High Heels On The Field

World Champs Vs. Mets; Danny Ozark Goes To Baseball Heaven

If you want to fret about a baseball game you may (I know Phillies fans. I KNOW.), but imagine being on Omaha Beach in World War II, D-Day, June 6th 1944. Former Phillies manager Danny Ozark was. It's no wonder he never seemed to crack under the pressure that is Philadelphia sports fandom.

Ozark died today, at the age of 85.

I did a piece on him when I first began writing and I remember being amazed by his Phillies experience. While he was mocked for his unforgettable quotables, he was also one of the most successful managers in Phillies history. And certainly one of the most respected, at least by the guys who played for him including Mike Schmidt and Bob Boone. Upon his termination in 1979 new manager Dallas Green told Phillies players, "Danny Ozark didn't get fired. You got him fired."

Ozark joined the Phillies in 1972 and managed some of the best years in Phillies history. Though they fell short repeatedly, it was not for lack of talent. It was, as these things go, easy to blame Ozark. But the Phils made the playoffs twice during his tenure, including in 1977 when they won 101 games. He has the seventh best winning percentage in franchise history.

"He was more than a baseball manager. He was a genuine human being."- Ruly Carpenter, on Danny Ozark

PHILS/METS SERIES: GM 1 1-0 Mets; GM 2  7-5 Mets

It's hard to understand exactly why the Phillies are having such a hard time with quality starting pitching. You heard most "experts" say that with the Phils basically having the same team, they should do well out of the gate. But the results have been excruciating.

Jamie Moyer missed another opportunity to pick up his 250th win, in a loss to the New York Mets. It's the Phils second loss in a row to the Metros. The offense is still struggling a bit- Jimmy Rollins definitely isn't yet fully himself- but Phils starters have given up the most first inning home runs of any team in MLB. They seem to constantly be trying to right themselves from the moment the game begins. Chan Ho Park pitched an excellent game last night. And guys like Raul Ibanez and Shane Victorino are coming through at the plate consistently. But as a whole, the offense and starting pitching must improve. The Mets are now just a half a game behind the Phils in the NLE.

On the flip side, it's given J.A. Happ some good opportunities to showcase his talent.

Hey, there's always a plus in these things. Right, folks?

Scott Mathieson's Uphill Battle

"I'll be the bat boy if they want me to!" Scott Mathieson said when I interviewed him at FirstEnergy Stadium two years ago. 

Mathieson's mega-watt smile and abundance of energy makes an impression from the moment you meet him. But for all that energy, the right hander hasn't been able to avoid the injury bug.

After making his major league debut for the Phils later that season, he suffered an injury and had to have Tommy John surgery. In 2007, he suffered another injury while with the AA Reading Phillies. Now 25 and with the AAA Lehigh Valley Pigs, he's starting 2009 on the DL. Mathieson's drive to compete and play baseball have carried him through all of these trials. But where is he going? The bumps in the road have been constant.

In 2005 he was struggling to develop a curve ball. Reading's pitching coach at the time, Tom Filer, encouraged him to scrap it.

"I watched him throw it for a full year," Filer said. Midway through 2006 Mathieson quit throwing the curve and started really working on his slider. At the time, Filer also said he felt Mathieson was close to the big leagues.

"He's about another year and a half away," he said.

While his debut was followed by a painful reality, neither Mathieson, nor the Phillies appear to be willing to give up. At the time, he cited his friendship with Cole Hamels as a big factor for his tenacity.

"We really pushed each other," he said.

Mathieson looks like he's still pushing ahead, though his future seems to be growing increasingly uncertain. If only young talented players like himself could find some sort of repellent for that dreaded injury bug.

Notes: Mathieson was drafted in the 17th round in 2002...He debuted in the GCL...On December 13th, 2008 the Phillies resigned Mathieson to a minor league contract....Mathieson was born in Vancouver, British Columbia....

Surf Castoff Clyde Williams Lands In New Hampshire, Alex Trezza Signed

A couple of the most popular players on their respective teams in the Can-Am League have inked deals.

Former Atlantic City Surf DH Clyde Williams has signed a contract with the American Defenders of New Hampshire. Williams is known for his power and shared the DH role with Eddie Kim in 2008. Alex Trezza is back as the backstop for the Worcester Tornadoes, signing a deal with the team earlier this week.

Both players were considered team leaders and highly respected by their teammates. Williams was a player I saw play everyday and his love for what he does never goes unnoticed. He's a "lifer" and has played year round for most of his career. I was able to see Trezza play a great deal, both on the road with the Surf and at Atlantic City. He had a fantastic 2008. It would be hard for me to forget the night he hit a two-run double in Worcester in the ninth off closer Kyle George to win it. He knocked in a career-high 64 RBI and drew 40 walks, also a career best. Those series were always fun between the two teams. They seemed to want to kill each other, though many of them were friends. I guess that's the fun of competition.

It should be interesting to see the dynamics in the Can-Am League with two less teams.

A.J. Battisto Feeling At Home

For a Philadelphia guy, pitcher A.J. Battisto is feeling awfully comfortable in Jupiter, Florida. It might have something to do with being, oh, about a spitball away from where he plays for the Class A-Advanced Jupiter Hammerheads.

"I live literally 300 yards from the field. I walk to work everyday," he said in an e-mail.

The 25 year old Florida Marlins prospect is having a good season so far. He's gone 1-1 with a 3.72 ERA.

"I've been feeling good about my performances so far. I haven't been getting beat with any bad pitches."

The right handed reliever played for the Class-A Greensboro Grasshoppers in 2008, finishing the season 8-1 with an ERA of 1.55 and led the team in strikeouts with 101. When the season ended he got a winter job and waited to be assigned out of spring training. He always hoped for the best, but also believes success has to do with what you put into it.

"If baseball is what you want to do then put everything you have into it," he once said.

So far him and his teammates are doing just that. "Our pitching staff as a whole is pretty dominant. We're hanging in there and pulling for each other."

Battisto, who is joined by Greensboro teammate and highly touted slugger Mike Stanton, is part of a pitching staff that has the third lowest ERA in the Florida State League. Overall the team has improved to two games over .500 and are only 1.5 games back in the standings behind first place Fort Myers Miracle. On Sunday night, he recorded his second save of the season striking out the side to close out the game.

"Things have been going pretty well. Knock on wood."

Notes: Battisto was born and raised in Pottstown, Pennsylvania...He attended Georgia Southern University and in 2007 he went 4-0 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP...The Marlins drafted him in the 30th round in 2007...He likes to go hunting....