Team: Philadelphia Phillies Burning Question Two years ago the Phillies finished 29th out of 30 organizations in terms of winning percentage. Last year, they were eighth overall. What changed? After a disappointing season across the board for the Phillies system, and one that saw more than its share of time lost to injuries, the organization implemented a much stricter and more structured conditioning program from the moment players arrived at Spring Training in 2006. "I believe in discipline and paying attention to detail, and we started off very stringent in making sure our conditioning program was being followed. And we followed up on it throughout the year as well," explained Steve Noworyta, the Phillies' director of Minor League operations. By the time camp broke, the results were happily apparent, as Philadelphia was able to expand its starters' pitch limit to open the season from 75 in 2005 to 90. "That allowed our pitchers to get right out of the chute into the sixth or seventh inning, and you win ballgames that way," Noworyta said. Few organizations can boast a more effective corps of top starting pitchers than the Phillies had in 2006, and that crew's results in both quality and quantity were very much a product of the new regimen. "Anytime you can keep the players on the field, they're going to give you a chance to win," said Noworyta, who pointed out that three of the Phillies' farm clubs won 20 games in July while a fourth won 19 and four more posted 18 victories in August. "To me, that's the dividing line. Being in shape all year, we can really take off during those last two months, which are the toughest months of the year." Three of the Phillies affiliates led their respective leagues in ERA (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at 3.28, Lakewood at 3.10 and Batavia at 2.86), while three pitchers finished with at least 14 wins and five starters logged 155 or more innings with ERAs below 3.00. Other News of the Day As for that dazzling starting pitching, while the trickle-down effect from the big leagues is still far from complete -- and that will particularly impact the upper-level rotations -- Noworyta shared likely destinations for some of the jewels of the system. LHP Matt Maloney, who earned both Phillies and South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year honors after going 16-9 with a 2.03 ERA at Class A Lakewood, will make the double-jump to Reading. The 2005 third-rounder struck out an organization-best 180 batters in 168 2/3 innings and limited Sally League hitters to a .194 average. Maloney's top rotation-mates at Lakewood move up a level to give a 1-2 punch to the Clearwater Threshers staff in RHP Carlos Carrasco and LHP Josh Outman. Carrasco was 12-6 with a 2.26 ERA and 159 strikeouts in as many innings with the BlueClaws while Outman was 14-6 with a 2.95 and 161 strikeouts in 155 innings. "We're pretty happy with that 1-2," Noworyta smiled. Two more '06 aces are still in big-league camp and on the bubble between Philadelphia and Triple-A Ottawa (where the club will play for one year before moving to new digs in Allentown, Pa.): RHP Zack Segovia and LHP J.A. Happ. Segovia, who has bounced back from injuries, was 16-6 with a 2.82 ERA between Reading and Scranton last year and Noworyta thinks he could be ready for the Majors right now. Happ came into camp as a long shot but opened a lot of eyes in a good way. Though he got roughed up in his start on Monday, he is still in the picture as an early call-up at the very least. Between Clearwater, Reading and one Scranton start last year, Happ posted a 2.69 ERA and 162 strikeouts. ... Two third base prospects have been making very good impressions in the early going. Mike Costanzo, a top pick in 2005, hit .258 with 33 doubles, 14 homers and 81 RBIs in his first full season at Clearwater in 2006. "Right now, he's very focused in camp, more focused than I thought he was in the past," said Noworyta, who predicts a big year for the youngster at Reading. Also opening eyes has been C.J. Henry, who is ticketed for Lakewood. The former first-rounder was acquired from the Yankees in the Bobby Abreu deal as a shortstop but moved to third during instructionals. "He's taken it well, almost to the point where he feels like he's more comfortable at third," Noworyta said. "His arm action is well-suited for the position and he's also started swinging the bat well. He had a great instructional league and it seems like he's carried that over into Spring Training." #ques_include {width:300px;float:right;margin-left:5px;} #ques_content {border-top:1px solid #4C8CA8;border-left:1px solid #4C8CA8;padding-left:5px;} .ques_schedule {margin-top:5px;font-size:11px;} .ques_dates {font-size:11px;font-style:italic;color:#999;} 
