CLEARWATER, Fla. - Geoff Miller carried his open laptop into the Phillies clubhouse and found Nick Williams eating breakfast at a table in the middle of the room. Country music echoed from a nearby TV. Teammates spooned some oatmeal from styrofoam cups. It was a typical Tuesday morning in spring training.
But this meeting was different, so different for the Phillies. They have never employed someone quite like Miller, a constant presence this spring behind batting cages and inside the players' private space.
He is the Phillies' first-ever mental skills coach. Miller is not a licensed psychologist; he is not trained to provide therapy.