Over eye problems, Joseph opening eyes
WASHINGTON >> Tommy Joseph played in 21 games and hit seven home runs, few dripping over the fence, two Friday good for a total of 831 feet.
One reason: He is literally seeing the ball.
Joseph’s rise to the big leagues took four years from when he was a key piece of the trade that sent Hunter Pence to San Francisco. Much of that was blamed on concussions and his related transition from catcher to first base. But Joseph says he has benefitted from exercises that helped relieve astigmatism and by a contact lens in his right eye.
“I don’t think it was ever that bad,” Joseph said. “But it was something I had to work on all summer last year and throughout the offseason and throughout the winter. And even now, I still do some different eye things. Wearing the contact has also helped.
“It obviously helps when something that big goes away.”
He’s 24, a little old for a rookie, a lot old for a rookie showing that much talent. So the head problems and the eye troubles which he says were not necessarily connected, may have robbed him of two or three productive seasons.
“That’s not something that I am worried about,” he said. “I’m happy that it is over and is being taken care of now and we can continue what we’re doing.”
In his first start Saturday since officially being named by Pete Mackanin as the everyday first baseman, Joseph went 1-for-4 in an 8-0 loss to the Washington Nationals. He also scorched a ball in the third inning that first baseman Clint Robinson snared before doubling-up Maikel Franco.
“He’s got a real nice, quick swing,” Mackanin said. “He’s powerful and quick to the ball. There’s not a lot of unnecessary and wasted movement. He reminds me a little bit in that regard of Daniel Murphy. It’s a very simple approach, straight to the ball.”
*** For the first time this season, Aaron Nola did not last at least five innings in a start Saturday. In 11 of his previous 12 starts, he lasted at least six innings. He had a five-inning start in April, also against the Nationals. Nola was lifted with two outs in the fourth after allowing four runs, striking out three and throwing 82 pitches, 50 for strikes.
“I felt pretty wild,” he said. “My curve ball was hanging up high. They got some good swings on those, especially with two strikes. My two-seamers were running too much. I couldn’t control it much. I was getting behind guys and that was hurting me today.”
Nola fell to 5-5, settling in at 2.98.
“There was something about his rhythm that just didn’t look right,” Mackanin said. “He didn’t make that many bad pitches but he just didn’t look like he was in synch, for lack of a better way of putting it.”
*** NOTES >> Mackanin said he will use Ryan Howard his ERA as a DH against two righthanded pitchers when the Phillies visit Toronto for two games starting Monday against knuckle-ball specialist R.A. Dickey (4-6, 4.15 ERA). Blue Jays righty Marcus Stroman (5-2, 4.94) is scheduled to pitch Tuesday. ... Adam Morgan (1-5, 6.70) and right-hander Joe Ross (5-4, 2.92) will pitch Sunday at 4:05 in Nationals Park.