Phillies' Mathieson determined to play in major leagues

CLEARWATER, Fla. - During the winter, the Yomiuri Giants called Scott Mathieson's agent. The Japanese team needed a closer, and Mathieson was one pitcher who intrigued them.

The money is what lures American players on the fringe to Japan. But Mathieson didn't think seriously about it for very long. Yomiuri turned elsewhere and signed Jonathan Albaladejo - whom the New York Yankees had released to allow the overseas move - to a one-year, $950,000 deal.

"It was an interesting opportunity," said Mathieson, who will turn 27 on Sunday. "But I want to be a major-leaguer."

Mathieson's story is familiar by now: Two Tommy John surgeries and another arm procedure have produced a right arm that can throw in the high 90s regularly and created cult status among Phillies fans.

That arm has delivered dominance in the minors, but the Phillies remain skeptical about Mathieson's ability to retire major-league hitters without a decent secondary pitch.

They hired Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter to work with Mathieson specifically on adding a splitter to his repertoire late last season. Mathieson struck out a batter in the ninth inning of Thursday's 8-0 exhibition victory over Florida State with the splitter.

"That's all I'm going to throw this spring," Mathieson said. "I'm going to show I can pitch with it."

But Mathieson isn't convinced he needed to add the splitter - or any other pitch, for that matter - to reach the majors.

"I personally have never thought that," he said. "I still believe I can pitch in the big leagues with my fastball and slider. But to pitch [with the Phillies] in the big leagues, I need the split. Or I need to prove the slider can be dominant."

That task began in earnest Thursday against college hitters. Mathieson struck out two in the inning he pitched - one on a splitter and the other on a slider. He focused more on the splitter Thursday, throwing six of them. As the spring progresses, Mathieson said, he will throw both regularly.

"It's the only way it's going to get better," pitching coach Rich Dubee said.

Dubee liked the splitter Mathieson used to induce the strikeout. But, he said, the pitcher threw two splitters to the leadoff hitter with two strikes that both missed the spot.

"It takes time to acquire a feel," Dubee said.

The splitter is a natural second pitch for Mathieson to develop because it can look like a fastball when thrown right. Ideally, the righthander said, he will have a 5- or 6-m.p.h. difference in the velocities of his fastball and splitter. Mathieson said he has thrown the splitter faster than 90 m.p.h., so it's viable.

"I like the split because it looks like a fastball down," Mathieson said. "Then, if I elevate the fastball and throw the split down, it's a good combination."

The question is consistency, and Dubee has yet to see that. There is time, but Mathieson may find a clearer path elsewhere. That doesn't mean this spring isn't important. If he pitches well and the Phillies still do not have a spot for him in the majors, other teams could show interest.

But Mathieson is encouraged by the results he had at the end of the season at triple-A Lehigh Valley. In 2010, he struck out 83 hitters in 641/3 innings for a 2.80 ERA to go along with 26 saves.

Sutter spent about a month with Mathieson and offered tips on the splitter. The two stay in touch, and Mathieson was appreciative of the idea.

"It was obviously an honor," Mathieson said. "[The Phillies] have to think something of you. Or it's just a last-ditch."

The pitcher laughed, but it could be the truth.