Notes: Bell prepared to battle for job

02/21/2006
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- So David Bell, welcome to Phillies camp. What do you think of the offseason moves?
The question came right up for Bell, who barely said hello to teammates on Tuesday before addressing his job status for the season.
"Teams are always trying to get better, and add players," he said. "That's the way I look at it. You always have to perform to keep your job. For me, it's never been any other way. If you don't, you're going to get replaced, sooner or later."
If it's sooner for Bell, after batting .248 with 10 homers -- and hitting .199 against right-handers -- in 2005, the Phillies have as many as four candidates vying for playing time. Philadelphia's busy offseason netted Abraham Nunez and Alex S. Gonzalez, each of whom logged significant time at the hot corner last season.
Add in holdovers Matt Kata and Tomas Perez, and there could be quite a battle brewing.
"It's David's job to lose," said manager Charlie Manuel. "He's not going to give it up easily. He's a professsional."
"I feel like I'm going to get a lot of opportunity to play," said Gonzalez. "Which player is going to step in and do something, I can't predict that. I don't know where their focus is, but they gave me the confidence in being able to come in here and play a very big role on the team."
Bell arrived in camp on Monday and worked out with Nunez at third base, while Gonzalez took grounders at shortstop on another field. Manuel may do a lot of mixing and matching this season with that group.
Gonzalez, a right-handed batter, may also log time at second and first, spelling Chase Utley and Ryan Howard against southpaws. If Bell continues to struggle against righties, the switch-hitting Nunez could wind up in a platoon at third.
A .255 career hitter, Bell is two years removed from batting .291 with 18 homers and 77 RBIs. While skeptics want to focus on the low average against righties, Bell doesn't believe he was that far off, in terms of production.
"I didn't feel like I was far away all year," Bell said. "I felt like the difference between those two years, even though from a numbers standpoint, they were a lot different, I really felt close. It just never happened for whatever reason. From a skills standpoint, and from a health standpoint, I don't see why I can't keep getting better.
"[Last year] was a bad start, and I never got going," Bell said. "I want to be more consistent than I was last year with something that's been important to me my whole career. I feel very capable of playing well. That year is over for me."
Get your outfielder's gloves, boys: Manuel reiterated his plan on testing his middle infielders in the outfield this spring, and none of the prospective guinea pigs had a problem.
"I'll give it a shot," said Gonzalez. "It would be totally new for me. If there's a necessity, it would probably be short-term, and match up based between me and Abraham, and whoever is going to be doing that role."
"I'll go out there and see what happens," said Nunez. "I played a couple of games in the outfield in the Minors, but not at the big-league level, so we'll see how it works out."
Four contenders exist as possible fifth outfielder candidates, assuming Shane Victorino makes the team and Josh Kroeger or Shawn Garrett don't. Here are their outfield qualifications:
• Gonzalez: 1,366 games. No games in the outfield.• Perez: 556 games. One game in right field (2001). No chances or assists.• Nunez: 606 games. One game in left field (2001). No chances or assists.• Kata: 135 games. One game in right field (2005). No chances or assists.
Translation: None of the four candidates has actually caught a fly ball at the warning track or hit a cutoff man.
Not surprisingly, the Phillies would prefer to keep those players on the infield dirt and find an outfielder, either through a trade or waivers.
"We'd like a veteran, left-handed guy," said general manager Pat Gillick.
If one isn't found, they have a willing quartet.
"The thing is, you're here for one purpose: winning," Nunez said. "It's not about you, it's about the team. Whenever they ask you to do something, you do it for the best. You have to do whatever it takes."
Numbers game: Bell isn't a superstitious sort, but beamed at the thought of again wearing No. 25. He's taken the number every chance he gets as his way of respecting his father Buddy Bell and grandfather Gus Bell.
"I feel like it's my number, because it was their number, and I've always tried to wear it since I was a kid," he said. "A number doesn't mean a whole lot, but when it's something that has special meaning, it feels better to have it on."
Bell signed with the Phillies in the winter of 2002, but didn't take the number because the team was holding it for Jim Thome, who signed a few weeks later. He also didn't get it in San Francisco because Barry Bonds had it.
He took 4 with the Phillies for no reason.
"If it wasn't 25, I didn't care," he said, admitting that he later thought about 52.
When Thome was dealt to the White Sox this offseason, Bell and No. 25 were again reunited.
"[Equipment manager Frank Coppenbarger] knew not to give it to anybody else," Bell said. "It's a good feeling."
Quotable: "That was rough." -- Ryan Howard, after his feeble hitting session facing Julio Santana
Phan Fest: The Phillies will host their seventh annual Phan Fest on Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET at Bright House Networks Field, sponsored by the City of Clearwater, the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce, COSTO of Clearwater and the Phillies.
Though admission is free, various stations cost money, with proceeds going to Phillies Charities, Inc. The Phillies' official charity will then split the proceeds between the Humane Society of Pinellas County and the Clearwater Parks and Recreation Youth Instructional Baseball and Softball programs.
Among the activities for fans are autograph sessions, photo booths, a silent auction, raffle and yard Sale.
The evening will conclude with a fireworks show that will start around 8 p.m.
Special Olympians visit camp: Fifty athletes from the Paul B. Stephens School Special Oympics team made their annual visit to the Phillies' Spring Training workout Tuesday morning at Carpenter Field. The Phillies treated the team members to caps, pizza and soda.
Former Phillie Milt Thompson signed autographs and took photos with the team. The visit marked the sixth year that the Phillies have hosted the Clearwater-area school.
Philling in: The Phillies will play two intrasquad games on Sunday and Monday, likely pitting a Ramon Henderson-managed team against Gary Varsho's squad. ... Garry Maddox arrived in camp on Tuesday, and will stay through Sunday. Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt will be in camp from Feb. 26 through March 4.

Source: http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/