A new-look Larry

Phillies' Bowa takes low-key approach -- at least for now

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- It's too early to tell, really, about this new mellower, softer Larry Bowa. I mean, no one's missed a single sign yet. No one's thrown a particularly boneheaded pitch. No one, thank goodness, has nonchalanted a ground ball.

So the Bowa we see now -- lounging behind home plate during an intrasquad scrimmage, leaning coolly against a fence and joking during warm-ups with one of his star players, outfielder Bobby Abreu -- may not be the same Bowa you'll see in April or May.

"Everybody thinks I'm such a hard-ass," Bowa said, standing in the clubhouse at the Phillies' Carpenter Field training complex in Clearwater. "Lemme tell you, if you're a veteran, I'm going to give you your space. In that regard, I've definitely matured a lot."

We'll believe it because, for now, Bowa's Philadelphia Phillies are looking happy, strong and exactly like a team that could win the National League East -- and then some. In fact, the Phillies look like the biggest challenge to the Atlanta Braves' dominance since ... well, since the Braves started dominating more than a decade ago.

A veteran-laden roster has done wonders for Larry Bowa's blood pressure. AP

The Phils have everything it takes, or so it seems. Their pitching, with new ace Kevin Millwood (practically stolen from the Braves in the offseason), should be better than it has been in years. With new first baseman Jim Thome, the Phillies boast maybe the most potent middle-of-the-lineup in baseball. They signed free agent David Bell to take over for the marvelously unhappy Scott Rolen at third after Rolen was traded to the Cardinals last season.

In all, the Phils have made more than $250 million of improvements this season, which ought to make anyone relax. Even the always-on-the-edge Bowa.

The players concede that their skipper has eased up this spring. His bosses have said the same.

It's amazing what a quarter of a billion dollars and some good players can do for a manager's mental well being, isn't it?

"I don't have to get up there and say, 'Let's go!' to guys like that," Bowa says, talking about guys like Thome, Bell, Abreu, Millwood, left fielder Pat Burrell and other veterans. "Now guys like [rookie outfielder] Marlon Byrd, I don't know. I hear he has an excellent work ethic. But the younger guys, they may hear from me."

Bowa has had some ugly run-ins during his two years as the Phils' manager. His public criticism of Rolen led to the third baseman's very public departure from Philly. Many of his players, though rarely on the record, have ripped the manager for his sheer relentlessness.

Bowa never will be known as a players' manager, someone who coddles and protects. He is wound too tight for that. He demands way too much.

But there are definite signs this spring that he has at least begun to let up, that he will be a little easier to live with this summer. Laughing with Abreu. Getting a pat on the back from Burrell as the big slugger leaves the locker room.

Clearwater is Camp Feelgood this spring. Bowa is the head counselor.

"I'll be honest with you. When I first started managing [with the Padres in 1987], I looked at the guys and thought if they worked as hard as I did, we'd be all right," Bowa said. "Well, it doesn't work that way."

Instead, Bowa has learned to let the veterans, the good ones, do what they have done, even if it runs against what Bowa did when he was a player. Pitcher Terry Adams, for instance, is not a runner. But he uses other ways to strengthen his legs and has crafted himself at least an OK career doing it his way.

And the new guys, like Thome and Bell, knew Bowa's reputation when they signed with the Phillies. There are no surprises there.

"He's been great," Thome said. "This guy is trying to make me a good player. And I respect that."

The question, of course, is how long will it last? If the Phillies hit a rough patch, will Bowa revert to form and go ballistic? And how will this increasingly veteran team react if he does?

Right now, here in Clearwater, no one's thinking that way. Bowa's smiling. Most everyone is healthy. The Phillies look good. Really good.

For now, everyone's happy.

John Donovan is a senior writer for SI.com.

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