TAMPA, Fla. -- Let's take a momentary break from dissecting the Phillies' dismal bullpen and talk about RHP Zack Segovia, who was off the prospect map three years ago and now may have an outside shot at winning a spot on the team.Segovia, who will be 24 on April 11, missed all of the 2004 season after undergoing an elbow ligament transplant, commonly called Tommy John surgery. In 2005, he went 4-14 with a 5.54 ERA at single-A Clearwater while coping with an inability to regain the mid-90s fastball that led the Phillies to draft him in the second round in 2002. But he went 16-6 with a 2.82 ERA between Clearwater and double-A Reading last season, and tonight, he allowed one run in five innings to a Yankees team that had everyone in the lineup except Alex Rodriguez.
"I was out of sight, out of mind," Segovia said. "I remember thinking, it took me 16, 17 years to throw the ball 90-95. I'd be really naive to think, in 17 months [after surgery], I'll be back to 90."
These days, Segovia isn't even sure how hard he's throwing. He doesn't look at the radar gun anymore, and he's forced himself to believe he can get hitters out without throwing at blazing speeds.
Segovia projects as a starter at triple-A Ottawa. But as long as he keeps getting hitters out, he could be an asset to the Phillies' bullpen.
A few other notes that won't make your morning paper: The Phillies mustered only three hits against five Yankees pitchers, including Japanese import Kei Igawa. ... RF Shane Victorino picked up two more hits and is batting .429. ... Abraham Nunez, playing shortstop, committed two errors.
See you tomorrow from Dunedin.
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