Phillies Notes: Mike Schmidt staying at camp as a guest instructor

CLEARWATER, Fla. - In 1983, Mike Schmidt finished third in National League MVP voting despite a .255 batting average and league-leading 148 strikeouts. Three years later, Schmidt won the MVP at age 36 with a .290 batting average and five more walks (89) than strikeouts (84).

"I changed," Schmidt said, "and I was very stubborn throughout my career. I was in my 14th year and made major changes to my approach both mentally and physically. I became maybe the best hitter in my career in my last couple of years."

And that's why Charlie Manuel has asked Schmidt to extend his annual stay this spring at Phillies camp as a guest instructor. Typically, Schmidt spends about a week with the team. The Hall of Fame third baseman said he'll stay through at least the middle of March this time.

"I have a little bit more of a tighter job description than I did in the past," Schmidt, 62, said. "What it will lead to, I'm not sure. They asked me to be a little more involved than I have in the past with hitting programs. I've been involved in past years, but this year might be a little more one-on-one with guys just chatting more specifically about in-game hitting strategy."

Manuel's well-documented strategy this spring is to encourage more talking among the hitters, specifically hammering home the idea of fewer wasted at-bats and improved selectivity. With Schmidt, Ryne Sandberg and Jim Thome acting as sounding boards, Manuel has faith.

"Definitely by just talking to some of our guys, they have something to offer," Manuel said.

Meanwhile, Schmidt, often critical of the steroid era in baseball, was skeptical of Ryan Braun's recent upheld appeal of a 50-game suspension.

"Good lawyering," Schmidt said. "I don't know that innocence or guilt has been established at this point in time. I surely would like to believe in innocence because Ryan Braun is a good kid from my perspective. We worked together in the World Baseball Classic and got to know him. I surely hope that everything he says about it not being true is the truth. But just the fact that he was exonerated does not mean that they've gotten to the truth, unfortunately. "

The feedback on Jose Contreras' recovery from elbow surgery has been nothing but glowing. Pitching coach Rich Dubee watched Contreras throw another bullpen session Monday and said it went "real well."

Still, the Phillies are taking precautions to limit the 40-year-old's workload this spring. He's not far behind other pitchers; Contreras will throw his first live batting practice Thursday. But Contreras is not throwing every other day like the rest of the staff. He has an extra day of rest built into his schedule.

Dubee believes Contreras can be ready for opening day.

"I don't think it's a stretch," Dubee said. "At the same time, we're not keeping him on the same pace as other guys. He's going to get extra time in between throwing sessions. If he progresses, opening day is not out of the question. But that will play itself out."

Ryan Howard met with foot specialist Mark Myerson Monday in Baltimore, but the team had no comment. Howard is recovering from Achillies tendon surgery.

Cliff Lee will throw his first batting practice session Tuesday. He's back to the same schedule as the rest of the pitchers in his group.

Coincidentally, Lee's group includes hulking righthander Phillippe Aumont, one of the three players traded for Lee in December 2010. Aumont had never met Lee before this spring, so one morning before workouts, Aumont said hello.

"We got traded together once, didn't we?" Lee replied.

Phillies ask Schmidt to extend his annual stay at spring training as guest instructor. D3.