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BaseballLibrary.com
Copyright © 2002
by The Idea Logical
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All rights reserved.

Phil Norton
Born: 1976

LHP 2000- Cubs

Phil Norton's Teammates

IPW-LERA
Career 8.20-19.35

Stats through the 2001 season

Books and articles about Phil Norton

No profile available.
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» N.I.E.   Beck fighting for spot in Cubs' bullpen By Bruce Miles Daily Herald Sports Writer Posted March 12, 2003 MESA, Ariz. - Rod Beck is pretty firm on the question of whether he'll be ready for the major leagues by Opening Day."Yeah," Beck said Tuesday. "I'm pretty much ready now."Problem is, the 34-year-old Beck finds himself in the middle of a mean numbers game in the Cubs' bullpen. Five of the six spots appear to be taken, with Antonio Alfonseca, Mark Guthrie, Dave Veres, Mike Remlinger and Kyle Farnsworth owning jobs. Playing musical chairs for the final spot are Juan Cruz, Joe Borowski, Alan Benes and Beck.Borowski was the Cubs' best reliever last year, and the Cubs are still high on Cruz's ability and future. Beck is in camp on a minor-league deal after missing all of 2002 because of reconstructive elbow surgery.It's possible he could open the season at Class AAA Iowa."It all depends on the circumstances," he said. "The circumstances I would foresee would be lack of room. Lack of room is not a reason because that means they don't know when I'm coming up. That's not good enough. Lack of readiness? I might say OK, I'm two weeks away; promise to call me up in two weeks."At this point, I don't see myself not being ready, though. We'll just let that whole thing play out. I'm not trying to take a youngster's job. But I know I can compete at this level. I can pitch at this level for 5-7 more years."Beck saved 51 games for the Cubs in 1998. Never a hard thrower, he always has relied on guile and experience. If he can't make it with the Cubs, he wouldn't rule out pitching for another major-league club."Ultimately, getting guys out," Beck said. "And I still believe velocity will come. We're going to get some back. I don't have any idea, to tell you the truth, what it is. But I can feel it coming out of my hand, and it's not 90 (mph). But I also know that early in October I was at 88-89. So I know that it will get there."To go back and rely on actual pitching, I do know how to do that. I know what I can do, and my resume should speak for itself. If that ain't good enough, and a good spring to go with it, then that's OK, too. I'll go home."Beck does have one backer in manager Dusty Baker."Rod Beck is Rod Beck," said Baker, who managed Beck in San Francisco. "If he's healthy, Rod's in the mix big time. If we could keep 30 guys, it would be perfect."Trade coming? If the numbers crunch in the bullpen isn't resolved by the end of spring training, look for general manager Jim Hendry to seek a trade. Alan Benes may draw interest, as may Joe Borowski. The Cubs fielded offers for Juan Cruz during the winter meetings.One name that pops up now and then is Montreal third baseman-catcher Michael Barrett. Talk isn't hot on that one right now, and if Cubs third baseman Mark Bellhorn continues to swing the bat well, talk for Barrett may never progress.Roster cuts: The Cubs on Tuesday made a number of roster cuts. They optioned right-handed pitcher Todd Wellemeyer, infielder Nate Frese and outfielders Jackson Melian and Nic Jackson to Class AAA Iowa. Getting optioned to Class AA West Tenn were right-handed pitchers Jon Leicester and John Webb. Three nonroster players were returned to minor-league camp: catchers Eliezer Alfonzo and Casey Kotpitzke and left-handed pitcher Phil Norton. The roster stands at 47.Peak power: Manager Dusty Baker isn't getting too excited over good performances at this point in the spring."Quite honestly, we don't want everybody peaking at March 10," Baker said. "We want them peaking about March 25. You peak right now and it's hard to hold that peak forever because it's hard to maintain that intensity you're going to need."One thing I know how to do, I know how to get guys ready. I know when to give them some more work when I think they need it and back off when I think they're getting close to peaking too early." Cubs Notes • Beck fighting for spot in Cubs' bullpen from dailyherald.com

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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
» August 8, 2000: The Dodgers defeat the Cubs, 7-5, hitting four home runs (Kevin Elster, Darren Dreifort, Gary Sheffield, and Shawn Green) in the 4th inning off Chicago P Phil Norton, making his ML debut. Pitcher Darren Dreifort hits two homers in the contest for LA, becoming the first pitcher to do so since 1990. Norton also sets a record becoming the first Cub pitcher in the team's 124-year history to surrender four homers in an inning.