Notes: Phelps knows he can't give up
03/15/2006
LAKELAND, Fla. -- Josh Phelps is making the best out of a worst-case scenario.
When he signed his Minor League contract during the Winter Meetings, the Tigers were supposedly still pushing to trade one of their three first basemen before the upcoming season. If that happened, Phelps would have a chance to compete for a spot. Once Dmitri Young became a potential utility option and the Tigers could keep all three on their roster, that spot became much less likely.
As long as Young, Chris Shelton and Carlos Pena are around, Phelps' road out of Toledo has a giant road block at the Michigan line. But Phelps is still swinging at it.
"It's just trying to make the most of an opportunity," Phelps said. "Every at-bat is a chance to show not only this organization, but any organization, what you're capable of doing. That's the approach I've taken."
So far, he's showing one of the best springs in the Grapefruit League. With his 3-for-5 performance Wednesday against the Devil Rays, Phelps raised his average to .571, third highest in the Majors. He's 9-for-12 over his last three games, including a streak of hits in six consecutive at-bats Sunday and Monday. Half of his 16 hits have gone for extra bases, including two doubles and a two-run homer Wednesday that broke a 10-10 tie in the ninth inning.
"He's had a [heckuva] spring," manager Jim Leyland said.
But even Leyland can't say what it means. Asked how Phelps could fit on this roster, Leyland said, "I have no idea."
Before brushing it off as a meaningless spring from a veteran Minor Leaguer, look at the player. Phelps is in his fourth organization in three seasons, but he's not the typical well-traveled journeyman. He was a Rookie of the Year candidate with the Blue Jays in 2002, then was Toronto's designated hitter for most of 2003. He batted .268 with 20 homers and 66 RBIs that season, but struck out 115 times in 396 at-bats.
He got off to a miserable start in 2004, but hit .318 in July before the Blue Jays tried to sneak him through waivers. The Indians claimed him and watched him hit .303 as a part-time player down the stretch before non-tendering him that winter.
The Devil Rays signed him two days after he hit the free agent market to be their regular DH, but his hitting fell after a solid start. He was designated for assignment in June with a .266 average, five homers and 26 RBIs in 47 games -- not horrible numbers, but as he admitted, not what he's capable of doing. He spent the rest of the year at Triple-A Durham.
"In a very short amount of time, I've changed jerseys a few times," he said. "Those things, you've just got to roll with it, and you've got to have the mindset that if you keep working hard, good things are going to happen."
That's what brought him here. Now 27, he joined the Tigers at year's end with only the guarantee of a regular job at first base in Toledo, but the hope that something bigger might open up. But whether that happens has a lot less to do with him and more to do with other players, most notably Pena.
If anything has gone his way, it's the number of at-bats. With many Tigers regulars at the World Baseball Classic and others injured, Phelps has had almost daily at-bats. He had started four straight days through Wednesday, and with the team having split-squad games Thursday, probably will see a fifth.
Those at-bats have shown more of what Phelps thinks he can do. Though he has the reputation as a home run slugger, he sees himself as more of a doubles hitter with some home run power, the kind of hitter that can use Comerica Park's gaps.
"My situation so far this year, it hasn't been 20 straight at-bats," he said. "You take your at-bats here and not play one day. You just try to keep them as consistent as possible. Fortunately so far, I've been able to keep going pretty well on a chopped-up basis. Those things are just confidence builders that you take on down the road."
Even if that road is blocked.
"I just have faith that if you work hard, good things are going to happen," he said. "That doesn't mean you're going to break camp with the team, or if somebody gets hurt, you're going to be the one who gets called up. It means you've got to make the most of the situation."
Bondo brushes off big flies: No matter where the Tigers play in Florida lately, the wind seems to be blowing out. It helped result in a rough pitching line for Wednesday starter Jeremy Bonderman, who gave up five runs in four innings. Three of them came on a Rocco Baldelli home run in the third inning off a hanging breaking ball, Bonderman's only real mistake pitch of the day.
"I thought I threw the ball well," Bonderman said. "It was a lot better than my last start. My command was there, so I'm not really worried about the five runs. I threw all my pitches for strikes, so I can't really complain."
Dmitri ready, Monroe advancing: Young had a good workout Wednesday back in Lakeland, Leyland said, and is ready to play for the first time since straining his left quad March 4. He isn't expected to play Thursday, but should play at least some time at DH on Friday against the Twins.
Craig Monroe, meanwhile, is improving as well, according to Leyland. No timetable is set for his return.
Guillen, Ordonez returning: Leyland also can look forward to the return of Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez, whose duty in the World Baseball Classic ended when the Dominican Republic eliminated Venezuela on Tuesday night. Depending on when they return, Leyland said, they could play Thursday against the Yankees at Joker Marchant Stadium.
Since the Dominicans advanced to the finals, second baseman Placido Polanco and reliever Fernando Rodney will be gone a bit longer.
