking pitch. If he can manage contact, look out again.— drhoffman
- i knew schmitty (wrote a long piece on him for phillymag late '70s) as a likeable, sincere dude who, ironically, suffered from severe bouts of self-doubt, due mainly to the slumps he would get into and feel he was never gonna pull himself out of. then one morning, just like any other morning, he'd wake up, get out of bed, go out to the park and become lou gehrig for a month. in my 250 years (seems) of watching baseball, have never known a hot-cold/up and down batter like him. but he's a bit out of his orbit comes to present day players (and their agents and huge, ridiculous contracts). sure, howard LISTENS to him (as if schmitty is saying anything other than what everybody's been trying to tell him for the past five years). will he actually do it? odds are greater than the astros winning the ws. damn shame, too.— bubba church & granny hamner
- Bubba Church & Granny Hamner: Thank you for that inside view! It has always been said that Rose gave the Phillies the swagger and confidence that they were lacking during those great late 70's years. It speaks much of Mike of his loyalty to Pete when everyone else, even his old Reds teammates turned their backs on him. They seemed like oil and water, one the brash, cocky pain in the 90r0 and the other an introverted, deep thinker. The day he stood up to that podium and broke down in tears, I wept too. Still do, every time I see that clip. He'll always be the greatest Phillie of all.....
- It should be interesting if Schmidt can help Howard. Even though they are both HR hitters, Howard has a completely different approach than Schmidt did.— Phillies2008WSChamps
Mike Schmidt is one of my Phillies' heros. When he talks, I listen. You'll get straight talk from him, whether it be popular or controversial. But one thing is for sure. He's OUR Mike Schmidt and OUR Hall of Famer. I still remember all the one handed, ungloved pick ups and throw to first base. The guy was a defensive juggernaut and developed into a hitter extraordinaire. This is the man who should be our hitting instructor, if he'd take the job.
