D-backs again shuffle their bullpen
Jul 22, 2012, 6:08 PM | Updated: 7:14 pm
July 22, 2012: Brad Bergesen reports, Bryan Shaw optioned
Another day, another roster move, another fresh arm in the Diamondbacks bullpen.
After being claimed Friday from the Baltimore Orioles, right-handed pitcher Brad Bergesen reported to his new club Sunday.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said as he stood in front of his locker in the D-backs clubhouse. “It’s the only other organization I’ve been with so there’s definitely a little bit of nervousness, but a good nervousness.”
Bergesen spent parts of three seasons with the Orioles, both as a starter and as a reliever. “I think it was that point where it came perfect timing to get that fresh start.”
In his last ten relief appearances since June 9, he held opponents scoreless in six games for a 2.35 ERA (6 ER in 23 IP)
Manager Kirk Gibson said he’ll use Bergesen in a long relief role now that Josh Collmenter has been reinserted back into the starting rotation.
To open up a spot for Bergesen, reliever Bryan Shaw was optioned to Triple-A Reno.
“He’s kind of turned into a one-pitch pitcher right now,” Gibson said of Shaw. “We just felt that it’ll do him good to go down there and work on his pitches and maybe regain some confidence. He needs to start throwing the ball again like he can.”
Shaw at one point threw ten straight scoreless outings from June 14-July 2. However, he had been scored upon in four of his last six appearances (8 ER in 4.1 IP, 16.62 ERA).
“This is my rough patch,” Shaw said. “I just got to get back on track and hopefully be back here soon.”
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The Diamondbacks are 16-for-34 (.470) with runners in scoring position in the first two games of the series against the Houston Astros.
Gibson credited the hitters’ approach and staying patient at the plate.
“I think we’ve just done a better job of that. We’ve laid off some of the marginal pitches, pitches that in the past we’ve swung at.”
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With the Diamondbacks in the midst of a stretch of playing 20 straight games without a day off, Gibson is trying to find the time to give his players a day off.
Today, it’s Justin Upton.
“He’s got to have a day off,” Gibson said. “We’ve have three lefties coming up. He’s obviously going to play in all those three days.
“It’s not that I want to take him out of the lineup, just need to do it.”
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