TYLER HOUSTON CALLS OUT LARRY BOWA AGAIN
You may remember last season year during the final months of the season when Phillies reserve infielder Tyler Houston and manager Larry Bowa had words in the media which eventually led to Houston's release. With the Phillies off to a bad start in 2004, well, they are back at it again.

After being released by the Yankees in spring training and now out of baseball, Houston is writing a column for his hometown paper the Las Vegas Review Journal. Sunday he wrote a column in which he said that the Phillies have enough talent to win this season but will "choke" because:

"one thing the Phillies lack is a man for a manager. Larry Bowa does not know how to treat his players with respect. These are grown men playing this game, and it's about time he realizes that. He has a little man's complex that constantly has players hating him and talking behind his back."

"Until they get rid of this sideshow, the Phillies will not reach their full potential. That's a shame for the people in Philadelphia and their new stadium."

Larry Bowa, who called Tyler Houston a "loser" last season at least attempted to take the high road, offering up only these comments...

"The only thing I'll say is, you see he's not playing baseball. Everybody can't be wrong."

Bowa does make an interesting claim. Here are Houston's career numbers...
.265/.312/.423 with 63 HR, only 116 walks and 408 strikeouts.

Houston has the ability to play a few positions, but none of them particularity well. He probably would be best suited to play firstbase. Unfortunately for Houston, the minor leagues are filled with players that strikeout about four times as much as they walk, have marginal power, a low OBP, and are a liability in the field. Throw in the fact that Houston is now viewed by many as a clubhouse cancer, and it wouldn't be too surprising if his days in the big leagues are over.