Three strikes: Padres, All-Star starters and streaks
Article By smcneal.tsn on 25th June, 2010
Stan McNeal analyzes three hot topics in Major League Baseball:
STRIKE 1: Pushing all the right buttons
It was the kind of move that leads to manager of the year awards.
All season, the backbone of the Padres' surprising rise to first place has been the back of their bullpen: Luke Gregerson in the seventh, Mike Adams in the eighth and Heath Bell in the ninth. "If we get through six with the lead, we feel like the game is over," starter Kevin Correia says.
The Padres' relievers all give much of the credit for their success to manager Bud Black. The three key members of the Padres' "PENitentiary" (well, their pitching is better than their nicknaming) all are quick to credit manager Bud Black for the bullpen's success, in part because he so clearly has defined their roles -- and stuck to them. "We all feel like we're closers but we're not competing against each other. We're happy in our roles," Bell says.
After Mat Latos shut out the Rays for seven innings Tuesday night, Black resisted the temptation to turn to Gregerson even though he has been the bullpen's most consistent performer. Black stuck with routine and turned over a 2-0 eighth-inning lead to Adams.
Adams allowed a run but seemed in control after getting two outs and having just a runner on first. Because Bell had not been called on for more than a three-out save all season, it figured Adams would stay in the game. Not on this night.
Black went with a feeling this time and called on Bell to face the Rays' best hitter, Evan Longoria. Bell made his manager look smart when he used an 82-mph changeup -- a nice weapon when you have an upper-90-mph fastball --- to strike out Longoria. An inning later, the 2-1 victory was secured.
Black later said he pulled Adams because he was "a little off, especially with his slider."
"Some of the swings they were taking led me to ...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
STRIKE 1: Pushing all the right buttons
It was the kind of move that leads to manager of the year awards.
All season, the backbone of the Padres' surprising rise to first place has been the back of their bullpen: Luke Gregerson in the seventh, Mike Adams in the eighth and Heath Bell in the ninth. "If we get through six with the lead, we feel like the game is over," starter Kevin Correia says.
The Padres' relievers all give much of the credit for their success to manager Bud Black. The three key members of the Padres' "PENitentiary" (well, their pitching is better than their nicknaming) all are quick to credit manager Bud Black for the bullpen's success, in part because he so clearly has defined their roles -- and stuck to them. "We all feel like we're closers but we're not competing against each other. We're happy in our roles," Bell says.
After Mat Latos shut out the Rays for seven innings Tuesday night, Black resisted the temptation to turn to Gregerson even though he has been the bullpen's most consistent performer. Black stuck with routine and turned over a 2-0 eighth-inning lead to Adams.
Adams allowed a run but seemed in control after getting two outs and having just a runner on first. Because Bell had not been called on for more than a three-out save all season, it figured Adams would stay in the game. Not on this night.
Black went with a feeling this time and called on Bell to face the Rays' best hitter, Evan Longoria. Bell made his manager look smart when he used an 82-mph changeup -- a nice weapon when you have an upper-90-mph fastball --- to strike out Longoria. An inning later, the 2-1 victory was secured.
Black later said he pulled Adams because he was "a little off, especially with his slider."
"Some of the swings they were taking led me to ...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
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