Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 21, 1990 TAG: 9006210026
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: MARTINSVILLE LENGTH: Medium
First, he lived in Southern California, where the sun shines and a warm breeze blows all year round. Of course, he had little choice in the matter because his parents lived there also.
Then, he took plenty of trips to the batting cage. Of course, he didn't have far to go on account of having one in his back yard.
Then, he talked to a lot of scouts, picking up some of the tricks of the trade. Of course, it wasn't hard to strike up a conversation with a scout since young Mike had dinner with one just about every night: Dennis Lieberthal, a scout for the San Francisco Giants but better known to Mike as his father.
Then, Mike Lieberthal played a lot of baseball. In the past year, that amounted to roughly 230 games.
"I always loved to play," he said. "I won't get burned out."
Payday came this month when the Philadelphia Phillies drafted him in the first round as a catcher out of Westlake (Cal.) High. He signed for a bonus reported in the $250,000 range and was sent to Florida, then to Martinsville.
Lieberthal will be behind the plate when the Phillies open the Appalachian League season at the Burlington Indians tonight.
One thing's for sure about this 18-year-old: He was hurting for neither good physical tools nor good advice.
"I played second base when I was a freshman and shortstop the next two years," he said. "Then my father and another scout, George Genovese, told me that they thought it would be a good idea if I switched to catcher because I wasn't that quick as a shortstop.
"They also told me that probably would be the quickest way to get to the big leagues.
"Everything came pretty naturally for me. I caught when I was about 9 or 10. Then, when I was playing in a league with college and minor-league players, I had some help from one of the minor-league catchers. Also, Rick Dempsey [of the Los Angeles Dodgers] helped me out. He lives near us and before he caught on with the Dodgers, he was up at our house working in the cage just about every day.' '
So within a year, Baseball America had Lieberthal rated as the No. 13 prospect in the draft. The Phillies believed catcher was one of their weaker positions in the minors. They thought they had their man.
"The scouts say that he's going to be a real good receiver," Martinsville manager Rolando DeArmas said.
If the scouts' evaluation of the 6-foot, 170-pounder is accurate, this Phillie's fame is just beginning.
\ NOTES: Martinsville has three catchers, 12 pitchers, 10 infielders and seven outfielders on the opening-day roster. . . . Left-hander J.J. Munoz of Dallas, Texas, will be the starting pitcher against the Indians tonight, and he will be backed by Lamar Foster at first, Jorge Pacual at second, Francisco Rosario at shortstop, Rick Meyer at third, Williams Carmona in left field, Michael Murphy in center, Mike Farmer in right and Antonio Grissom (the brother of the Montreal Expos' Marquis Grissom) at designated hitter. Lieberthal will catch.
by CNB