View Full Version : Ricky Ledee hits 3 HRs, 9 RBIs vs Blue Jays
Jersey Yankee
03-13-03, 09:23 PM
http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/gamecenter/recap/MLB_20030313_PHI@TOR
Phillies 13, Blue Jays 12
March 13, 2003
SportsLine.com wire reports
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Ricky Ledee hit three homers, including a grand slam, and had nine RBIs Thursday to lead the Philadelphia Phillies over the Toronto Blue Jays 13-12.
Ledee went 4-for-6 and scored four runs. With a chance to hit his fourth home run in the ninth inning, the former New York Yankees' prospect hit a two-run single.
Ledee said "it crossed my mind" to swing for the fences.
"The first three times I wasn't even thinking about homers," he said. "I just wanted to hit the ball good."
The outfielder said he never had a day like this in his professional career.
"Not even in a week," he said.
Bobby Abreu added a solo homer for the Phillies. Orlando Houston hit a two-run homer for Toronto, and Chris Woodward and Eric Hinske had solo shots.
Carlos Delgado went 0-for-4, getting only one ball out of the infield. His average dropped to .174.
Winner Dan Plesac pitched a scoreless eighth. Amaury Telemaco walked two in the ninth and got a save.
Loser Evan Thomas allowed four runs and four hits in the ninth.
Toronto starter Tanyon Sturtze gave up three runs and six hits in 3 1-3 innings. Philadelphia's Randy Wolf allowed three runs and five hits in four innings.
"As a whole, I thought I was pretty good," Wolf said. "I have my legs in shape, and now my arm is in shape.
Notes: Toronto RHP Justin Miller (shoulder) is to make his first start of the spring on Friday for Triple-A Syracuse. He is scheduled to pitch two innings or 30 pitches. Kelvim Escobar is to throw one inning in that game. ... Frank Catalanotto (lower back) could possibly play on Saturday.
djhitman01
03-13-03, 09:25 PM
Could this be Ledee's break through year?
Good for Ricky, Hope he has a good year.
Michaels07
03-13-03, 10:47 PM
Originally posted by djhitman01
Could this be Ledee's break through year?
One game and he`s an MVP candidate.
Winger03
03-14-03, 07:50 AM
As stated so eloquently before (but not by me) "good kid, lame bat" this game nonwithstanding.
A_Nussblood
03-14-03, 08:48 AM
Originally posted by djhitman01
Could this be Ledee's break through year?
No.
Mr. Mxylsplk
03-14-03, 10:03 AM
Originally posted by djhitman01
Could this be Ledee's break through year?
Is that a joke?
djhitman01
03-14-03, 01:43 PM
Originally posted by Mr. Mxylsplk
Is that a joke?
Yeah pretty much.
A_Nussblood
03-14-03, 01:46 PM
Originally posted by Winger03
As stated so eloquently before (but not by me) "good kid, lame bat" this game nonwithstanding.
More like "lame kid, no bat".
Mr. Mxylsplk
03-14-03, 01:48 PM
Originally posted by djhitman01
Yeah pretty much.
Sorry, the way some people here feel about Ledee I had to check, you know.
When he does this in a game that counts, let me know.:)
A_Nussblood
03-17-03, 07:03 AM
Originally posted by Bub
When he does this in a game that counts, let me know.:) :D
Yankees Empire
03-17-03, 10:31 AM
Of course he had a big game. It was an exhibition!
Jersey Yankee
03-17-03, 05:04 PM
Originally posted by Yankees Empire
Of course he had a big game. It was an exhibition! What? You're doubting that _THE_ Ricky Ledee couldn't do this in the WS?!!!
Sacre bleu!!! :gulp::O :lol: :P
djhitman01
03-17-03, 06:55 PM
Originally posted by Jersey Yankee
What? You're doubting that _THE_ Ricky Ledee couldn't do this in the WS?!!!
Sacre bleu!!! :gulp::O :lol: :P
Actaully Ledee performed very well for us in the 98-99 ws's, man that guy coudn't stay consistent though.
Jersey Yankee
03-17-03, 09:07 PM
Originally posted by djhitman01
Actaully Ledee performed very well for us in the 98-99 ws's, man that guy coudn't stay consistent though. Ummmmmmmmmm, ahhhhhhhhh, you must mean the '98 WS, right? http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/ledeeri01.shtml
Year Opp G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG SB
1998 WS SDP 4 10 1 6 3 0 0 4 2 1 .600 .667 .900 0 :eek:
1999 WS ATL 3 10 0 2 1 0 0 1 1 4 .200 .273 .300 0 :barf:
FutureYankee
03-17-03, 09:46 PM
Projected Statistics for rickey ledee in 2003 - BA - .406, HR - 77 RBI - 197
haha id kil myself:p
Jersey Yankee
03-17-03, 09:51 PM
Originally posted by FutureYankee
Projected Statistics for rickey ledee in 2003 - BA - .406, HR - 77 RBI - 197
haha id kil myself:p Yeah, don't fergit the 178 BBs and 30 Ks. You're slackin' off, dude!!! :O ;)
backstop20
03-18-03, 04:59 PM
phillies.com 3/18/03 (http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/phi/news/phi_news.jsp?ymd=20030318&content_id=223604&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp)
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com
03/18/2003 1:43 pm ET
Who's in center in Philly?