Five Questions with Greg Golson MiLB.com: When you moved up to Clearwater last year from Lakewood, you really kicked into gear. Was it the change of scenery or just one of those things? GG: Actually, I'd been playing well at Lakewood before I got moved up, because I'd been hitting like .150 for the first month. But when I got moved up, I got to start over and I wasn't trying to dig out of that hole anymore. I think the confidence boost helped, too, that they actually believed in me. MiLB.com: What was your big-league Spring Training experience like and what did you bring back from it that you will take with you to Clearwater to start the season? GG: How [the players] carry themselves, how they respect the game. Everyone over there is still working hard. Chase Utley is one of the hardest workers. So a lot of time when we talk among Minor Leaguers, we think, 'Those guys over there have it made.' You don't realize what they do behind the scenes. Just being over there, I saw how much work they put in, how much video they watch, how late they stay, how hard they work all day at their job. What I'll take with me is that you can always be doing something, everything has a purpose. That's one thing I'm going to try to work on. MiLB.com: Who is the one person you'd like to have dinner with and why? GG: Tiger Woods, because of his mental toughness, the stuff he goes through on a weekly basis. Golf is such a mental game, and I know he does mental exercises and stuff like that. He knows that when he has his opponent in a certain position he's going to win, and I'd like to have that mental confidence. MiLB.com: What is your proudest accomplishment on or off the field? GG: My faith. My Christianity. I always try to keep in perspective what comes first. At least that's what I try to do. Everybody falters a little bit. But I'm proud that I try to stay on track. MiLB.com: What is your favorite aspect of playing for the Phillies organization? GG: The Phillies is all I've ever known, but from what I've heard from other guys in other organizations, we have it good over here. I guess it would be that while there is competition among everybody, the people I talk to the most are the other center fielders. It's like there is a wealth of knowledge, especially the guys who are higher up like Chris Roberson and Michael Bourn. So if I ask them a question, they tell me what they've learned. Lasting Impression At this point, the lesson should be clear: never underestimate Adrian Cardenas. When scouts came out to Monsignor Pace High School in Miami last spring to watch Cardenas' teammate, Chris Marrero, most of them left with a new name on their list: Cardenas. And while Marrero was a first-round pick, as expected (taken 15th overall by Washington), Cardenas didn't have to wait too long to hear his name called as the Phillies grabbed him 22 picks later in the supplemental first round. Florida's Gatorade Player of the Year, he has done nothing but impress since then, but in his first Spring Training he's been more than impressive. "Every time you turn around, he's winning something in camp," Noworyta said of the speedster who took the title in the 300-yard shuttle. A left-handed hitter with a sweet swing and good speed, Cardenas played shortstop in 2006, hitting .318 with 21 RBIs and 13 steals in the Gulf Coast League. This year, he moves up to Lakewood and slides over to second base, where he'll pair with Jason Donald for a formidable double play combination. "They both have Utley makeups," Noworyta said. "They'll be a lot of fun to watch." Off the Beaten Path If you had to pick one Florida Spring Training (and Florida State League) stadium that captures the perfect Jimmy Buffett atmosphere, it would have to be Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater. The ushers all wear Hawaiian shirts and straw Panama hats, but the piece de resistance perches above the left-field seats: Frenchy's Tiki Bar and its thatched roof. Unlike the city's hugely popular, four-restaurant "Frenchy's," this hot spot does not serve food, just drinks. But that's enough to keep it profitable. Said one park employee, "Even without food, it's the main hangout here." After games, fans can hit any of the four other Frenchy's restaurants. Reliever Ryan Cameron, a non-roster invitee, is coming off of a season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in which he was 6-2 with a 3.19 ERA and seven saves. He came to camp in perhaps the best shape of his going-on-10-year pro career. The 29-year-old, who has yet to taste the big leagues, despite a 3.84 career ERA, added an intense swimming program to his offseason workout regimen after he returned from winter ball in Venezuela right before Christmas. Next offseason, winter ball may have to go on the back burner as he'll be getting married in November. He met his fiancee, Jen, at the ballpark in Reading, where he had a 2.55 ERA and 19 saves in 2005. She was attending the game as part of an office function and caught his eye as she hung out with friends in the outfield picnic deck. How soon did he know she was Ms. Right? On their first date. When she warned him that she was a Yankee fan, he responded, "Right, you and everyone else. OK then, what's the only number they've retired twice and who wore it?" Jen didn't hesitate, firing back, "No. 8, Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra." Said Cameron, "That sealed the deal right there." Parting Shots Phillies camp is a perfect combination of discipline and structure, mixed with the relaxed Jimmy Buffett vibe of Hawaiian shirts and tanned, smiling faces that extend from the security guards to the front office to the players (even if they aren't wearing Hawaiian shirts on the field). Coming off such a successful Minor League season, there is every reason to feel optimistic, thanks to an impressive and promising core of young starting pitchers.
Lisa Winston is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs. |
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