Skip to main content

Mathieson Still Focused Despite Being Sent Down

CLEARWATER, FL- Somehow, despite the recent news that Brad Lidge is set to begin the season on the disabled list with a right shoulder injury, the Phillies didn't see fit to keep fire-balling righty hurler Scott Mathieson around.

Mathieson, who has had a long road back to the big leagues following three elbow procedures (two of which were Tommy John surgeries), appeared in 7 games with the Phillies in spring training this year, posting a 2.00 ERA with 9 strike outs and 6 walks over 9 innings.

The Vancouver, British Columbia native made his Major League debut with the Phils in 2006 as a starter, going 1-4 with a 7.47 ERA, but had his career sidetracked due to arm trouble. This spring, Mathieson was back where he wanted to be and felt that he was primed to return to a regular gig in the big leagues. However, on Saturday, the Phillies sent Mathieson back down to minor league camp.

Mathieson's goal throughout his recovery has been to get back into the Phillies' red pinstripes on a permanent basis and while he is displeased with the assignment to rock Lehigh Valley IronPig duds instead, his focus isn't harmed one bit. "I wasn't too happy about it," Mathieson said in an exclusive interview.

"It's definitely disappointing. I was out to make the team. I didn't accomplish what I set out to do and it's quite frustrating. Aside from the one game where I walked three guys, I felt like I had a pretty good spring, especially while introducing a new pitch (his new split-finger). I felt like I threw pretty well. It's disappointing. It's not where I want to be, but hopefully, it'll help me in the long run so I can get back to the Majors.

"The Phillies are a great team and there's a great group of guys and I'd love to be a part of the team. I'd rather be a Major League pitcher. At this point, hopefully, that'll happen in the near future and hopefully it's with the Phillies."

The 27-year-old Mathieson was told by organization coaches that he probably would not be the closer for Lehigh, a role that he filled last season when he saved 26 games and struck out 83 batters in 64 1/3 innings with the Triple A IronPigs. Coaches expressed to Mathieson that they wish to stretch him out. He was informed on Saturday that he'd be used as a multiple inning reliever and perhaps share some duties, at times, in the 9th inning. This could mean that Mathieson, whose fastball is regularly clocked in the high 90's, is destined to slide into the Phillies' 6th/7th inning role that was once occupied by Chad Durbin.

In his first day back in the minors on Saturday, Mathieson couldn't even join his Triple A teammates, as they had already hit the road for an away game. Mathieson instead pitched with the High A Clearwater club, because they were at home. In that game, he threw 2 innings, struck out 3 batters and did not allow a hit.

The Phillies are now left with 7 healthy relievers (Ryan Madson, Jose Contreras, Danys Baez, JC Romero, Kyle Kendrick, Antonio Bastardo, David Herndon) officially in big league camp, but continue to claim that nothing is set in stone in regards to the opening day roster.

Mathieson's close pal Mike Zagurski, another former Tommy John surgery patient, also received news that he was being sent to minor league camp on Saturday morning. Zagurski, a lefty, posted a 1.08 ERA in 8 games with 12 strike outs and 1 walk allowed over 8 1/3 innings. Mathieson sounded additionally upset for his friend.

"I feel real bad for him. He had a hell of a spring. He was pretty dominant all throughout spring training. We're in kind of the same boat. Hopefully, he shows something where he'll be one of the first guys to get called up, with me as well."

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Lidge Shaky, T-Mac Honored in Trenton

TRENTON, NJ- Brad Lidge made his second rehab appearance for the Double A Reading Phillies on Thursday night and it didn't go as well as the veteran reliever or the team had hoped. Lidge struggled with his command and turned in a rather poor outing for the club that entered the night in a playoff race, 1 game behind division rival Trenton for the Wild Card spot in the Eastern Division. On the disabled list since spring training with a strained right rotator cuff, Lidge experienced an elbow strain when he was working back from that issue in late May. In his outing against the Yankees affiliate in Trenton, Lidge displayed difficulty with his control as he threw three wild pitches, hit two batters, walked another and gave up a single, all while letting up two earned runs on 28 pitches in 2/3 of an inning. After the disappointing performance, Lidge was composed and focused on some positive aspects, having reached 89 and 90 MPH on scouts' radar guns, according to some reports. ...

Mike McGuire Living a Dream With Favorite Team

LAKEWOOD, NJ- Every young ballplayer grows up wishing he could play for his favorite team. Mike McGuire has an opportunity to do just that after signing with the Phillies organization in July. McGuire was a 43rd round draft pick taken by the Cleveland Indians in the 2008 amateur draft out of the University of Delaware. Early scouting reports liked McGuire's abilities, despite some arm trouble. He advanced as far as High A Level Kinston last season. While there, he posted an 0-3 record with a 5.46 ERA in 9 games, 8 of which were starts. The Indians weren't happy with McGuire's efforts this spring and released him. McGuire caught on with the Sussex Skyhawks of the independent Can-Am League, where he stayed in shape and pitched against other formerly affiliated minor leaguers. As a starter with the Skyhawks, McGuire went 3-4 with a 5.29 ERA in 8 outings. From there, just as all players in those independent leagues hope for, the 24-year-old McGuire got noticed. The Phillies wer...

Harry's Plaque Has Misprint

At the ballpark today for the first time since Harry Kalas was inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame on Friday, I noticed an error in the text on his plaque. Verbage on the plaque reads like this... Voice of Phillies baseball on radio and TV for 39 seasons. Teamed with Richie Ashburn from 1971 until 1997. Harry was on the air for all of Mike Schmidt's 548 home runs, five Phillies no-hitters, seven National League Championship Series, three World Series, the first and final games at Veterans Stadium and the Citizens Bank Park 2004 opener. Received the prestigious Ford C. Frick Award in 2002 for "Major Contributions to Baseball" and was inducted into the broadcasters' wing at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. His calls were legendary, especially his signature home run call, "Outta heeere." On October 29, 2008, he brought utmost joy to Phillies fans: "The 0-2 pitch, swing and miss , struck him out. The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 Worl...