NL East Notebook - Phillies' Hayes Unhappy Hitting 6th

[bernieh]

[i:afccd03fc4]originally printed: The Sporting News, March 17, 1986[/i:afccd03fc4]

Von Hayes, whom the Philadelphia Phillies have moved from center field to first base, isn't happy about Manager John Feiske's plans for him to hit sixth in the batting order. "Batting sixth won't be easy. It will be the toughest part of my year," Hayes said. "I've never hit that low in the order, and I have to figure what to do. I'll have to recognize early in the count that I might walk. Maybe if I get 80 or so walks, I'll be helping the club by scoring runs and stealing bases. I guess stealing bases is a big reason they're giving me for batting sixth. But that doesn't make sense when you think that they're having our best stealer (Juan Samuel) bat third. Another reason is that they want my lefthanded bat behind the righthanded pop (Mike Schmidt and Glenn Wilson) so they'll get pitches to hit. But me sitting so deep in the lineup might mean that won't happen."

When informed that Hayes wasn't exactly ecstatic about batting sixth, Feiske said sarcastically, "Darn, I was hoping that all 24 players would be happy. Right now, sixth is where Von is going to hit. And I don't blame him for wanting to hit farther up in the order. But the thinking behind Sammy hitting third is that he gets a lot of extra-base hits, and that could translate into a lot of RBIs for him. Plus, I'd like to see a lefthanded hitter behind Schmidt and Wilson. Schmidt could bat third some, Von could end up fifth and Wilson sixth. There are a lot of possibilities down the road."

Trying to come back from a badly injured right knee that has sidelined him since June of 1984, outfielder Joe Lefebvre was easing into the spring training routine slowly. "There's no question I'm a little apprehensive about the knee," he said. "Subconsciously, I find myself favoring it when I'm out there, and that's something I just have to keep trying to overcome. Some people say I'm crazy to be out here trying to come back, and some people say I'll make it back. But it comes down now to satisfying myself I can do it. I feel I've done everything possible to give myself a chance to make it back. There's a lot of time left down here, and we'll have to see what happens." Said Feiske, "I'm not going to push Joe. He's worked too hard to get back to this point for us to push him. All I know is I'm rooting as hard for him as I can."

The Phils indicated they would try to renegotiate their agreement with the Mexico City Tigers in order to retain the services of impressive pitcher Jesus Rios. As part of their original agreement with the Mexico City Tigers, the Phillies agreed to loan outfielder Randy Salava to that club. . . Utility infielder Luis Aguayo agreed to begin extra work as a catcher under the tutelage of coach Mike Ryan, with an eye toward having Aguayo serve as the emergency catcher.

Steve Jelz arrived in camp and, without telling anyone, began switch-hitting. "That's fine with me. After the year he had, he had to try something to improve himself," Feiske said. . . Jeff Stone's future with the club seemed to hinge on Lefebvre's status. "If Joe is healthy enough to help the club, then it would be difficult for Stone to make the club," Feiske said.

[jimbo7777777]

Interesting in retrospect. Hayes hit .305 with a .380 obp, and would have been a perfect #3 hitter. Samuel did what he always did - got his 60+ xbh, swung at anything close to the plate, .297 obp, would have been a perfect #6 hitter. :)

Joe LeFebvre's comeback failed, unfortunately. He was always a favorite of mine back then. Nice lefty stroke, and a great arm from RF.

Great stuff, I'm loving these old TSN articles!