Notes: Michaels grateful for fresh start

03/27/2006
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The blond hair is longer now, the smile still wide and the arms still powerful, but underneath the Indians cap is a more reflective, more mature person, on the field and off.
Jason Michaels is a starter making a fresh start.
"It's weird being over here after 8 1/2 years with [the Phillies, including the Minors]," he said. "I didn't want to be 45 and out of the game, and wonder how it would've been if I had the starting job. It's worked out well. They're giving me a shot to play every day in left field."
Not by choice, but Michaels traded his Phillies red for Indians blue in late January -- with lefty reliever Arthur Rhodes arriving in Philadelphia -- and closed the chapter after four years of part-time Major League service. Personally, his new start comes from leaving a bad final memory of Philadelphia law enforcement.
Michaels' image and persona took a hit in early, when he was arrested in July for allegedly punching a police officer outside a Philadelphia nightclub. He was eventually charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and recklessly endangering another person. He received 100 hours of community service.
He's been serving it with the Winter Haven branch of the Police Athletic League, lecturing kids. He declined specifics of the incident, but said he was in the "wrong place, wrong time," and added that there are "two sides of every story."
The thoughtful Michaels learned from the experience.
"I worry about on-field stuff, but there's also off-field stuff that can hurt you," he said. "Going through that you learn. I'm always been a guy to walk away. I've never been in a fight in my life -- arguments, but not fist fights. But I know when you're in the spotlight, people are going to love you or hate you, or both, and you're going to run into people sometimes who don't like you or are a little jealous. It [stinks] to say that, but that's the way it is. I think as a professional athlete, you have to be level-headed on all costs."
He could barely say a sentence on Monday without his former teammates waving to him from the field. First, Jon Lieber and Geoff Geary, then Chase Utley. Rheal Cormier and Cory Lidle waved at him as he ran to left field in the bottom of the first, and the Phillies relievers in the bullpen heckled him when he got there.
He robbed good friend Pat Burrell with a leaping catch to end the first inning, and Burrell joked with him as he returned to the dugout.
"J-Mike made a circus catch on us, man," said manager Charlie Manuel. "He didn't have to do that."
With his new opportunity with Cleveland, Michaels may make many more catches.
"I wanted to stay in Philly for a long time, so I have mixed emotions," Michaels said. "I wanted to stay where it all started, but I also wanted to get out and play. This is the way it worked out.
"I've got a lot of friends over there, and I'm thankful [the Phillies] gave me an opportunity. After I got traded, Charlie called me up and thanked me for my efforts, and I thanked him. It was a lot of fun to play with them."
Gordon back-to-back: Tom Gordon trotted out for the ninth inning on Monday and plans to do it again on Tuesday against the Yankees. It will be his first time working on back-to-back days, generally the last step for a reliever getting ready to the season.
"That's always a good thing, especially late, to see where you are," Gordon said. "A couple of outings ago, I got threw a total of 25 to 30 [pitches]. That's when I knew I was getting over the hump, and starting to build up my arm."
Gordon's spring began slowly when he threw his devastating curveball too early, and developed elbow soreness. He got past that minor setback, and he said he's ready.
"Over my career, I've always been a knucklehead, where I want everything to happen now, now, now," he said. "I've always been a little impatient and tried to force things to happen. You guys [in the media] say it all the time, but sometimes I forget that I'm 38 years old."
Howard honored: Ryan Howard flew to Philadelphia after Monday's game so he could take part in a ceremony Tuesday honoring him as the 2005 National League Rookie of the Year. Mayor John F. Street will take part in a reception at City Hall, which is part of the Phillies' "Paint the Town Red" week.
A banner will also be hung on City Hall in Howard's honor, then autographed by the slugger and donated as an auction item to the Mural Arts Program for their annual fundraiser.
Roster cut down: Cole Hamels was reassigned to Minor League camp on Monday and will begin the season at Class A Clearwater. Aquilino Lopez and Yoel Hernandez were also optioned to Minor League camp, and will likely start the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. That leaves 34 players in camp.
The Phillies released 20 players from Minor Lague camp on Sunday: Juan Alvarez, Erick Arteaga, Ryan Barthelemy, Derek Brant, Tom Cochran, Jose Cortez, Matt Edwards, Mitchell Graham, Peter Henyan, Jeff Inglin, Greg Isaacson, Chris Klemm, B.J. Littleton, Mike Lombardi, Timi Moni, Aaron Myette, Kevin Shepard, Clayton Stewart, Jordan Szabo and C.J. Woodrow.
Philling in: David Bell went 1-for-7 with a walk, two runs and was hit by a pitch in a Minor League game in St. Petersburg. It is still unclear as to whether he'll be ready by Opening Day, and Manuel suggested on Sunday that Bell won't be. ... David Dellucci is the latest player rumored to be linked to the Phillies, who are searching for a left-handed bat and fifth outfielder. ... Philadelphia's win on Monday, their 16th of the Grapefruit League, clinched a winning Spring Training for the first time since 1998.
Coming up: Ryan Madson makes his fifth Grapefruit League appearance, and fourth start for the Phillies, on Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. ET against the Yankees in Tampa. Madson has compiled a 2.84 ERA this spring. Right-hander Scott Proctor gets the nod for New York.

Source: http://mlb.mlb.com/