Camp Notes: Silva Works Out as Phils Get Ready for the Games

philadelphia.comcastsportsnet.com February 26 John R. Finger ComcastSportsNet.com

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Seemingly behind in his work after arriving at camp with a broken nose suffered when an errant ball caught him flush, second-year reliever Carlos Silva threw two simulated innings under the watchful eyes of manager Larry Bowa and pitching coach Joe Kerrigan, Wednesday morning at Jack Russell Stadium. Silva says he threw approximately 20 pitches and feels no worse for the wear after his first strenuous workout of spring training.

He says he threw all of his pitches and doesn't feel like he is playing catch up despite missing a few days of camp to have his broken nose reset.

Jim Thome smashed another impressive home run during workouts in Clearwater on Wednesday but not quite as impressive as his shot that traveled over 500-feet last week. (AP)

After the workout where the pitchers stretched, worked on fielding drills and threw in the outfield, while the hitters took batting practice, Bowa said he was very pleased with Silva's session and feels confident that the 23-year old Venezuelan righthander will be ready to go when camp breaks. In fact, things are going so well for Silva that Bowa says the only flaw in his game is something he can't do anything about.

"The thing that Silva lacks is experience," the manager said adding that the righty will throw a few more side sessions before appearing in a game.

But the inexperience appears to be something that will be remedied quickly. Last season, Silva appeared in 68 games as a rookie with a 5-0 record and an impressive 3.21 ERA in set-up relief. However, Silva posted so-so numbers with 41 strikeouts in 84 innings while allowing 88 hits which manifested itself to opponents batting .282 against him. Not bad, but not great either.

But as a groundball pitcher, Silva only gave up four homers and seemed to pitch better the more he worked. With two days rest, opponents hit .227 against him and his ERA sank to 1.75.

Certainly, it appears as if Silva will get plenty of work in 2003. During the first three weeks of camp, Kerrigan told reporters he was as impressed with Silva's stuff — his bread-and-butter is a diving sinker — than any pitcher in camp. In fact, Kerrigan suggested that Silva might be closer Jose Mesa's heir apparent. A starter in the minors who didn't begin working in the bullpen until last year with the Phillies, the friendly hurler is game for anything Bowa and Kerrigan want him to do.

"I like being a reliever but someday I would like to be a starter again," Silva said. "Right now, I'm too good in the bullpen but I'll go wherever they want to put me."

Pitching and workouts aside, to say Silva has had a unique spring would be an insult to the word. First he was popped on the schnoz running in the outfield during a workout in Venezuela, and then he couldn't get a visa to get out of the country because his name is similar to one on the government's terror watch list.

If that isn't enough, Silva's home country is mired in civil unrest, labor strikes and violent protests. However, Silva says his hometown Bolivar is 12 hours away from the trouble in Caracas, the capital. Conversely, Bobby Abreu's "30-30 Ranch" in Aragua is just three hours away. Abreu's arrival in camp was delayed when he thought it was too unsafe to drive to the airport in the capital city.

Happy Campers So far, Bowa is very happy with the way things are going in his third camp as the Phillies manager. Sure, adding David Bell, Kevin Millwood and Jim Thome while losing malcontents Scott Rolen, Travis Lee and Robert Person might have a lot to do with it, but Bowa was full of praise for his players after Wednesday's workout.

The enthusiasm has been high, attitudes great and the work ethic strong.

"I'm not concerned about anything," Bowa said. "We have to keep working hard. I'm sure they'll pop up but right now there are no concerns."

I got it! The most enthusiastic workout during Wednesday's session was a fielding drill led by Kerrigan with his pitchers. Kerrigan called out pitches such as "curve!" and "fastball without much on it!" to which the hurlers ran a certain direction, fielded a ball bounced off the plate or batted, and finished the play by throwing to the appropriate base.

The session featured instructor Tug McGraw raucously playing a fielder at the bases and closer Jose Mesa trying to plow him over with his fireball tosses. At one point Mesa looked more like a guy trying to impress his date at a carnival booth game than the confident veteran pitcher that he is. After fielding a ball hit by Kerrigan, Mesa missed McGraw's glove and pegged a bucket filled with balls, littering them all over the third-base line. He did not win a stuffed animal, but drew big laughs from the fans watching in the stands.

In another amusing moment, McGraw taught Randy Wolf how to be more like, well, Tug McGraw. While fielding a popup, Wolf meekly called out, "I got it," causing McGraw to interject and chide the lefty.

"Is that all you got?" the fun-time reliever shouted while running toward Wolf. "All you have to do is be loud."

McGraw then stood on the mound screaming, "I got it! I got it!" demonstrating one aspect of the game that set him apart during his playing days.

McGraw's certainly made an impression. After his demonstration, every player tried to scream louder than the one before, but none could match McGraw's vocal prowess.

When it comes to being loud, Tug is still an All-Star.

All signed up On Wednesday, the team announced that Brandon Duckworth, David Coggin, Jason Michaels and Bud Smith all agreed to terms on split contracts. If they break camp with the Phillies, Duckworth will get $325,000, Coggin $320,000 and Michaels and Smith $305,000. The deadline for all contracts to be renewed is March 2 leaving Joe Roa, Brett Myers and Jimmy Rollins as the only unsigned players.

Farewell tour, spring style Not only is 2003 the last season for the Vet, but the team is closing Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, too. The first game was played in 1955 in a game started by Hall of Famer Robin Roberts, who will return to throw the ceremonial first pitch in the finale on March 28. Special spring hitting instructor Mike Schmidt will toss the first pitch on Friday before a split-squad game against the Yankees.

Game time The Phillies open their exhibition season Thursday against the Pirates in Bradenton.Wolf will face Jeff D'Amico with Duckworth, Hector Mercado and Eric Junge also seeing action. Jim Thome and David Bell will make the trip and play while Pat Burrell, Placido Polanco and Rollins will stay in Clearwater. Burrell will play all nine innings against the Yankees on Friday.

In the game against the Yankees, Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla, Rheal Cormier and Mike Fyhrie will pitch, while Roa, Gavin Floyd, Jim Crowell and Amaury Telemaco will head to Orlando, Fla. to pitch against the Braves.

The Braves come to Clearwater on Saturday where Myers, Jose Mesa, Terry Adams and Dan Plesac will pitch.

Thome runs Thome's latest feat of strength during batting practice on Wednesday was a rain-making bomb he clubbed over the 400-foot sign in dead center that soared well above and over the high batting background. Burrell, Bobby Abreu and David Bell also smashed some impressive long balls.

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