kaorder1999
04-07-2007, 10:38 PM
MIAMI -- As a cluster of reporters approached Zack Segovia on Saturday to get his thoughts on making his Major League debut Sunday against the Marlins, fellow pitcher Freddy Garcia, standing nearby, said with a mischievous grin, "He's scared."
Segovia didn't let that unsolicited attempt at a joke bother him. In fact, he seemed more concerned about rounding up enough game tickets for family and friends than anything else. He expects to need up to 13 tickets.
Segovia reeled off his guest list as if he'd been wondering how he could accommodate everybody: two sisters, two brothers, his and his wife's mom and dad, his wife, a sister's husband and perhaps three adolescents.
Otherwise, the right-hander, who will turn 24 three days after he pitches, has a simple game plan: "I'm just going to go out and keep the ball down and see what happens," he said with a smile.
Segovia will take the mound with plenty of research behind him. He expects to have examined video of not only the Phillies' first two games in this series, but also of the Marlins' initial three games of the season against the Nationals. He also has talked to several Phillies pitchers on how they attacked the Marlins' batting order.
"I'm excited," Segovia said. "It'll be good."
Segovia arrives at this dream just two-plus seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and wondering how much of a career he would have left. He suffered a rocky 2005 season, but experienced a gangbuster '06. He was 18-6 with a 2.28 ERA during the year in stops at Class A Clearwater, Double-A Reading and with Team USA in Olympic qualifying action.
This Spring Training, Segovia, a 6-foot-2, 244-pounder, went 0-2 with a 4.30 ERA in 14 2/3 innings. He allowed 15 hits and walked just two while striking out eight. The Phillies were particularly impressed with how he handled the Yankees in two games, and Segovia acknowledges they were a confidence booster.
"They kind of give you a little validation," Segovia said. "It's like, 'Well, you know what, I didn't get murdered, I didn't get chased off.' That doesn't mean I'm going to do great against anyone."
Segovia chuckled softly that he's glad he's starting a day game. He said he finds himself getting a little sleepy around 10 p.m. -- a leftover effect from getting up so consistently early in Spring Training and playing mostly day games.
"I'm still waking up early and tired at night," he said, smiling. "I'm thinking, 'How do they stay awake out there?'"
Segovia is also glad he gets to make his Major League debut in a warm-weather stadium, as opposed to being subjected to some of the brutal weather hitting the Midwest and Northeast. Plenty of sunshine is expected here Sunday.
Manager Charlie Manuel is hoping to get five innings from Segovia on Sunday.
"If he can give us five innings, that would be pretty good," Manuel said. "Who knows? I don't want to limit him. Maybe he'll be able to give us more."
Pitching shaping up: Manuel said that it is likely that Jon Lieber, newly christened as a reliever, will return to the club on Monday. The manager awaited word on how Lieber felt Saturday after throwing 48 pitches and 3 2/3 innings for Clearwater.
Manuel also noted that Garcia threw a bullpen session on Saturday. Garcia, recovering from tendinitis in his right biceps, is expected to start for Clearwater on Tuesday. If he has no problem physically, he is likely to start for the Phillies on April 15.
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/images/2007/04/01/eEoaw4S3.jpg
Segovia didn't let that unsolicited attempt at a joke bother him. In fact, he seemed more concerned about rounding up enough game tickets for family and friends than anything else. He expects to need up to 13 tickets.
Segovia reeled off his guest list as if he'd been wondering how he could accommodate everybody: two sisters, two brothers, his and his wife's mom and dad, his wife, a sister's husband and perhaps three adolescents.
Otherwise, the right-hander, who will turn 24 three days after he pitches, has a simple game plan: "I'm just going to go out and keep the ball down and see what happens," he said with a smile.
Segovia will take the mound with plenty of research behind him. He expects to have examined video of not only the Phillies' first two games in this series, but also of the Marlins' initial three games of the season against the Nationals. He also has talked to several Phillies pitchers on how they attacked the Marlins' batting order.
"I'm excited," Segovia said. "It'll be good."
Segovia arrives at this dream just two-plus seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and wondering how much of a career he would have left. He suffered a rocky 2005 season, but experienced a gangbuster '06. He was 18-6 with a 2.28 ERA during the year in stops at Class A Clearwater, Double-A Reading and with Team USA in Olympic qualifying action.
This Spring Training, Segovia, a 6-foot-2, 244-pounder, went 0-2 with a 4.30 ERA in 14 2/3 innings. He allowed 15 hits and walked just two while striking out eight. The Phillies were particularly impressed with how he handled the Yankees in two games, and Segovia acknowledges they were a confidence booster.
"They kind of give you a little validation," Segovia said. "It's like, 'Well, you know what, I didn't get murdered, I didn't get chased off.' That doesn't mean I'm going to do great against anyone."
Segovia chuckled softly that he's glad he's starting a day game. He said he finds himself getting a little sleepy around 10 p.m. -- a leftover effect from getting up so consistently early in Spring Training and playing mostly day games.
"I'm still waking up early and tired at night," he said, smiling. "I'm thinking, 'How do they stay awake out there?'"
Segovia is also glad he gets to make his Major League debut in a warm-weather stadium, as opposed to being subjected to some of the brutal weather hitting the Midwest and Northeast. Plenty of sunshine is expected here Sunday.
Manager Charlie Manuel is hoping to get five innings from Segovia on Sunday.
"If he can give us five innings, that would be pretty good," Manuel said. "Who knows? I don't want to limit him. Maybe he'll be able to give us more."
Pitching shaping up: Manuel said that it is likely that Jon Lieber, newly christened as a reliever, will return to the club on Monday. The manager awaited word on how Lieber felt Saturday after throwing 48 pitches and 3 2/3 innings for Clearwater.
Manuel also noted that Garcia threw a bullpen session on Saturday. Garcia, recovering from tendinitis in his right biceps, is expected to start for Clearwater on Tuesday. If he has no problem physically, he is likely to start for the Phillies on April 15.
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/images/2007/04/01/eEoaw4S3.jpg