azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Oft-injured righty looking sharp
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 18, 2005 12:00 AM
TUCSON - Sometimes when a pitcher can't reach his pitch count, it's a bad thing. He may be getting so roughed up that his manager has to show mercy by trudging out to the mound to give him the hook.
In Brandon Lyon's case, it's the opposite.
The right-hander has been so efficient and dominant, having retired all 15 batters he's faced through five innings and four appearances, he never gets close to his pitch count. With seven strikeouts, no walks and a 0.00 ERA, he's been almost a little too good.
His arm would have to fall off before he fails to land a spot in manager Bob Melvin's bullpen.
Of course, his arm just about did fall off. Lyon had been dogged by an elbow problem the past two years. It nixed his trade from Boston to Pittsburgh in 2003. After being dealt to Arizona in the Curt Schilling deal, it eventually wiped out his 2004 season after ulnar nerve transposition surgery.
In another week, it will have been a full year since the surgery and Lyon, 10-14 with a 4.99 career ERA, will have come full circle. He's gone from openly worrying about his future in baseball to planning it out to his liking.
"Anytime you have surgery, that's the first thing that goes through your mind. 'Is my arm ever going to be the same?' " Lyon said. " . . . But everything is going really well right now. I'm going out there and throwing free and easy every day.
"'Results are great, but you know what? It's not about results right now. It's about keeping my arm healthy and working hard every day."
He's been getting rave reviews from Melvin every time out, and it could affect the roles of other relievers in the pen, such as Mike Koplove and Jose Valverde.
Lyon could pitch in a set-up role for closer Greg Aquino, and as a former starter earlier in his pro career in the Toronto Blue Jays' system, he could pitch long relief. Because he relies on four above-average pitches - a sinking fastball, a slider, a curveball and a change-up - he gives the Diamondbacks flexibility anywhere they put him in the pen.
Melvin said it's crossed his mind to try Lyon in a closing role.
"He's been magnificent," Melvin said. "He's a four-pitch guy, and for a late-inning guy where we have him envisioned, it's almost tough to establish four pitches. Most of those guys are two-pitch guys.
"But he'll throw fastball, slider, sinker, sinker, slider, then all of a sudden he needs a pitch and breaks his curveball out, and you haven't seen it yet. Same thing with his change-up. He's got a lot of weapons."
If one pitch isn't working on a particular day, Lyon can skip it and go with the other three. He is a contact pitcher and wants teams to put the ball in play, especially when his sinker is on.
"You understand when you see him pitch and he's healthy why he was a key guy in the Curt Schilling deal," said Melvin, who will pitch Lyon again Saturday in Peoria when the Diamondbacks take on Seattle.
Lyon hasn't paid any dividends on the trade yet - at least not during a regular-season game - but he appears to be on his way to getting a chance to prove it.
D-Backs Report
At Tucson Electric Park: Diamondbacks (ss) 13, Brewers 10, 10 innings.
At Hi Corbett Field: Diamondbacks (ss) 5, Rockies 3
Diamondbacks record: 9-8.
At the plate: 2B Craig Counsell went 4 for 4 with two singles, a double and a triple against the Brewers. 3B Troy Glaus was 2 for 3 with a two-run double and a two-run home run, his second of the Cactus League season. RF Luis Terrero went 3 for 5 and tied the game in the ninth with a solo home run, his second. 1B Alan Zinter won it with a three-run blast in the 10th. Against the Rockies, 1B Chad Tracy was 2 for 5 with a double, a triple and 3 RBIs. C Koyie Hill went 2 for 4 to extend his hitting streak to six games. The Diamondbacks were 2 for 13 with men in scoring position at Hi Corbett.
On the mound: RHP Brandon Webb pitched three solid innings before getting into some trouble in the fourth against Milwaukee. His five strikeouts give him 14 this camp. LHP Michael Gosling, meanwhile, pitched four shutout innings (56 pitches) in his start against Colorado, allowing three hits with two strikeouts and a walk. RHP Juan Acevedo retired the side in the ninth for his first save.
In the field: LF Luis Gonzalez had to make his fair share of throws, defensively, in playing consecutive games in the field for the first time, but manager Bob Melvin was encouraged. C Kelly Stinnett's throwing error in the eighth allowed the Brewers to tie the score at 9. Terrero threw out a runner at second in the ninth with a perfect throw.
He said it: "I'll tell you what, I love their defense up the middle. Royce Clayton and Craig Counsell? I love those two guys. They are wonderful players." - Brewers manager Ned Yost on Arizona's new starting shortstop and second baseman.
Today: Diamondbacks vs. Rockies at Hi Corbett Field, 1:05 p.m. The Diamondbacks will start LHP Shawn Estes vs. LHP Jeff Francis.
