Baseball Catcher Mike Lieberthal

BATTING
YR 1994 1995 1996 1997	TM Phi Phi Phi Phi	LG NL NL NL NL	POS C C C C	G 24 16 50 134	AB 79 47 166 455	R 6 1 21 59	H 21 12 42 112	2B 3 2 8 27	3B 1 0 0 1	HR 1 0 7 20	RBI 5 4 23 77	TB 29 14 71 201	BB 3 5 10 44	IBB 0 0 0
Totals				G 224	AB 747	R 87	H 187	2B 40	3B 2	HR 28	RBI 109	TB 315	BB 62	IBB 0

BATTING								BASERUNNING			PERCENTAGES
YR 1994 1995 1996 1997	TM Phi Phi Phi Phi	LG NL NL NL NL	K 5 5 30 76	HBP 1 0 2	SH 1 2 0	SF 0 0 4	GDP 4 1 4	SB 0 0 0 3	CS 0 0 0 4	SB% -.--- -.--- -.--- -.---	AVG .266 .255 .253 .246	OBP .301 .327 .297 .314	SLG .367 .298 .428 .442	AB/HR 79.0 --.- 23.7 22.7	AB/K 15.8 9.4 5.5 5.9
Totals 96			K 40	HBP 3	SH 3	SF 4	GDP 9	SB 0	CS 0	SB% -.---	BAVG .257	OBP .303	SLG .390	AB/HR 36.5	AB/K 7.3

TEAM ABBREVIATION KEY
YEARS 1994-1997	TM Phi	LG NL	TEAM NAME Philadelphia Phillies	LEAGUE NAME National League

Drafted: Selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the first round (third pick overall) of the 1990 free-agent draft.

Scouting Report

1997 Season
It would be hard to find a major league player who improved more during the 1997 season than Mike Lieberthal. Considered a weak hitter who lacked the clout to command the respect of a pitching staff when the season began, he evolved into a true team leader and a run producer. No less an authority than Curt Schilling raved about Lieberthal's development in the intangible areas that define a catcher's overall worth. Lieberthal allowed only .64 steals per nine innings, a figure bettered by only Brad Ausmus and Charles Johnson in the National League.

Hitting
Critics scoffed when the Phils drafted Lieberthal with the third overall pick in the 1990 draft. He was an undersized receiver who never would be able to hit major league pitching, they reasoned. Lieberthal didn't grow much, but he hit the weight room with a vengeance and can now lay waste to fastballs thrown low and inside. He remains a low-average hitter who often expands the strike zone to an unacceptable size.

Baserunning & Defense
Lieberthal has typical catcher's speed but is an exceedingly smart baserunner. This enables him to take the extra base more often than the bulk of his catching brethren. He's not Charles Johnson, but Lieberthal is among the most technically sound of the mere mortal catchers. His arm strength is only slightly above average, but his exceptionally quick release makes it tough for enemy runners to get a quick jump.

1998 Outlook
Lieberthal probably got a little bit ahead of himself offensively in 1997. His 20 homers could well go down as his career high. However, his offensive contribution is secondary in the Phils' eyes. He's viewed as a steady anchor who can stifle the opposition's running game. Rookie Bobby Estalella will afford him the needed rest that Mark Parent couldn't in 1997.