azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Mantei to remain in closer role
By Ed Price, Tribune
PHILADELPHIA - Matt Mantei says his confidence is fine, and apparently so is manager Bob Brenly’s confidence in Mantei.
Although Mantei, the Diamondbacks’ closer, has allowed four gametying or game-deciding home runs in just 6 1/3 innings, Brenly reiterated he sees no reason to remove Mantei from his role.
"His stuff is as good as it’s ever been," Brenly said Friday. "He’s just going through a little funk right now where every time he makes a mistake with a fastball over the plate, it’s been whacked out of the ballpark."
Said Mantei: "It’s weird because (often) you make mistakes and the hitters jam themselves or get themselves out. When I make a mistake, they hit a homer.
"I’m not worried about it. I’m not walking guys. I’m throwing strikes."
Perhaps Mantei is having trouble staying sharp. He has made seven appearances while all other NL closers have at least nine.
"Outside of spotting his fastball a little better — which is something that I think is probably a foreign concept to him — I don’t know what else we can do," Brenly said. "He’s always been a rear-back-and-throw-it-hardright-down-the-middle-and-see-whathappens kind of a guy."
Said Mantei: "I’m never going to lose my confidence. I just know what I’m capable of. This isn’t me right now. It’ll change."
ROTATION REWORKED
Randy Johnson — who in his career is 12-0 with a 1.96 ERA against the Chicago Cubs, including seven shutout innings Monday — will not pitch against the Cubs in Chicago this week.
After an off day Monday, Steve Sparks will face the Cubs on Tuesday, giving the other four starters each an extra day of rest. Johnson, who pitches today, will take his following turn next Friday at home against Philadelphia.
SHORT HOPS
The D-Backs’ 9-13 record is their worst through the end of April since 1998, when they were 7-20. Last year, the Diamondbacks were 12-16 on May 1.
Arizona is 1-5 when the opponent starts a left-handed pitcher and 8-8 against right-handed starters.
When Steve Finley hit three home runs Wednesday, he became the sixth-oldest player to have a three-homer game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Finley was 39 years, 47 days old; the only players older for a three-homer game were Stan Musial (41 in 1962), Reggie Jackson (40 in 1986), Babe Ruth (40 in 1935), Dave Winfield (39 and 192 days in 1991) and Bob Thurman (39 and 96 days in 1956).
Brenly said he had no problem with Jim Wolf — brother of Randy Wolf, Philadelphia’s starting pitcher Friday — umpiring third base Friday. Would it be an issue if Jim Wolf was working home plate when his brother pitched? Not to worry: Major League Baseball will not let Jim Wolf call balls and strikes when Randy Wolf pitches.
By Ed Price, Tribune
PHILADELPHIA - Matt Mantei says his confidence is fine, and apparently so is manager Bob Brenly’s confidence in Mantei.
Although Mantei, the Diamondbacks’ closer, has allowed four gametying or game-deciding home runs in just 6 1/3 innings, Brenly reiterated he sees no reason to remove Mantei from his role.
"His stuff is as good as it’s ever been," Brenly said Friday. "He’s just going through a little funk right now where every time he makes a mistake with a fastball over the plate, it’s been whacked out of the ballpark."
Said Mantei: "It’s weird because (often) you make mistakes and the hitters jam themselves or get themselves out. When I make a mistake, they hit a homer.
"I’m not worried about it. I’m not walking guys. I’m throwing strikes."
Perhaps Mantei is having trouble staying sharp. He has made seven appearances while all other NL closers have at least nine.
"Outside of spotting his fastball a little better — which is something that I think is probably a foreign concept to him — I don’t know what else we can do," Brenly said. "He’s always been a rear-back-and-throw-it-hardright-down-the-middle-and-see-whathappens kind of a guy."
Said Mantei: "I’m never going to lose my confidence. I just know what I’m capable of. This isn’t me right now. It’ll change."
ROTATION REWORKED
Randy Johnson — who in his career is 12-0 with a 1.96 ERA against the Chicago Cubs, including seven shutout innings Monday — will not pitch against the Cubs in Chicago this week.
After an off day Monday, Steve Sparks will face the Cubs on Tuesday, giving the other four starters each an extra day of rest. Johnson, who pitches today, will take his following turn next Friday at home against Philadelphia.
SHORT HOPS
The D-Backs’ 9-13 record is their worst through the end of April since 1998, when they were 7-20. Last year, the Diamondbacks were 12-16 on May 1.
Arizona is 1-5 when the opponent starts a left-handed pitcher and 8-8 against right-handed starters.
When Steve Finley hit three home runs Wednesday, he became the sixth-oldest player to have a three-homer game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Finley was 39 years, 47 days old; the only players older for a three-homer game were Stan Musial (41 in 1962), Reggie Jackson (40 in 1986), Babe Ruth (40 in 1935), Dave Winfield (39 and 192 days in 1991) and Bob Thurman (39 and 96 days in 1956).
Brenly said he had no problem with Jim Wolf — brother of Randy Wolf, Philadelphia’s starting pitcher Friday — umpiring third base Friday. Would it be an issue if Jim Wolf was working home plate when his brother pitched? Not to worry: Major League Baseball will not let Jim Wolf call balls and strikes when Randy Wolf pitches.