- Bob McManaman
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/special3/articles/0318dbacks0318.html
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 18, 2005 12:00 AM
TUCSON - Sometimes when a pitcher can't reach his pitch count, it's a bad thing. He may be getting so roughed up that his manager has to show mercy by trudging out to the mound to give him the hook.
In Brandon Lyon's case, it's the opposite.
The right-hander has been so efficient and dominant, having retired all 15 batters he's faced through five innings and four appearances, he never gets close to his pitch count. With seven strikeouts, no walks and a 0.00 ERA, he's been almost a little too good.
His arm would have to fall off before he fails to land a spot in manager Bob Melvin's bullpen.
Of course, his arm just about did fall off. Lyon had been dogged by an elbow problem the past two years. It nixed his trade from Boston to Pittsburgh in 2003. After being dealt to Arizona in the Curt Schilling deal, it eventually wiped out his 2004 season after ulnar nerve transposition surgery.
In another week, it will have been a full year since the surgery and Lyon, 10-14 with a 4.99 career ERA, will have come full circle. He's gone from openly worrying about his future in baseball to planning it out to his liking.
"Anytime you have surgery, that's the first thing that goes through your mind. 'Is my arm ever going to be the same?' " Lyon said. " . . . But everything is going really well right now. I'm going out there and throwing free and easy every day.
"'Results are great, but you know what? It's not about results right now. It's about keeping my arm healthy and working hard every day."
He's been getting rave reviews from Melvin every time out, and it could affect the roles of other relievers in the pen, such as Mike Koplove and Jose Valverde.
Lyon could pitch in a set-up role for closer Greg Aquino, and as a former starter earlier in his pro career in the Toronto Blue Jays' system, he could pitch long relief. Because he relies on four above-average pitches - a sinking fastball, a slider, a curveball and a change-up - he gives the Diamondbacks flexibility anywhere they put him in the pen.
Melvin said it's crossed his mind to try Lyon in a closing role.
"He's been magnificent," Melvin said. "He's a four-pitch guy, and for a late-inning guy where we have him envisioned, it's almost tough to establish four pitches. Most of those guys are two-pitch guys.
"But he'll throw fastball, slider, sinker, sinker, slider, then all of a sudden he needs a pitch and breaks his curveball out, and you haven't seen it yet. Same thing with his change-up. He's got a lot of weapons."
If one pitch isn't working on a particular day, Lyon can skip it and go with the other three. He is a contact pitcher and wants teams to put the ball in play, especially when his sinker is on.
"You understand when you see him pitch and he's healthy why he was a key guy in the Curt Schilling deal," said Melvin, who will pitch Lyon again Saturday in Peoria when the Diamondbacks take on Seattle.
Lyon hasn't paid any dividends on the trade yet - at least not during a regular-season game - but he appears to be on his way to getting a chance to prove it.
D-Backs Report
At Tucson Electric Park: Diamondbacks (ss) 13, Brewers 10, 10 innings.
At Hi Corbett Field: Diamondbacks (ss) 5, Rockies 3
Diamondbacks record: 9-8.
At the plate: 2B Craig Counsell went 4 for 4 with two singles, a double and a triple against the Brewers. 3B Troy Glaus was 2 for 3 with a two-run double and a two-run home run, his second of the Cactus League season. RF Luis Terrero went 3 for 5 and tied the game in the ninth with a solo home run, his second. 1B Alan Zinter won it with a three-run blast in the 10th. Against the Rockies, 1B Chad Tracy was 2 for 5 with a double, a triple and 3 RBIs. C Koyie Hill went 2 for 4 to extend his hitting streak to six games. The Diamondbacks were 2 for 13 with men in scoring position at Hi Corbett.
On the mound: RHP Brandon Webb pitched three solid innings before getting into some trouble in the fourth against Milwaukee. His five strikeouts give him 14 this camp. LHP Michael Gosling, meanwhile, pitched four shutout innings (56 pitches) in his start against Colorado, allowing three hits with two strikeouts and a walk. RHP Juan Acevedo retired the side in the ninth for his first save.
In the field: LF Luis Gonzalez had to make his fair share of throws, defensively, in playing consecutive games in the field for the first time, but manager Bob Melvin was encouraged. C Kelly Stinnett's throwing error in the eighth allowed the Brewers to tie the score at 9. Terrero threw out a runner at second in the ninth with a perfect throw.
He said it: "I'll tell you what, I love their defense up the middle. Royce Clayton and Craig Counsell? I love those two guys. They are wonderful players." - Brewers manager Ned Yost on Arizona's new starting shortstop and second baseman.
Today: Diamondbacks vs. Rockies at Hi Corbett Field, 1:05 p.m. The Diamondbacks will start LHP Shawn Estes vs. LHP Jeff Francis.
- Bob McManaman
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/special3/articles/0318dbacks0318.html
