Salisbury: From big-league urgency to minor-league talent, Phillies icon Larry Bowa likes what he sees

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Larry Bowa, his face smeared with sunblock, hit dozens of ground balls before the Phillies played the Baltimore Orioles in a Grapefruit League game Sunday afternoon. He then pitched a round of batting practice, perfect strikes, firm and right down the middle.
At 79 years young and in his 60th year of pro ball – 41 of ‘em with the Phillies – Bowa is still full of hiss and vinegar. He’s loaded with energy and baseball wisdom. And opinions? Yeah, he’s got a few of those, too. Always has.
Bowa was a little fired up on this day because he’d read somewhere that the Phillies were picked to finish third in the National League East.
“You (bleeping) kidding me?” he spat.
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