Source: http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/
LAKELAND, Fla. -- Josh Phelps is making the best out of a worst-case scenario.
When he signed his Minor League contract during the Winter Meetings, the Tigers were supposedly still pushing to trade one of their three first basemen before the upcoming season. If that happened, Phelps would have a chance to compete for a spot. Once Dmitri Young became a potential utility option and the Tigers could keep all three on their roster, that spot became much less likely.
As long as Young, Chris Shelton and Carlos Pena are around, Phelps' road out of Toledo has a giant road block at the Michigan line. But Phelps is still swinging at it.
"It's just trying to make the most of an opportunity," Phelps said. "Every at-bat is a chance to show not only this organization, but any organization, what you're capable of doing. That's the approach I've taken."
So far, he's showing one of the best springs in the Grapefruit League. With his 3-for-5 performance Wednesday against the Devil Rays, Phelps raised his average to .571, third highest in the Majors. He's 9-for-12 over his last three games, including a streak of hits in six consecutive at-bats Sunday and Monday. Half of his 16 hits have gone for extra bases, including two doubles and a two-run homer Wednesday that broke a 10-10 tie in the ninth inning.
"He's had a [heckuva] spring," manager Jim Leyland said.
But even Leyland can't say what it means. Asked how Phelps could fit on this roster, Leyland said, "I have no idea."
Before brushing it off as a meaningless spring from a veteran Minor Leaguer, look at the player. Phelps is in his fourth organization in three seasons, but he's not the typical well-traveled journeyman. He was a Rookie of the Year candidate with the Blue Jays in 2002, then was Toronto's designated hitter for most of 2003. He batted .268 with 20 homers and 66 RBIs that season, but struck out 115 times in 396 at-bats.
He got off to a miserable start in 2004, but hit .318 in July before the Blue Jays tried to sneak him through waivers. The Indians claimed him and watched him hit .303 as a part-time player down the stretch before non-tendering him that winter.
The Devil Rays signed him two days after he hit the free agent market to be their regular DH, but his hitting fell after a solid start. He was designated for assignment in June with a .266 average, five homers and 26 RBIs in 47 games -- not horrible numbers, but as he admitted, not what he's capable of doing. He spent the rest of the year at Triple-A Durham.
"In a very short amount of time, I've changed jerseys a few times," he said. "Those things, you've just got to roll with it, and you've got to have the mindset that if you keep working hard, good things are going to happen."
That's what brought him here. Now 27, he joined the Tigers at year's end with only the guarantee of a regular job at first base in Toledo, but the hope that something bigger might open up. But whether that happens has a lot less to do with him and more to do with other players, most notably Pena.
If anything has gone his way, it's the number of at-bats. With many Tigers regulars at the World Baseball Classic and others injured, Phelps has had almost daily at-bats. He had started four straight days through Wednesday, and with the team having split-squad games Thursday, probably will see a fifth.
Those at-bats have shown more of what Phelps thinks he can do. Though he has the reputation as a home run slugger, he sees himself as more of a doubles hitter with some home run power, the kind of hitter that can use Comerica Park's gaps.
"My situation so far this year, it hasn't been 20 straight at-bats," he said. "You take your at-bats here and not play one day. You just try to keep them as consistent as possible. Fortunately so far, I've been able to keep going pretty well on a chopped-up basis. Those things are just confidence builders that you take on down the road."
Even if that road is blocked.
"I just have faith that if you work hard, good things are going to happen," he said. "That doesn't mean you're going to break camp with the team, or if somebody gets hurt, you're going to be the one who gets called up. It means you've got to make the most of the situation."
Bondo brushes off big flies: No matter where the Tigers play in Florida lately, the wind seems to be blowing out. It helped result in a rough pitching line for Wednesday starter Jeremy Bonderman, who gave up five runs in four innings. Three of them came on a Rocco Baldelli home run in the third inning off a hanging breaking ball, Bonderman's only real mistake pitch of the day.
"I thought I threw the ball well," Bonderman said. "It was a lot better than my last start. My command was there, so I'm not really worried about the five runs. I threw all my pitches for strikes, so I can't really complain."
Dmitri ready, Monroe advancing: Young had a good workout Wednesday back in Lakeland, Leyland said, and is ready to play for the first time since straining his left quad March 4. He isn't expected to play Thursday, but should play at least some time at DH on Friday against the Twins.
Craig Monroe, meanwhile, is improving as well, according to Leyland. No timetable is set for his return.
Guillen, Ordonez returning: Leyland also can look forward to the return of Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez, whose duty in the World Baseball Classic ended when the Dominican Republic eliminated Venezuela on Tuesday night. Depending on when they return, Leyland said, they could play Thursday against the Yankees at Joker Marchant Stadium.
Since the Dominicans advanced to the finals, second baseman Placido Polanco and reliever Fernando Rodney will be gone a bit longer.
Source: http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/
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