Sights and sounds from a quiet day
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- It certainly doesn't feel like baseball weather, but the majority of the Phillies' pitchers and catchers have reported here a day before the mandatory date. The only major-league pitchers absent on Tuesday were Jamie Moyer and Jose Contreras. Catcher Carlos Ruiz also has yet to show up.
Sights and sounds from a quiet day
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- It certainly doesn't feel like baseball weather, but the majority of the Phillies' pitchers and catchers have reported here a day before the mandatory date. The only major-league pitchers absent on Tuesday were Jamie Moyer and Jose Contreras. Catcher Carlos Ruiz also has yet to show up.
Most of the pitchers worked on their own Tuesday in a very laid-back setting. The temperature was in the high 40s this morning with a stiff breeze at times. Some of the pitchers threw off a mound. Others played catch with one another. And more hit the weight room to avoid the cold.
The coaching staff met in the morning and then left for the annual Bill Giles Golf Tournament. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. watched some of the brief side sessions. J.A. Happ and Scott Mathieson, among others, threw on the side.
Mathieson, who said he feels as good as ever, marveled at Roy Halladay's training regimen. "There's a reason he's one of the best," Mathieson said.
News was light, but the most significant centered around left-handed reliever J.C. Romero, who said he expects to break camp with the Phillies after rehabbing from elbow surgery. Romero, who blamed some of his elbow troubles from pitching in last year's World Baseball Classic, said doctors told him he could be ready for game action by the second week of March.
If that's the case, Romero would have about two weeks to get ready, but said that wouldn't be a problem because he normally averages between seven and 12 spring training appearances.
Romero said he changed some of his offseason workout routine to build up strength in the arm -- including some yoga movements and regular visits to a chiropractor.
With Romero as the only established lefty in the bullpen, he said he understands his importance and is willing to take things slowly -- even if it means having to spend an extra week in Florida after the team leaves to start the regular season.
"I have to be smart, at the same time," Romero said. "This is a marathon. It's not a sprint. I don't want to do something to jeopardize my career or the rest of the season. "
"Mathieson, who said he feels as good as ever, marveled at Roy Halladay's training regimen. 'There's a reason he's one of the best,' Mathieson said." Having Doc around for the next 4 years should be a tremendous benefit to our younger pitchers. Also, the World Baseball Classic really needs a new format. Having it during Spring Training has really screwed with a lot of pitchers who ended up getting hurt because their pre-season throwing routine got off-track. Teams are going to start prohibiting their pitchers from going.— JimG- predictions on hamels season? im curious— legionofdoomphilly
Comment removed.- That's good news about Romero, but team needs another lefthander in the pen. There's a baseball saying, having one lefthander is like having none, bec. a team will overuse the one lefty. Hope one of the three young lefties establishes himself.— 76er
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- This is like eating one peanut....anxious for Opening Day.— TBear
- im saying he'll go 15-10— legionofdoomphilly
- He's got to be better than last year. Not sure if he is mentally tough enough to be a 20 game winner but having Doc around will help and if he is just more steady, he's good for 14-16 wins.— davekrieg
- davekrieg: If Hamels came through in the WS in '08 as the MVP, I don't think "mental toughness" is a problem for him.— PhillyHouse JayDuce
- His 2009 season wasn't all that unexpected. He's young and hit a rough patch after a season where he threw more innings than he ever did before. This has happened to many very good pitchers and some great ones. He still needs to prove he'll adapt to the hitters getting to know him... another solid pitch wouldn't hurt him. But, there is every chance he'll begin the climb back to being one of the better pitchers in the league this season.— esh
- Mental toughness appears to be THE problem for Hamels. That and mouth-control. He should learn something that the great Luis Pollonia said while he was with the Yankees and was asked about clubhouse dustup involving Billy Martin and a veteran player: "I've been around this game long enough to learn that when I've got something to say... I keep my mouth shut".— Jim Daly
- Hamels MUST— engineeringagr8tdrive
- Did Cole Hamels pack extra diapers this year?— jibberjabber
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- no diapers, but i think cole hamels packed a few bottles of "front-runner" formula for you, though.— jayfril
- Hamels MUST establish another pitch or two to be just as effective as his fastball. (His change-up is his out pitch/best pitch). There isn't one pitcher in baseball history who only threw two quality pitches and had a long sustained career. NONE. Nolan Ryan threw three pitches; fastball (one of the best ever), curveball, and then later in his career change up. He needs to keep hitters thinking constantly so he needs to develop a cutter and get more confidence in his curveball.— engineeringagr8tdrive
- Phillyhouse: Yes, he did come through then but in all seriousness, do you feel that he is a mentally tough pitcher? No way a guy with all that talent and coming off a MVP postseason should have had a 10-11 record. Granted he was hurt to start the year but her never was consistent.— davekrieg
- I'm hoping he's laid off the sprout sandwiches, loaded up on cheesesteaks and bulked up a little this winter. He was downright emaciated last year. Everytime he threw a pitch his shirt slid out of his pants because his belt couldn't be tightened down another notch. If anyone else remembers, he spent half his time on the mound tucking his jersey back in after every pitch. His wieght loss would also account for his 5 mph drop in velocity on his fastball, early in the year. There are very few pitchers in the history of the game, shaped like stick figures who could throw more than 90 mph and be durable. I know he wants to look svelte for the cameras, but he's gotta put on some muscle weight to extend his career and his fastball. Last year, he made Kent Tekulve look the Jabba the Hut......— Mark1npt
Cole Hamels.... ordred a nice steamed Tilapia smothered in baked almond slices... with a Hint of lemon butter... a side of white Rice some crunchy green beans in a cinnamon Honey sauce... Followed with a strawberry shortcake with Ice Cream a chamonile Mint Tea.... where was he?? Guess..- just jump on docs shoulders and lets enjoy the ride— soliteryman
- Don't be surprised to see Mathieson in the pen pitching in key moments. He was throwing upper 90's by the end of last season after coming off back to back tommy john's. James Andrews did the last. In 22 games in 2009 from low single-A to double-A, Mathieson had a 0.84 ERA in 321/3 innings. He also pitched in the Arizona Fall League with a 2.84 ERA in 122/3 innings— seaisledweller
- I'll be surprised if Hamels breaks .500 this year. He's the most overrated pitcher in baseball, and 2009 seems like an omen of greater ills yet to come. Sure hope I am wrong.— Delaware Jim
- yep, the rocket scientists are out in force. olden days, you guys'd be out on the streets peddling numbers. progress for you. hey stosh, you guess how many phillies caps i have in this sack i keep one and give you the other!— kiwi
- If it was a phyiscal thing, I give Hamels the benefit of the doubt. But his melt-down on-field and off-field in the World Series last year is exactly the kind of thing that doesn't play well in Philly (and probably not anywhere else). He really does need to toughen up mentally as well as physically.— fmMD
