Stocker Ready To Prove Worth After Dismal 3rd Year, CV Grad Claims He’s Through Pouting

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Kevin Stocker has two new things on his face this spring, a goatee and a grin. He’s not sure about the whiskers, but he hopes the smile lasts a while.

“Last year was a disaster,” said Stocker, who struggled both at the plate and in the field last season. “It was no fun at all.”

In his third big-league season, Stocker, a Central Valley High School graduate, hit a dismal .218 in 125 games. He also committed 17 errors.

“I don’t believe I’m a .300 hitter and I don’t think that I’m a .218 hitter, either,” he said Friday. “I’m looking forward to proving myself this season. Last year, all I did was pout and feel sorry for myself. I’m going to have fun this season.”

Third-base coach Larry Bowa, a former All-Star shortstop and a mentor to Stocker, believes he let his offensive problems affect his skills with the glove.

Bowa called Stocker his “biggest disappointment” late last season.

“Kevin struggling with the bat didn’t bother me,” Bowa said. “What bothered me was the way he let it affect his fielding. He lost all of his concentration.”

Stocker, 26, was stung by Bowa’s criticism last fall, but he believes his coach was just trying to help.

“I think in a roundabout way he was trying to motivate me,” Stocker said. “Larry and I have had disagreements in the past. We’ve ironed this one out and we’re still good friends.”

Bowa says he was just trying to encourage Stocker.

“I wouldn’t have spoken up if I didn’t like and respect him. I still think he can play shortstop here another six or seven years,” Bowa said. “I saw what he did for a team that went to the World Series in ‘93. He’s too good to have the year he had last year.”

Bowa said Stocker may have let up mentally in 1995 after posting good numbers his first two seasons.

Stocker hit .324 in 70 games after coming up from Triple-A in ‘93.

In 1994, he hit .273 in 82 games before the strike.

Manager Jim Fregosi said Stocker never got mentally into last season.

“I don’t think he ever felt well,” Fregosi said. “Stock got off to a bad start and just looked confused the rest of the year. He put too much pressure on himself. It was a good learning process.”

Fregosi and Bowa say they’re confident Stocker will rebound. But just in case, the club has brought in a competent backup in Mike Benjamin to keep Stocker focused.