BUT CAN PARKER HIT?; WESTLAKE CATCHER GETS CHANCE WITH DETROIT.Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer The question has followed Westlake High School Westlake High School may refer to:
CHRIS California Historical Resources Information System CHRIS Computerized Human Resources Information System CHRIS Command Human Resources Intelligence System ? Parker finally gets a chance to answer that question. He was picked by the Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Tigers have played in Comerica Park. in the ninth round of the annual major-league ma·jor-league adj. 1. Sports Of or relating to a major league: major-league baseball. 2. draft and reported to the team's training facility in Lakeland, Fla., on Sunday Sunday: see Sabbath; week. . Some people believe they already know what the answer will be. ``He's going to hit just fine,'' said Dennis Lieberthal, the Detroit Tigers scout who recommended drafting Parker two weeks ago. Lieberthal knows a little bit about catching and hitting. His son Mike, a former star at Westlake, is a catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies “Phillies” redirects here. For other uses, see Phillies (disambiguation). The Philadelphia Phillies are a professional baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. . ``I think he'll do well with the bat,'' said Westlake coach Chuck Berrington. If Berrington and Lieberthal are correct, Parker, a solid 6-foot-2, 190-pounder, should be in the big leagues by 2001. His defense is considered close to major-league level right now. ``We certainly do believe he can play (in the big leagues)'' said Lieberthal. ``That's why we drafted him in the ninth round.'' Parker might have improved his draft standing if he had shown more with the bat. This year, he hit .329. Berrington felt Parker sometimes sabotaged his own efforts by putting too much pressure on himself. Lieberthal said it was a case of thinking too much. Parker concedes both points. ``It was all in my head,'' he admitted. Playing on Lieberthal's scout teams In sports, the scout team, also referred to as a practice team or practice squad, is a group of players on a team whose task is to emulate future opponents for the featured (or starting) players. earlier this year, Parker hit well. And that was with a wooden bat while facing Single-A and Double-A pitchers. Lieberthal said Parker has been an impressive hitter since reporting to Lakeland. ``He put pressure on himself to carry us when he didn't need to,'' Berrington said. ``He was a high school kid trying to win games and impress scouts. That's a lot of pressure. Now that he's playing pro ball I think he'll relax and show what he can do.'' Those pressures never affected Parker's ability behind the plate. His strong arm and tremendous instincts gave him an uncanny command of the game. ``He thinks baseball from the time he wakes up until the time he goes to sleep,'' said Berrington, who considers Parker's defense on par with Lieberthal's at a similar age. Parker turned down a scholarship to play at Oklahoma next year, because he felt his chances of reaching the big leagues were enhanced by playing minor-league baseball directly out of high school. In college, most coaches determine the pitch selection from the bench. In the minors, Parker will chose the pitches. Plus, he'll use a wooden bat in the minors as opposed to the aluminum bat Aluminum bat may refer to:
``I think for a catcher and a pitcher there are more advantages to going straight to pro ball out of high school,'' Parker said. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: ``We certainly do believe he can play (in the big leagues). That's why we drafted him in the ninth round.'' Dennis Lieberthal, Detroit Tigers scout on Chris Parker |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion