Segovia might deliver for Phils

TAMPA, Fla. - The way baseball works these days, if the starting pitcher works six innings and then has to come out of the game with a lead, the manager doesn't have to even think about what to do next.

He pitches his seventh-inning pitcher in the seventh.

He pitches his eighth-inning pitcher in the eighth.

He pitches his closer in the ninth.

And, if those three guys do what they're supposed to do, he then walks out onto the field to shake hands with the players after the win.

Charlie Manuel would like to do that. He really would. But he can't because, other than closer Tom Gordon, he can't fill in the blanks even though it's only 12 days until the regular season opens.

Antonio Alfonseca? Ryan Madson? Geoff Geary? A person or persons unknown?

"We're still looking," Manuel conceded before the Phillies lost, 2-0, to the New York Yankees last night at Legends Field. "We haven't decided because we want to see more. I want to see more."

That's why Zack Segovia's masterful outing last night made such an impression. Pitching against a powerful lineup that included every regular but Alex Rodriguez, the righthander limited New York to one run on five hits in five innings.

So could Segovia be an answer in the bullpen?

"Right now, where we're at, when you see somebody throw good, they're definitely on the radar," Manuel said.

"He can fill that role if that's what we want him to do. He kept his composure good. We've talked about him being a bullpen candidate. He's inexperienced, but that's one of the reasons we gave him this start.

"We're looking for somebody who can get people out. He did that."

Segovia was once a top prospect who fell off the radar somewhat after missing the entire 2004 season following Tommy John elbow surgery and then going 4-14, 5.54 at Class A Clearwater the following year.

Even though he no longer throws 95 miles an hour, he's clearly getting noticed.

"I felt confident," he said. "I didn't feel overwhelmed like I have at times in the past. I just feel like I've matured as a pitcher. I know if I throw my pitches, I can get these hitters out.

"Obviously, it was a case of out-of-sight-out-of-mind. I know I'm never going to throw as hard as I did in high school. It was a cool thing to do, but now I realize that when you reach back and throw harder, the ball comes up. In high school, they can't catch up with it. Here they can."

The search also continued last night with Madson and Alfonseca each getting a chance to pitch. Madson gave up one unearned run on three hits in two innings. Alfonseca pitched a 1-2-3 eighth.

Two things to remember about 1997, when Jayson Werth was the Orioles' No. 1 draft choice: Pat Gillick was Baltimore's general manager. And Werth was a catcher.

It's not surprising, then, that Gillick signed Werth as a free agent this winter. And that even though he's now listed as an outfielder - he hasn't caught in a game since 2002 - the Phillies have been quietly working him out at his old position this spring.

"The more catchers you have, the better off you are," manager Charlie Manuel said. "In the National League, the more options you have off your bench, the more things you can do. He could be an emergency catcher or even be part of a double-switch."

Werth, who also has been with the Blue Jays and Dodgers, said he wasn't surprised when he was asked to strap on the gear. "I usually do it every spring," he said.

If Werth shows he's still comfortable behind the plate, it could conceivably impact the decision-making process when it comes time to make the final cuts. As it stands now, there appear to be four players (Karim Garcia, Greg Dobbs, Chris Coste, Michael Bourn) competing for two available bench spots.

However, Coste has been sidelined by a pulled hamstring. And one of his biggest attributes is the ability to catch. If Werth can also be the third catcher, along with Rod Barajas and Carlos Ruiz, it opens up the possibility that Coste could be traded.

The Yankees invested $46 million to sign Japanese lefthander Kei Igawa this winter. Despite that, he had pitched poorly enough this spring that, before his start last night, there was some thought that he might not open the regular season on the active roster.

Igawa, however, blanked the Phillies in his five innings. He allowed two hits and three walks while striking out three.

The Phillies have now scored just 11 runs in their last five games and just one in their last two games.

The Phillies have won only three of their last 14 games and are 7-13-1 this spring.

Freddy Garcia will start tonight against Blue Jays righthander Josh Towers in Dunedin . . . Although Charlie Manuel continues to be coy about slotting his starters, the rotation is perfectly aligned to have Brett Myers start on Opening Day followed by Cole Hamels, Garcia, Jamie Moyer and Adam Eaton . . . Another sign that Myers will be the Opening Day starter against the Braves at Citizens Bank Park on April 2 is that his next day to pitch is Friday. The Phillies happen to be hosting the Braves that day, so J.A. Happ will pitch against Atlanta and Myers will start a minor league game . . . Closer Tom Gordon, who flew back to Philadelphia last week to be examined by team doctor Michael Ciccotti, pitched Sunday and apparently is going on an every-other-day schedule. He's slated to work tonight and again Friday against the Braves. *