Posted on Fri, Aug. 15, 2003
Utley, Telemaco ready to contribute
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com
They aren't saviors. This isn't a tryout.
This, for new starting second baseman Chase Utley and new fifth starter Amaury Telemaco, is less an audition than a no-lose chance to test themselves in the major leagues.
"That's a good point," agreed Utley, the Phillies' first-round pick in the 2000 draft.
He knows he's essentially assured a spot on the Phillies in 2004 after winning the 2002 Paul Owens Award as the organization's top prospect, especially since he spent this, his second season at Triple A, challenging for the International League MVP award.
Similarly, Telemaco answered any questions about his surgically repaired right shoulder. Already at Triple A, he has thrown 155 2/3 innings in 25 games, 24 of them starts, three of them complete-game starts, two of those shutouts. He's throwing his slider for strikes: with only 22 walks and 116 strikeouts. At 10-9 with a 3.24 earned run average, he isn't worried about his future employment.
"Whatever happened this year was a plus," said Telemaco, 29, who has been striving to regain form since his 2001 season with the Phillies was cut short with a lateral strain.
He is now wiser and craftier, and doesn't overthrow, but rather works batters. He has come all the way back from the surgery, hitting the majors for the seventh time since leaving the Dominican Republic in 1992.
If he didn't get called up this season, he noted, "Other teams were taking notice."
And, of course, so were the Phillies. When, on Tuesday, promising fifth starter Brandon Duckworth failed to make it past the fifth inning for the 11th time in 18 starts this season, Telemaco became the best option for the moment to help the Phils make their playoff run. Nothing extreme is expected of him.
"I want him to get us to the sixth inning, the fifth inning. To throw strikes," said manager Larry Bowa, recently driven to distraction by Duckworth's glut of walks - 41 in 84 innings. "I told [Telemaco], 'If you get hit, you get hit.' "
There's a good chance of that happening, since Telemaco pitches against the Cardinals, the second-best hitting team in baseball. But Telemaco won't pitch until Sunday, when the Phillies will clear a spot on the 25-man roster. Utley played last night, with a similar directive:
"You do what you do," general manager Ed Wade told Utley.
"I don't think anybody expects him to come here and be the [cleanup] hitter," Bowa said.
Utley took his Triple A numbers - .323 average, 18 homers, 77 RBI, 80 runs and 26 doubles - to the No. 7 slot, between Pat Burrell, a 1998 first-round pick, and Jimmy Rollins, a 1996 second-round pick and a two-time All-Star.
"I want to contribute," insisted Utley, who went 3-for-15 in spot work early this season with a dramatic grand slam in his first start at second base. He collected three hits and an RBI last night.
"I want to get my guys back in the dugout," emphasized Telemaco, stressing his desire to supply quick, efficient innings.
Realistically, nobody should expect much more from either.
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Utley, Telemaco ready to contribute
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com
They aren't saviors. This isn't a tryout.
This, for new starting second baseman Chase Utley and new fifth starter Amaury Telemaco, is less an audition than a no-lose chance to test themselves in the major leagues.
"That's a good point," agreed Utley, the Phillies' first-round pick in the 2000 draft.
He knows he's essentially assured a spot on the Phillies in 2004 after winning the 2002 Paul Owens Award as the organization's top prospect, especially since he spent this, his second season at Triple A, challenging for the International League MVP award.
Similarly, Telemaco answered any questions about his surgically repaired right shoulder. Already at Triple A, he has thrown 155 2/3 innings in 25 games, 24 of them starts, three of them complete-game starts, two of those shutouts. He's throwing his slider for strikes: with only 22 walks and 116 strikeouts. At 10-9 with a 3.24 earned run average, he isn't worried about his future employment.
"Whatever happened this year was a plus," said Telemaco, 29, who has been striving to regain form since his 2001 season with the Phillies was cut short with a lateral strain.
He is now wiser and craftier, and doesn't overthrow, but rather works batters. He has come all the way back from the surgery, hitting the majors for the seventh time since leaving the Dominican Republic in 1992.
If he didn't get called up this season, he noted, "Other teams were taking notice."
And, of course, so were the Phillies. When, on Tuesday, promising fifth starter Brandon Duckworth failed to make it past the fifth inning for the 11th time in 18 starts this season, Telemaco became the best option for the moment to help the Phils make their playoff run. Nothing extreme is expected of him.
"I want him to get us to the sixth inning, the fifth inning. To throw strikes," said manager Larry Bowa, recently driven to distraction by Duckworth's glut of walks - 41 in 84 innings. "I told [Telemaco], 'If you get hit, you get hit.' "
There's a good chance of that happening, since Telemaco pitches against the Cardinals, the second-best hitting team in baseball. But Telemaco won't pitch until Sunday, when the Phillies will clear a spot on the 25-man roster. Utley played last night, with a similar directive:
"You do what you do," general manager Ed Wade told Utley.
"I don't think anybody expects him to come here and be the [cleanup] hitter," Bowa said.
Utley took his Triple A numbers - .323 average, 18 homers, 77 RBI, 80 runs and 26 doubles - to the No. 7 slot, between Pat Burrell, a 1998 first-round pick, and Jimmy Rollins, a 1996 second-round pick and a two-time All-Star.
"I want to contribute," insisted Utley, who went 3-for-15 in spot work early this season with a dramatic grand slam in his first start at second base. He collected three hits and an RBI last night.
"I want to get my guys back in the dugout," emphasized Telemaco, stressing his desire to supply quick, efficient innings.
Realistically, nobody should expect much more from either.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
POST any more info below!
