Rested and ready, Phils’ Abreu might be heading for ‘monstrous’ season
www.pressofatlanticcity.com March 22, 2003
By ED HILT Staff Writer, (609) 272-7190, E-Mail SARASOTA, Fla. - Bobby Abreu led the National League in doubles last season with 50 while batting .308 and stealing 31 bases. He hit 31 homers the previous season while driving in 110 runs and stealing 36 bases.
In 1999, he batted .335 and tied for the league lead in triples. He has played in at least 151 games the previous five seasons. He has drawn at least 100 walks and scored at least 100 runs in each of the last four seasons.
The statistics are as versatile as they are impressive for the Philadelphia Phillies' 29-year-old right fielder.
Manager Larry Bowa doesn't see Abreu equaling those numbers in 2003. Bowa says he might surpass them.
"I think Bobby Abreu is going to have a monstrous year,'' Bowa said. "This could be one of those years where he has big numbers in all categories.''
It is not just idle talk by the manager. Bowa has his reasons.
One is tied to the civil unrest in Venezuela, Abreu's native country. Because of the troubles, there was no pro baseball in Venezuela this winter.
So Abreu, who feels an obligation to play winter ball in Venezuela, did not have to endure his usual grind. Abreu had played winter ball there every season for at least the last 10 years.
"I feel fresher,'' Abreu said. "I don't feel tired or sore. I don't think I will get tired that quickly over the season. I didn't hit at all. I just lifted weights. That's it. I lifted every day. That's why I have a little more weight.''
Abreu is noticeably bigger up top. He said he added at least eight pounds of muscle.
The new lineup figures to help Abreu, too.
Most likely, Abreu will bat third, although fifth is a possibility. Bowa has tinkered with the middle of his order most of the spring.
His lineup the last two days, including one for the rained-out game against Cincinnati on Friday at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, had Abreu third and Thome fourth. Pat Burrell, after a day off, would have hit fifth against the Reds.
Bowa is considering keeping Thome and Abreu, the two left-handed hitters, together against right-handed pitchers.
No matter where Abreu hits, he knows there is greater potential to see better pitches with Thome and Burrell ahead of or behind him.
Abreu was in Venezuela last fall when the Phillies signed Thome. He already had received the news on David Bell. More good news would come on Kevin Millwood.
"Larry gave me a phone call and (general manager) Ed Wade gave me a call. I said, 'Congratulations. That's pretty nice,' " Abreu said. "We all know it's going to help the team a lot.
"They have built the team to be a contender. They are some pretty good moves. This is going to be fun.''
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