[外電] O's bringing youngsters out of bullpen
O's bringing youngsters out of bullpen
Veteran relievers Bradford, Walker passed over recently
By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com
BALTIMORE -- It may look like a change of the guard, but it's really based
more on maintaining the hot hand.
Veteran relievers Chad Bradford and Jamie Walker have seemed to be phased out
in recent weeks, a product of the schedule and of the Orioles having more
relief depth than they've had at any point in a few years. Bradford and
Walker have combined to make three appearances in the last week, but manager
Dave Trembley insists it's not the start of a trend.
"The two days off in four days has been a welcome thing for our ballclub," he
said. "On the other hand, it's taken some opportunities away for some other
guys to get in games. We'll make up for it."
Trembley has seemed to favor youngsters Jim Johnson and Matt Albers recently,
and he said Friday he's just trying to give his team its best chance to win.
Bradford represented that best chance for much of last season, but Trembley
has found several situations in which he felt more comfortable with either
Johnson or Albers.
The manager acknowledged that fact Friday, and he explained the thought
process behind it from his team's last series.
"I thought when I brought Johnson in, I needed a power arm at that particular
time to face [Manny] Ramirez," Trembley said. "Really, that's what I was
looking for -- a strikeout against Ramirez. ... Albers hadn't pitched in four
days, [and] there was an off-day [the day before] and I wanted to get him in
the game. Both times I got Bradford up.
"If we would have scored in the eighth and it wouldn't have been a save
situation for [Baltimore closer George] Sherrill, Bradford was coming in the
game. But it was a save situation, so I gave it to Sherrill."
Johnson has been the team's most improved player this season, and Trembley
hasn't been afraid to deploy him in challenging situations. So far, the
rookie right-hander has earned raves for the way he's gone about his
business.
"His delivery is a whole lot better, and I think he has better life on his
fastball," said Trembley. "He's tightened up his curveball, and for a guy
who's never pitched out of the bullpen before, what he's been is resilient
with the ability to pitch back-to-back days. And he's been resilient with
coming in situations in the middle of the inning.
"I was kind of tentative about bringing him in when he first got here in the
middle of an inning, because he's never done that before, but ... I haven't
seen the guy show any fear or lack of poise."
From:http://tinyurl.com/5r8j85
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