APRIL 6, 1969:
NL PREVIEW: PHILLIES by Allen Lewis (Philadelphia Inquirer)
PHILADELPHIA - The Phillies are in the midst of a rebuilding campaign and how well the do in 1969 depends in great measure on how much is contributed by their new faces.
The newcomers included five rookies and a veteran who could be one of the season's major surprises. His name is Deron Johnson, a 29-year-old third baseman-first baseman who has seen service with four other big-league clubs.
Johnson was purchased from the Atlanta Braves in December after hitting a mere .208, with eight homers and 33 runs batted in. This was far from his peak season of 1965, when he led the National League in RBI with 130 as a member of the Cincinnati Reds.
A physical examination taken after his acquisition by the Phillies revealed a broken bone in the top of his right hand, a break that happened in spring training last year and had not been discovered. A January operation removed the broken bone and Johnson has been swinging like the slugger he used to be.
If he continues to hit in the regular season the way he did in spring training, the Phillies will have the man to bat behind Richie Allen and give them a formidable one-two punch.
Johnson played third base most of the training season and Manager Bob
Skinner moved Allen from left field to first base in a late spring move designed to give the Phillies power at the corners, although the defense may be less than sparkling.
The Allen shift leaves the left-field job to be battled for by John Briggs and possibly rookie Ron Stone, both of whom can also play first.
In addition to Johnson, the other new faces who will be in the regular lineup this season are shortstop Don Money and center fielder Larry Hisle. Both Money and Hisle opened the season with the Phillies a year ago and both went back to the minors before the end of April for more experience.
They got it and now they are deemed ready to play every day. Each has great potential and figures as a candidate for rookie-of-the-year honors.
"I'll be happy if they hit .240 this year," said Skinner. "Their potential is so great that they'll keep on getting better, and I know we'll be a better ball club for having them in the lineup."
In addition to Hisle, who may have recurring problems with his health, the other outfield fixture is right fielder John Callison, still struggling to regain the form that once made him a star. In reserve are Don Lock and Stone, hottest hitter on the club in spring training.
Cookie Rojas will play second base, with Tony Taylor and Bobby Wine, recovered from a back operation, the prime infield subs.
The Phillies are thin in catching, with Mike Ryan expected to perform iron-man duty. A fine receiver and thrower, Ryan hit only .179 last year, but has shown signs of improvement this spring.
Chris Short, a 19-game winner last year and a 20-game winner in 1966, heads the pitching staff, which is young and inexperienced for the most part. Behind Short in the starting rotation are lefthander Woodie Fryman and young righthanders Rick Wise and Jerry Johnson. Rookie Billy Wilson could turn out to be the ace of the bullpen, which also includes Gary Wagner and Dick Farrell, as well as rookie Barry Lersch.
The Phillies don't figure to be a pennant contender unless the new faces have exceptional years.
RICHIE ALLEN