Byrd and Ledee battle for the job
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The professional career of Marlon Byrd has seemingly been leading up to this season. The chiseled 25-year-old entered camp as the starting center fielder and eighth-place hitter, following successful stays at each minor-league level.
Then Ricky Ledee happened.
The one-time hot Yankees prospect has clouded the picture with the smoke that's been coming off his bat this spring, hitting .546 (17-for-31) with a 1.194 slugging percentage. He is tied for the team lead with six doubles (with David Bell) and four home runs (with Bobby Abreu). Most of this offense came during a 12-for-18 stretch -- including a three-homer game against Toronto on Thursday -- though it can be argued that Ledee's been hot all spring.
Byrd has not. The former 10th round pick in the 1999 First-Year Player Draft entered camp at least 30 pounds lighter, thanks to an offseason diet and workout program. Also swirling in his head were lessons taught to him by future Hall-of-Famer Tony Gwynn.
Manager Larry Bowa said he wanted to get Byrd as many at-bats as possible this spring. While the rookie leads the team with 52, he's hitting .212, spurred by a recent hot streak in which he stroked his first three extra-base hits of the spring.
"If you're worried about your eighth hitter carrying your offense, there's trouble," said Bowa.
Defensively, Byrd is undergoing another adjustment. Phillies coaches are playing him more shallow so he can take advantage of his speed. The experiment has worked at times, though at some intervals Byrd has overrun balls or made easier outs seem more difficult. He turned the third out of the inning into a triple against the Twins on Sunday, then threw to the wrong base in Monday's game against the Yankees.
"He's experimenting," said Bowa. "As long as we continue to have Spring Training games, he's going to keep experimenting. He's got great speed. I've seen him make some good catches. He's got the potential to be a very good baseball player, in all facets of the game. This kid's going to be our center fielder, unless something drastic happens."
Drastic might as well be spelled L-E-D-E-E. The 29-year-old has been one of the toughest outs in the Grapefruit League. He hit .227 last season in 203 at-bats and started out with an .097 April. That month stained his whole season and had the outfielder worrying that he might get cut. Then when Doug Glanville and Jimmy Rollins struggled, Ledee hit leadoff and had a .382 on-base percentage from that spot, scoring 26 runs in 118 at-bats.
Bowa may be wary of Ledee's lack of production over his first four seasons in the Majors. Ledee's best season was 1999, when he hit .276 in 250 at-bats with nine homers and 40 RBIs for the New York Yankees. In 2000, his lone full season, Ledee hit .236 with 13 homers and 77 RBIs over 467 at-bats with the Yankees, Indians and Rangers.
"Ricky is going to get a lot of playing time," said Bowa. "I can tell you that."
While Ledee was struggling in the American League, Byrd was rifling his way through the minors, hitting .297 with 15 home runs and 63 RBIs for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season, before getting 35 at-bats with the Phillies in September. Handed the job -- and with a stellar cast in front of him -- Byrd has been afforded the luxury of developing at his own pace, a pace which Ledee may be accelerating.
"When I see Marlon, I see myself when I was younger with the Yankees," said Ledee. "I told him a few days ago to keep his head up and that everything was going to be all right. I know what he's going through. When I first came up, I wasn't mentally ready."
His manager in those days confirms that.
"He was highly thought of over here," said Joe Torre. "It's tougher now than years ago. Now they come up with a lot of expectations and I think it puts a lot of pressure on them. He was the guy you never knew was around. I'm happy for him.
"There's not a lot of wiggle room in New York."
In Philadelphia, Ledee may be wiggling his way to the center fielder's job. The team wants it to go to Byrd in the worst way, and Byrd is showing signs of adjusting, both mentally and physically.
Byrd's quietness and relentless work ethic, similar to Ledee's, haven't gone unnoticed by Bowa and the coaches. And that's all Byrd can do.
"I'm going to try and do my part to be a piece of the puzzle," said Byrd. "I put a lot of pressure on myself, to be the best that I can be. When I'm not getting hits, I'm struggling with myself. There's a lot going through my head. I want to go out there every day and get four hits."
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/images/2003/03/18/6k6P9rcT.jpg
Ken Mandel (philliesfans2002@yahoo.com) is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
© 2003 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
A_Nussblood
03-19-03, 07:19 AM
Oh god, i almost forgot about Ledee's (lack of) defense - this guy is just a mess - make him the bullpen catcher, ala Dale Sveum.
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