Notes: With Bell out, Nunez mans third

03/21/2006
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Abraham Nunez has played an awful lot of third base this spring, and he's batted second in most of those starts.
Don't read too much into it, said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel.
"I've got a long time before I have to make up my mind," said Manuel, who won't have to make out an Opening Day starting lineup until April 3.
With starting third baseman David Bell working his way back from back injuries in Minor League games -- he went 1-for-5 on Tuesday -- Nunez has spent the bulk of his time at third, while Alex Gonzalez has learned left field and played first base in one of Philadelphia's split-squad game.
Either Nunez or Gonzalez is capable of playing third regularly, and Manuel hasn't decided on a platoon or a starter. He's confident that each will get a fair number of at-bats, whether Bell is ready or not.
In weighing his decision, Manuel acknowledges that he likes what Nunez did batting second and playing third for the Cardinals, while Gonzalez has the edge in Major League experience.
Nunez, 30, had a career year last year for St. Louis, hitting .285 with five homers in 139 games, and he played regularly when Scott Rolen was sidelined for the season. Gonzalez, who turns 33 in April, has started 12 consecutive Opening Days.
"Every time I come in and look at the lineup, I have to be ready to play," Nunez said. "It's early still. There's a lot of time before Opening Day. But I'll be ready [to start] if that's the case."
Gonzalez may have either helped or hurt himself because of his willingness to shift positions. He's made seven starts at third, one in left, two at first and is slated to play shortstop on Wednesday.
Manuel could go with a straight platoon, but it's more likely he'll go with the hot hand.
He did reveal a preference for batting Nunez second, allowing him to utilize Aaron Rowand's power in the seven-hole.
Seeing the light: For the second straight start after his epiphany, Gavin Floyd is quickly returning to the dominating pitcher who was the fourth overall pick in the 2001 First-Year Player Draft.
The 23-year-old fired fastballs and 12-to-6 curves at an unsuspecting Tigers lineup on Tuesday at Bright House Networks Field, and he again looked sharp and confident during five shutout innings.
"If I can string together five good games, then have a mediocre game, then string together five more good games ... or even have 10 good games, [I'd be happy with that,]" Floyd said, with a smile. "It's trusting yourself, and being loose and limber. That's the remedy I went through in the past few days -- being that effortless, fluid the guy I've always been, and things happen for the better."
Floyd's better performance came on Friday against Toronto, and it was followed by a meeting with general manager Pat Gillick, pitching coach Rich Dubee and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitching coach Rod Nichols. Floyd thought it was curious that Gillick would attend such a meeting.
The group came up with a plan of attack, but mainly reminded Floyd to stop worrying so much about his mechanics and just throw his assortment of Grade A pitches.
"It's simple," Floyd said. "That's what life is all about, being simple."
Of course, Floyd still has designs on beating out either Ryan Franklin or Ryan Madson for a spot in the starting rotation, but he understands that it's not his call.
"I'd like to be able to help the Major League team, and be part of a winning squad, and hopefully a World [Series] championship, but if [I get sent down], I'll try and dominate and get back up here," Floyd said. "It's out of my hands."
Breaking camp: Despite spending parts of three years in the big leagues, Geoff Geary has another goal in mind this season: Heading north with the Phillies.
Unless he struggles mightily or suffers an injury before camp ends, that's exactly what will happen.
"My personality won't let me be satisfied," he said. "I always feel like I'm fighting for a job. Until I leave here with [the Phillies], I'll fight."
Geary, 29, fought last season, but he began the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He was recalled April 24 and was slowed when he fouled a ball off his face. A stint on the disabled list and a shorter return to the Minors didn't stop him fron finishing the year strong.
When the season was over, Geary had compiled a 3.72 ERA in 58 innings and emerged as an effective Major League pitcher. With Manuel looking for a reliable seventh-inning guy to replace Madson, he'd loved for him to be Geary.
"He has the stuff to do the job," Manuel said. "I put him in some big games last year, and he came through it OK. And he's gotten better since the start of last year."
"We've got to watch Arthur [Rhodes, the Phillies' setup man]," he added. "Three days [in a row], maybe two at times, is the most we can send him out there. Geary can go two innings. He can do the job."
Despite being just 5-foot-9, Geary regularly throws in the low to mid 90s. He outpitched probable bullpen mates Julio Santana and lefties Rheal Cormier and Aaron Fultz.
If Geary keeps it up, the seventh inning may be his.
The other game: Chase Utley homered in a 5-2 win over the Pirates in Bradenton, and Victorino added two triples. Utley's homer came off Pittsburgh lefty Zach Duke.
Cory Lidle started the game for Philadelphia, allowing three hits and a walk in five scoreless innings, with five strikeouts.
"Today was real satisfying," Lidle said. "It's the first time I went out and tried to put everything together instead of trying to work on one thing, such as curveballs or offspeed behind in the count or fastball location. I treated today like a real game. I finally threw my [split-fingered fastball]. I had four strikeouts with it."
Injury updates: Left fielder Pat Burrell homered in his return to the lineup after missing two games with a left thigh strain. ... Bell returned to play in a Minor League game at the Carpenter complex. He went 1-for-5 with a double and had no putouts in the field. ... Chris Booker is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut against the Tigers in Lakeland. He had been slowed by the effects of offseason surgery on his left knee.
Philling in: The Phillies have hit at least one home run in each of their 20 Spring Training games. They rank second in the National League, behind Pittsburgh's 33.

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