Jon Leiber is back, but do you take them.
Dear Jon: Lieber`s return brings caution
By Josh Hansen
Thu, Jul 6, 2006
Never heard of Cory Ehlers?
Neither had Jon Lieber until the Class-A product took Philadelphia’s veteran deep in Lieber’s third and final rehab start for the Phillies Sunday night.
"It was the same as the last game," said Lieber, who gave up hits to five of the first six batters he faced.
"Struggled with location in the first inning. I`m disappointed in that, but overall I felt good. Felt like I got better as the game went on. Even in the last inning I threw there, I still felt strong. It felt good to work that deep again."
The 6 1/3 innings pitched was Lieber’s longest outing since May 24 – one game before a left groin strain landed the 36-year-old on Philadelphia’s 15-day disable list.
Three weeks, and a 6.29 ERA in three minor league starts later, Lieber feels he’s ready to pitch Friday versus the Pittsburgh Pirates, a team whose struggles rival that of the Phillies.
Not only is Pittsburgh a league-worst 9-33 on the road, but Lieber is also 7-1 with a 2.78 ERA lifetime versus the Bucs.
No wonder he wants to come back. He owns Pittsburgh like the Bus. Yellow lights included.
“You better have a good reason to play him,” says Covers Expert Tom Stryker.
“Automatically, you don’t want to play guys coming off the DL. That first game, you’re unsure of their ability or how long they’ll go. If you do, you had better make sure the bullpen is at full strength because he may only give you five innings, at best.”
Before his injury, Lieber rarely relied on the reserves, unlike the rest of Philadelphia’s question mark starting rotation. In 11 starts, Lieber made it past the sixth inning nine times with a hiccup in Boston and his injury-shortened start in Washington on May 29 being the lone exceptions.
But at his age, with the severity of his injury, his rehab struggles, and Philadelphia’s fourth-ranked 3.71 bullpen ERA, it may be difficult for Lieber to pick up where he left off. No matter how good he feels.
"I didn`t really care about the runs (during his rehab starts). I was more concerned with how my leg was going to respond each inning,” said Lieber.
"I`ve had three starts and really no problems, so there`s really no need to wait any longer. I`m ready to pitch."
JT
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