Liefer thrilled to be back in majors
TUCSON, Ariz. -- In the White Sox' Cactus League game against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, Jeff Liefer blistered a pitch over the right-field fence.
The first-base umpire circled his finger in the air, confirming the home run, and Liefer rounded the bases and returned to the dugout.
He soon came back out to hit, after the home-plate ump ruled the ball was foul.
"I don't ever remember that happening before,'' Liefer said. "Maybe they'll change the call when you're still out there, but not when you're back in the dugout.''
It was an odd scene, even for spring training, but Liefer gladly let it go. The way the 33-year-old first baseman sees it, at least he got a pitch to hit.
Liefer is back in major-league baseball -- and back with the Sox -- after spending the past two seasons playing for the Seibu Lions in the Japanese Pacific League.
The money was good, and so was the cultural experience for Liefer, his wife Melissa and 4-year-old son Cade.
As for the style of baseball, well, let's just say Liefer's thrilled to be back in his native land.
"It was interesting, but I'm glad I'm back here, definitely,'' Liefer said. "Overall, it was a great experience. It was one of those things that when you were there, it was tough and it was long and I was ready to go home. But looking back, it's obviously something me and my family are going to remember the rest of our lives.
"It's also one of those things that makes you appreciate what you have here in America.''
When it comes to baseball, Liefer is already appreciating the pitching. In Japan, the left-handed slugger rarely got the opportunity to pull the trigger.
"It was kind of tough,'' Liefer said. "Everything's different, not only the every-day culture but the baseball culture, the way they approach the game. The way they prepare, the way they play, it's completely opposite from the way we do it here.''
Liefer, who batted .261 with 8 home runs and 28 RBI in 47 games with Seibu last season, said he was an obvious target.
"They really don't want to get beat by the foreign hitters,'' Liefer said. "It's almost like they pitch to you like you're Barry Bonds. You get a 3-0 count and they'll throw you a forkball. They don't want you to hit a home run off them.
"It's tough to hit there. You don't get pitches to hit and it's frustrating, because you want to get up there and know a pitch is coming and tee off on it. But they'll never give in. They pick at the corners and throw a lot of stuff in the dirt trying to get you to chase it.''
Liefer said Japanese pitchers don't resent players who have major-league service time. They just don't like giving up home runs.
"I just think the type of hitters we are over there, the foreigners, we generally are the ones that hit the ball over the fence,'' Liefer said. "Generally speaking, their guys don't. Obviously, with one swing, there's a run. To them, a run is like gold. They play the infield in from the first inning, you're bunting from the first inning. One run is what they're shooting for and they play small ball to get it. Then one of us gets up and with one swing, it could be 3 runs.''
The White Sox selected Liefer in the first round of the 1995 draft, and the former Long Beach State star debuted on the South Side four years later.
Liefer had his best year with the Sox in 2001, batting .256 with 18 home runs and 39 RBI in 83 games.
Sent to Montreal in the trade package for Bartolo Colon in '02, Liefer bounced around with the Expos, Devil Rays, Brewers and Indians before heading off to Japan.
Eager to return after last season, Liefer was happy to sign a nonroster contract with the Sox.
"I've been in Japan for a couple years and no one's seen me play,'' Liefer said. "But the White Sox were pretty quick to make an offer and that means a lot. I think they like me as a person as well as a player, so that was one of the main reasons I came back.
"I know my role; I'm not going to be the starting first baseman. But if something happens and they need to call on me, as long as I'm doing well, I'll be ready.''