azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Jack Magruder, Tribune
TUCSON - As ballplayers like to say, the season is a marathon, not a sprint.
So while Brad Halsey has taken an early lead for the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation, the Diamondbacks say the race is way too early to call.
Halsey has broken ahead in both numbers and crispness now that all three top candidates —Michael Gosling and Oscar Villarreal are the others — have pitched twice.
Halsey has five scoreless innings in his two relief appearances and has demonstrated an ability to handle right-handed hitters with a cut fastball on the inside part of the plate, having given up only one hit and faced only two batters over the minimum.
Manager Bob Melvin has mentioned Andy Pettitte, Dave Dravecky and Jim Abbott when talking about the left-hander’s stuff.
"Cutters inside. It takes guts to pitch in there,’’ Melvin said. "Then, when you paint one away, a hitter can’t even pull the trigger. He’s very tough on right-handers.
"A lot of times you can tell how well he is pitching by the amount of bats he breaks.’’
Halsey broke two bats with his cutter Tuesday, a pitch that Gosling does not use.
"Halsey probably has a pitch (hitters) aren’t used to seeing a little more than Gosling does,’’ Melvin said.
"It doesn’t mean he is going to be better. It means he is going to be different.’’
Villarreal was mentioned with Halsey and Gosling as the other top candidate for the No. 5 spot, but Villarreal struggled in his second outing Wednesday, a 16-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels at Tucson Electric Park.
Villarreal gave up five runs in 1 2 /3 innings, retiring only four of the 12 batters he faced after entering in the fourth inning. He gave up four hits, including a home run to Jeff DaVanon, three walks and a hit batsman while also walking in a run.
"My arm felt heavy, tired,’’ Villarreal said. "There was no life on my ball.’’
"Hopefully it just takes him a couple of outings to where he is back in sync,’’ Melvin said.
Halsey and Villarreal are scheduled to make their first spring starts the next time through the rotation, with Halsey pitching against Milwaukee in a split-squad game on Sunday and Villarreal starting against Colorado on Monday at Hi Corbett Field.
Melvin said Villarreal’s conditioning has gotten better but endurance remains a question.
"It’s one thing to be in condition, and another to keep going out there inning after inning,’’ said Melvin, who already has said Villarreal will make the team in the bullpen if he does not start.
Halsey, Gosling and longshot candidate Tony Pena are being considered only as starters.
Gosling is expected to pitch again Sunday, with Pena making his second relief appearance against San Diego on Saturday.
Gosling has experimented some with his curveball grip this spring, and Melvin said his location has been inconsistent, "something I expect him to iron out."
Pena, who arrived in camp three days late, gave up three unearned runs in his first outing Monday, when he walked three and struggled with his mechanics.
Pena made only seven minor league appearances because of his identity issues early last season and did not get back on the mound regularly until winter ball.
"His mechanics are still hitand-miss at times,’’ Melvin said.
"Hopefully once they are out there for longer periods of time, you’ll see these guys start to get better with the command.’’
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=37725
TUCSON - As ballplayers like to say, the season is a marathon, not a sprint.
So while Brad Halsey has taken an early lead for the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation, the Diamondbacks say the race is way too early to call.
Halsey has broken ahead in both numbers and crispness now that all three top candidates —Michael Gosling and Oscar Villarreal are the others — have pitched twice.
Halsey has five scoreless innings in his two relief appearances and has demonstrated an ability to handle right-handed hitters with a cut fastball on the inside part of the plate, having given up only one hit and faced only two batters over the minimum.
Manager Bob Melvin has mentioned Andy Pettitte, Dave Dravecky and Jim Abbott when talking about the left-hander’s stuff.
"Cutters inside. It takes guts to pitch in there,’’ Melvin said. "Then, when you paint one away, a hitter can’t even pull the trigger. He’s very tough on right-handers.
"A lot of times you can tell how well he is pitching by the amount of bats he breaks.’’
Halsey broke two bats with his cutter Tuesday, a pitch that Gosling does not use.
"Halsey probably has a pitch (hitters) aren’t used to seeing a little more than Gosling does,’’ Melvin said.
"It doesn’t mean he is going to be better. It means he is going to be different.’’
Villarreal was mentioned with Halsey and Gosling as the other top candidate for the No. 5 spot, but Villarreal struggled in his second outing Wednesday, a 16-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels at Tucson Electric Park.
Villarreal gave up five runs in 1 2 /3 innings, retiring only four of the 12 batters he faced after entering in the fourth inning. He gave up four hits, including a home run to Jeff DaVanon, three walks and a hit batsman while also walking in a run.
"My arm felt heavy, tired,’’ Villarreal said. "There was no life on my ball.’’
"Hopefully it just takes him a couple of outings to where he is back in sync,’’ Melvin said.
Halsey and Villarreal are scheduled to make their first spring starts the next time through the rotation, with Halsey pitching against Milwaukee in a split-squad game on Sunday and Villarreal starting against Colorado on Monday at Hi Corbett Field.
Melvin said Villarreal’s conditioning has gotten better but endurance remains a question.
"It’s one thing to be in condition, and another to keep going out there inning after inning,’’ said Melvin, who already has said Villarreal will make the team in the bullpen if he does not start.
Halsey, Gosling and longshot candidate Tony Pena are being considered only as starters.
Gosling is expected to pitch again Sunday, with Pena making his second relief appearance against San Diego on Saturday.
Gosling has experimented some with his curveball grip this spring, and Melvin said his location has been inconsistent, "something I expect him to iron out."
Pena, who arrived in camp three days late, gave up three unearned runs in his first outing Monday, when he walked three and struggled with his mechanics.
Pena made only seven minor league appearances because of his identity issues early last season and did not get back on the mound regularly until winter ball.
"His mechanics are still hitand-miss at times,’’ Melvin said.
"Hopefully once they are out there for longer periods of time, you’ll see these guys start to get better with the command.’’
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=37725
