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PEORIA, Ariz. – Peoria Sports Complex has served as the home for the Milwaukee Brewers’ open auditions for starting rotation spots the past two days.
After Logan Henderson, a surprise mention as a possible fill-in arm to start the season, battled his command Monday, Elvin Rodriguez and Tyler Alexander, both arms we could see in length roles early in the year due to injuries piling up, toed the slab on the road in Peoria on Tuesday.
Results weren’t particularly dazzling for Rodriguez and Alexander, either.
Rodriguez, working primarily on throwing his fastball and cutter, gave up four runs – the same as Henderson a day prior – in four innings. Alexander took over from there, throwing four innings and permitting five runs in a 9-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners.
But this is where the reminder that spring training isn’t nearly the same as the regular season gets dropped.
Rodriguez wasn’t throwing much off-speed, instead making 46 of his 62 pitches fastballs and cutters.
“I know the way we pitch here isn’t the same as we pitch in the regular season,” he said. “So if they tell me to work on something I’ll work on that.”
Alexander, meanwhile, split up his four-pitch mix and gave up five runs in four innings.
BOX SCORE: Mariners 9, Brewers 3
Neither looked particularly sharp Tuesday, but it may not ultimately matter much. The Brewers are down arms – big time – and need innings early in the year while Tobias Myers, Brandon Woodruff, DL Hall and Aaron Ashby recover from injury; José Quintana gets built up after a late start to spring; and Nestor Cortes goes on paternity leave for the birth of his first child, due aournd the second of April.
Then there’s the bullpen, which is also in a state of flux with Nick Mears having to go in the injured list to start the year thanks to a weeklong illness and the question of what to do with Abner Uribe, who’s suspended four games whenever he rejoins the team.
That makes Rodriguez and Anderson suddenly important, even after a shaky afternoon.
“Anderson’s a veteran. He gets it,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “He’ll be fine. He’ll figure it out. He didn’t throw great today but he’ll figure it out. I’m confident. Elvin did some things. You got to look at him. There’s something to work with there.”
Part of what there is to work with Rodriguez is his slider, the highest-whiff pitch he threw in Japan last season, which he threw scarcely against the Mariners. Paired with his high-carrying fastball, Rodriguez has some intriguing ingredients.
And they may be seen in a starting role, at least early.
“Opportunities are always coming,” Rodriguez said. “You have to be ready. We don’t want anyone to get hurt but you have to be prepared for any opportunity. If an opportunity is there you have to take it.”
Brewers vs. White Sox, 3:10 p.m. Wednesday: Milwaukee RHP Aaron Civale vs. Chicago RHP Shane Smith. Radio – FM-94.5
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers to need some unexpected starters early in the season
Continue reading...
After Logan Henderson, a surprise mention as a possible fill-in arm to start the season, battled his command Monday, Elvin Rodriguez and Tyler Alexander, both arms we could see in length roles early in the year due to injuries piling up, toed the slab on the road in Peoria on Tuesday.
Results weren’t particularly dazzling for Rodriguez and Alexander, either.
Rodriguez, working primarily on throwing his fastball and cutter, gave up four runs – the same as Henderson a day prior – in four innings. Alexander took over from there, throwing four innings and permitting five runs in a 9-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners.
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But this is where the reminder that spring training isn’t nearly the same as the regular season gets dropped.
Rodriguez wasn’t throwing much off-speed, instead making 46 of his 62 pitches fastballs and cutters.
“I know the way we pitch here isn’t the same as we pitch in the regular season,” he said. “So if they tell me to work on something I’ll work on that.”
Alexander, meanwhile, split up his four-pitch mix and gave up five runs in four innings.
BOX SCORE: Mariners 9, Brewers 3
Neither looked particularly sharp Tuesday, but it may not ultimately matter much. The Brewers are down arms – big time – and need innings early in the year while Tobias Myers, Brandon Woodruff, DL Hall and Aaron Ashby recover from injury; José Quintana gets built up after a late start to spring; and Nestor Cortes goes on paternity leave for the birth of his first child, due aournd the second of April.
Then there’s the bullpen, which is also in a state of flux with Nick Mears having to go in the injured list to start the year thanks to a weeklong illness and the question of what to do with Abner Uribe, who’s suspended four games whenever he rejoins the team.
That makes Rodriguez and Anderson suddenly important, even after a shaky afternoon.
“Anderson’s a veteran. He gets it,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “He’ll be fine. He’ll figure it out. He didn’t throw great today but he’ll figure it out. I’m confident. Elvin did some things. You got to look at him. There’s something to work with there.”
Part of what there is to work with Rodriguez is his slider, the highest-whiff pitch he threw in Japan last season, which he threw scarcely against the Mariners. Paired with his high-carrying fastball, Rodriguez has some intriguing ingredients.
And they may be seen in a starting role, at least early.
“Opportunities are always coming,” Rodriguez said. “You have to be ready. We don’t want anyone to get hurt but you have to be prepared for any opportunity. If an opportunity is there you have to take it.”
Brewers spring schedule
Brewers vs. White Sox, 3:10 p.m. Wednesday: Milwaukee RHP Aaron Civale vs. Chicago RHP Shane Smith. Radio – FM-94.5
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers to need some unexpected starters early in the season
Continue reading...
