By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
Phil Dumatrait - released by the Reds -- now the ace of the Pirates' starting staff.
There are nice stories in sports and then there is Phil Dumatrait's story. It's pretty amazing he was cut by the Cincinnati Reds after last season. Who just flat out releases a pitcher, a left-hander no less, still 26, still with decent pop in his arm after Tommy John elbow surgery in April 2004? It's even more amazing that Dumatrait has become the ace of the Pirates' starting staff. Shame on Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny for that, to be sure. But props all around for Dumatrait, as well.
"I guess, more than anything, it put a little fire under me," the man was saying yesterday after getting the 6-4 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the same team the highly touted, immensely disappointing Snell and Gorzelanny couldn't beat Friday and Saturday nights.
Dumatrait was talking about his release by the Reds.
"I really worked hard in the offseason to prove not only that the Pirates organization made the right move by picking me up, but to prove to myself that I was better than the way I pitched last year."
If only Snell and Gorzelanny could find the same flame to singe their rear ends.
The Pirates might be a lot more than just an inconsequential blip between the end of Penguins' season and the start of Steelers' training camp.
As it is, they're 30-33, barely ahead of the misguided Reds in their race to stay out of the National League Central basement. Going into yesterday, their starting pitchers had the league's second-fewest wins (15) and second-worse earned run average (5.36), grotesque numbers that can't just be blamed on Matt "Here's $10 Million To Go Away" Morris.
Remember, this is a franchise that invested nine of its previous 12 No. 1 draft choices on pitchers before taking Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez No. 1 last week.
One -- Bryan Bullington -- pretty much sums up that woeful group. He has been up with the Pirates since May 29 and has yet to get into a game, so afraid, apparently, is manager John Russell to use him.
Who knows how much better the Pirates' record would be if their starting pitching had been better? Their offense has been plenty good enough and will be even stronger if Adam LaRoche, who had three hits yesterday, finally starts hitting with consistency. The bullpen has been plenty good enough, especially at the back end, where hammer Matt Capps made it 14 for 14 in save chances yesterday. Even the defense, which has been erratic, has potential to be plenty good enough as evidenced by the superb plays made behind Dumatrait by second baseman Freddy Sanchez, third baseman Jose Bautista and first baseman LaRoche.
But it all comes down to starting pitching.
The Pirates' has been rotten.
Did I mention shame on Snell and Gorzelanny?
"In fairness to them, they've both made baby steps [in recent starts]," Pirates first-year pitching coach Jeff Andrews said. "But it's sad that it's taken until June to make baby steps."
As opposed to doing it in March?
"Right," Andrews said, steely.
Andrews said he pretty much knows what to expect when Dumatrait, Zach Duke and Paul Maholm get the start. But can you blame him for not having a clue about Snell and Gorzelanny? Snell is 2-6 with a 5.65 ERA and has gone 10 starts without a win, though he did pitch better in a 3-1 loss to Arizona Friday night. Gorzelanny is 4-5 with a 6.83 ERA, though he was much better against the Diamondbacks Saturday night after a rough first inning.
Who are those guys?
They're not the same pitchers we watched last season.
Snell was only 9-12 but had a 3.76 ERA and was given a long-term contract in the spring. Gorzelanny was 14-10 with a 3.88 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 135-to-68. Now, that ratio is a sick 29-to-43.
"I think everybody still has faith and confidence in them, but it's time," Andrews said. "Look at the other guys. What they're doing isn't anything special. They're just throwing strikes and being aggressive and trying to get outs. You can't run from contact out there."
Dumatrait, 2-1 with a 1.81 ERA in his past four starts, proved again yesterday that you don't need to strike out the opposition to win. He had just three strikeouts, the most important coming in the sixth inning against his final batter -- Chris Young -- on a 3-2 fastball with two on and one out.
"I feel comfortable out there," Dumatrait said. "I'm definitely on a pretty good roll right now."
This is the same guy who went 0-4 with a 15.00 ERA in six starts with the Reds last season after coming up from Class AAA?
"It seems like every time I'd go up a level, I would kind of get hit around and it would take me a couple of months to settle in," Dumatrait said, shrugging.
The Reds decided they couldn't wait on Dumatrait. Their loss has been the Pirates' gain.
Without Dumatrait, they don't have an ace.
It's a phenomenal story, actually.
But it's also a very sad one.
Ron Cook can be reached at rcook@post-gazette.com
First published on June 9, 2008 at 12:00 am
No comments:
Post a Comment