The Phillies Are Hoping That Jeff Stone Is Now Ready to Take Over in Left Field

Jeff Stone has been a star on the Phillies’ horizon for the last two years but the team, unwilling to rush the young man into the big leagues, waited for him to rise slowly.

Stone, who appeared with the Phillies briefly in September 1983 and then hit .362 with 27 stolen bases in 51 games last season, will be the team’s leadoff hitter and starting left fielder this year, said new manager John Felske.

Stone, who hits left-handed, played little against southpaws last season under the platoon system used by former manager Paul Owens but Felske said that situation would change.

“He will have to show us that he can’t hit left-handed pitching,” Felske said.

Stone said they may have to wait a long time.

“In the minor leagues, I had pretty good success against them (left-handers),” the soft-spoken Stone said. “Last year, I didn’t see them much . . . Sometimes when I was in a slump, I was happy to see a left-hander . . . It makes you stay in and want to hit. With a left-hander, you just wait to see the ball.”

The lineup of Stone, second baseman Juan Samuel, who had 72 stolen bases, and outfielder Von Hayes, who swiped 48 bases, is expected to strike terror in the hearts of every National League catcher.

“They expect me to get on base, steal and score runs,” Stone said. “I think I can do the job.”

Stone said he doesn’t care if he bats first or second, where he hit most of the time last season.

“Batting first or second is the same,” he said. “You’ve got to take pitches to get on base. It’s all the same to me.”

Stone was off to a good start with the Phillies last year until he pulled a hamstring, which virtually hobbled him the rest of the season. He has devoted his off-season to making sure that doesn’t happen again.

“I’m working hard not to pull my leg again,” said Stone, who has been doing exercises to strengthen the hamstring. “I can pull it if I don’t stretch. I plan to take 30 minutes before each game to stretch.”

Stone received some criticism for his outfield play, which was decent but not close to Gold Glove form, and his arm, believed to be weak, but he said fans will see improvement this season.

“I just started to play left field last year,” he said. “I played center field in the minor leagues. I had to get used to everything in left field at Veterans Stadium. I’ll be better. I didn’t feel too comfortable out there last year because I did not know what to expect.”

Stone said his throwing was hurt because minor league coaches constantly changed his mechanics, but said he and Phillies pitching coach Claude Osteen have found the best way for him to throw.

Despite all the predictions for his success, Stone said he is approaching the coming season the same way he has faced all others.

“I know I have to do the job,” he said. “I know that if I do the job this year that I did last year, I’ll be up here.”