Diamondbacks Bullpen

[shoewizard]

Unless Cruz is pitching through injury, and can't be used more, it's time for Melvin and Price to flip flop Cruz' and Pena's roles.

Cruz has only pitched in 6 games this month, totaling 7 innings. He had the one bad outing in LA, but since then has not allowed a run. Juan had a tough stretch during the first two weeks of June, but since June 19th he has thrown 25.1 IP, given up just 15 hits. He has given up 16 walks, but K'd 38 and only allowed 1 HR.

I know his command issues can drive a manager crazy, and he may well implode if given a heavier workload in higher leverage innings. I realize that is a very good possibility. But they have no choice. They HAVE to do it. They have to take that risk. Pena is cooked....done....kaput. At least for now. Maybe he will bounce back if given more rest.....but he hasn't been pitching as often lately and he is not responding to the extra day or two rest here or there.

[David B]

It might not be a bad idea for the Dbacks to do what the Brewers did with Carlos Villanueva (a similarly talented pitcher who has imploded recently under an increased workload). After Monday's game they shipped Villaneva back to Triple-A for a couple of weeks so he could get away from every pitch being made in a pressure packed pennant race. The hope is that he'll relax and regroup, as well as pitch on a schedule that is more carefully monitored and less "team need based."
_________________
Football is a mistake. It combines the two worst elements of American life. Violence and committee meetings.
--George F. Will

[qudjy1]

Agree.

In fact, i dont think this is a new idea - didnt somebody mention that they should do this earlier in the year? Maybe not.

But this is (IMO) the hard part of managing - making these kinds of moves BEFORE there is an issue. Melvin, Price knew about Penas workload, and have spoken about it on occasion. Its hard being proactive with this stuff when you have a game to win that night.

[shoewizard]

[matt]

When you option a guy you have to wait a minimum amount of time before he can be recalled (except in the case of an injury). Does anyone know how long that is? There are 10 days left in the month (including today). I don't know if that gives them enough time.

[David B]

Funny, you should mention that, Matt. I was just reading this:

(Carlos) Villanueva was sent to Class AAA Nashville after pitching three perfect innings of relief Monday night in a 9-0 victory over Arizona but the plan is for him to return on Sept. 1 at the latest. Players must be on a team's roster before Sept. 1 to be eligible for post-season play.

There is a way to get around that regulation, however. If a player is in your organization, he can replace a player on the disabled list after Sept. 1 and still be eligible for the post-season. For example, Villanueva could replace either of two injured outfielders, Corey Koskie or Tony Graffanino, both of whom are done for the season.

An optioned player must stay in the minors at least 10 days before being recalled unless another player on the big-league roster is injured. The Brewers are covered with Villanueva on that front, also, because his 10 days would be up Aug. 31, allowing his recall before the post-season roster deadline.
_________________
Football is a mistake. It combines the two worst elements of American life. Violence and committee meetings.
--George F. Will

[matt]

They could avoid the whole thing and just DL him with a made up injury.

[EvilJuan]

[matt]

It really makes no difference. Either way, they would rest him. As part of the DL he gets to make rehab appearances.

[EvilJuan]

[krc]

[shoewizard]

[THE SHADOW]

[THE SHADOW]

[qudjy1]

[qudjy1]

Pena cites Fatigue.

[NJ-DBACKS-FAN]

start to pull back on the pena work, flip the two of them, hell i would not care if they "dl" him to let him rest his arm 100% after all he has a "fatigue factor"
_________________
Win series, make the Playoffs: season series to date: 31-19-1
April:16-11 | May:16-12 | June:14-13
July:13-13 | Aug:16-12 | Sept: 15-9
Oct: 3-4

[TAP]

[moviegeekjn]

[shoewizard]

[dirtygary]

Agreed. Much better to hold a guy back earlier in the year and take that loss then rather than losses in higher profile games later on.

You'd think a manager would much rather take some heat for a May loss at Cin than for bringing in the reliever that gives it up in September.
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We have Bo.

[TAP]

From the "I get it but I don't get it" department:

Tony Pena’s trouble during his poor August is locating his pitches, Melvin said.

Pena, whose 23 holds are fourth in the NL, has given up nine runs and seven walks in eight August outings covering 9 1/3 innings.

“We’ve ridden that horse pretty hard,” Melvin said. “We’re not going to give up on him. We’re not going to demote him.

“He’s a little spotty in his command, and sometimes when you do that your confidence goes down.”

Jack Magruder
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Arizona Diamondbacks
- 2007 National League West Champions
- 2007 NLDS Winners
- 2008 World Champions

[shoewizard]

I think Cruz made another strong case last night for role reversal. That was a pretty high leverage situation he came into last night and he passed with flying colors. In fact he was a freakin stud.

[THE SHADOW]