Abreu adds power -- Bowa expects big year from outfielder

By EDWARD DE LA FUENTE Staff reporter 03/23/2003

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Because of circumstance, Bobby Abreu did not play winter baseball this offseason for the first time in more than 10 years.

As civil unrest began in his native Venezuela, Abreu stayed near his home two hours outside Caracas. He rarely played catch or swung his bat. To keep from going stir-crazy, he worked out more often.

The result? The Phillies right fielder has the same fluid swing and the same effortless style, only with more power, as witnessed earlier this spring when the left-handed-hitting Abreu hit a laser-like home run - to left field.

"I don't know why I feel this way, but I think Bobby's going to have a monster year," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "If everything falls right, he can have a season where he puts up some nasty numbers in every category."

Even without the visual evidence, Bowa can't be blamed for having such a hunch. Abreu has put up nasty numbers in a lot of statistical categories, just not all at the same time.

He has hit at least .308 in four of the past five seasons. In the one year that he didn't, 2001, he hit a career-high 31 home runs. He became the Phillies' first 30-30 player that year, also stealing 36 bases. His doubles total has gone up every year in that five-year span, with his 50 last season leading the National League. He has scored at least 102 runs each of the past four seasons.

This spring, Abreu has four home runs, including that opposite-field shot last Sunday against Minnesota, and has seven hits in his past 14 at-bats.

Bowa marvels at the time last season he overheard Abreu, in the middle of a slump that had dropped his average to around .290, tell teammates he intended to raise it back to .300. Within days, he was back at .300.

"I'm not going to say Bobby's going to hit 70 [homers], but Bobby's going to do what Bobby wants to do," Bowa said. "He does some things that make you shake your head. He's got a great future ahead of him. I don't think he's peaked."

Abreu arrived at the Phillies camp this spring noticeably bulkier, and he admitted he gained seven or eight pounds. What's more, he said he wouldn't have chosen to take the winter off but he might end up being glad he did.

"I feel more rested," Abreu said. "I'm not tired yet. I feel healthy, I feel good."

As for whether his game might change to include more power, Abreu doesn't yet know.

"I just try to do my job," Abreu said. "I just play the game, play it hard, and the home runs are going to come."

A lot will depend on where Abreu bats in the order. With slugging Jim Thome aboard this year, Abreu might find himself hitting fifth many nights, rather than his customary third spot, which would likely lead to more RBI chances. Or, he could stay in the No. 3 slot, ahead of Pat Burrell and Thome, which would give him more opportunities to steal bases and score runs.

"It doesn't matter to me," Abreu said. "If I hit third, I try to do my job there. Whatever spot I'm in, I'm going to hit."

Thome has already found a benefit to batting behind Abreu - the chance to watch Abreu work pitchers before he gets to the plate himself.

"I think Bobby's really going to help me," Thome said. "We're very similar players. It's hard to compare those types of players, but we're very similar.

"He's a guy who legitimately has a chance to hit 50 doubles every year. His approach at the plate is really solid. He's got a sweet swing."

And at 28, one has to wonder if Abreu's best years are still ahead of him. For example, when Barry Bonds was 27, in 1992, he batted .311 with 34 home runs, surpassing the 30-homer mark for only the second time. The next year, he batted .336 with 46 home runs. Everyone knows what has happened to Bonds since then.

That's not to predict that Abreu will someday hold the single-season home-run record. But if Abreu is anything like Bonds, the Phillies, who signed him to a six-year, $64 million contract extension before last year, will have plenty to look forward to.

"I think I've got more experience in the game," Abreu said. "When you get more mature, that's when you put up more numbers. Maybe your numbers become more consistent."

Consistency hasn't been a problem for Abreu. Whether his numbers get larger - that's what the Phillies are hoping for.

Reach Edward de la Fuente at <a href=mailto:ofthefountain@hotmail.com. Abreu adds power Bowa expects big year from outfielder By EDWARD DE LA FUENTE Staff reporter 03/23/2003

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Because of circumstance, Bobby Abreu did not play winter baseball this offseason for the first time in more than 10 years.

As civil unrest began in his native Venezuela, Abreu stayed near his home two hours outside Caracas. He rarely played catch or swung his bat. To keep from going stir-crazy, he worked out more often.

The result? The Phillies right fielder has the same fluid swing and the same effortless style, only with more power, as witnessed earlier this spring when the left-handed-hitting Abreu hit a laser-like home run - to left field.

"I don't know why I feel this way, but I think Bobby's going to have a monster year," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "If everything falls right, he can have a season where he puts up some nasty numbers in every category."

Even without the visual evidence, Bowa can't be blamed for having such a hunch. Abreu has put up nasty numbers in a lot of statistical categories, just not all at the same time.

He has hit at least .308 in four of the past five seasons. In the one year that he didn't, 2001, he hit a career-high 31 home runs. He became the Phillies' first 30-30 player that year, also stealing 36 bases. His doubles total has gone up every year in that five-year span, with his 50 last season leading the National League. He has scored at least 102 runs each of the past four seasons.

This spring, Abreu has four home runs, including that opposite-field shot last Sunday against Minnesota, and has seven hits in his past 14 at-bats.

Bowa marvels at the time last season he overheard Abreu, in the middle of a slump that had dropped his average to around .290, tell teammates he intended to raise it back to .300. Within days, he was back at .300.

"I'm not going to say Bobby's going to hit 70 [homers], but Bobby's going to do what Bobby wants to do," Bowa said. "He does some things that make you shake your head. He's got a great future ahead of him. I don't think he's peaked."

Abreu arrived at the Phillies camp this spring noticeably bulkier, and he admitted he gained seven or eight pounds. What's more, he said he wouldn't have chosen to take the winter off but he might end up being glad he did.

"I feel more rested," Abreu said. "I'm not tired yet. I feel healthy, I feel good."

As for whether his game might change to include more power, Abreu doesn't yet know.

"I just try to do my job," Abreu said. "I just play the game, play it hard, and the home runs are going to come."

A lot will depend on where Abreu bats in the order. With slugging Jim Thome aboard this year, Abreu might find himself hitting fifth many nights, rather than his customary third spot, which would likely lead to more RBI chances. Or, he could stay in the No. 3 slot, ahead of Pat Burrell and Thome, which would give him more opportunities to steal bases and score runs.

"It doesn't matter to me," Abreu said. "If I hit third, I try to do my job there. Whatever spot I'm in, I'm going to hit."

Thome has already found a benefit to batting behind Abreu - the chance to watch Abreu work pitchers before he gets to the plate himself.

"I think Bobby's really going to help me," Thome said. "We're very similar players. It's hard to compare those types of players, but we're very similar.

"He's a guy who legitimately has a chance to hit 50 doubles every year. His approach at the plate is really solid. He's got a sweet swing."

And at 28, one has to wonder if Abreu's best years are still ahead of him. For example, when Barry Bonds was 27, in 1992, he batted .311 with 34 home runs, surpassing the 30-homer mark for only the second time. The next year, he batted .336 with 46 home runs. Everyone knows what has happened to Bonds since then.

That's not to predict that Abreu will someday hold the single-season home-run record. But if Abreu is anything like Bonds, the Phillies, who signed him to a six-year, $64 million contract extension before last year, will have plenty to look forward to.

"I think I've got more experience in the game," Abreu said. "When you get more mature, that's when you put up more numbers. Maybe your numbers become more consistent."

Consistency hasn't been a problem for Abreu. Whether his numbers get larger - that's what the Phillies are hoping for.

Reach Edward de la Fuente at ofthefountain@hotmail.com