• Submitted by: admin
• Sports
• 05 / 19 / 2010

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The Philadelphia Phillies bullpen has received more notice lately for its binoculars-toting coach than for its pitchers. Given last year's season-long drama, that's a good thing.

Left-hander J.C. Romero notched his first save in nearly two years Sunday, a day after Jose Contreras recorded his first save in eight major league seasons and most likely ever, considering he was always a starter in his native Cuba before defecting in 2002.

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Contreras, 38, has been thrust into the role of closer with Brad Lidge on the disabled list due to elbow inflammation that required a cortisone shot Monday. Lidge, who went 48-for-48 in save chances as one of the key cogs in Philadelphia's march to a World Series championship in 2008, was the subject of much consternation last year, when he led the majors with 11 blown saves.

He had knee and elbow surgeries in the offseason, missed most of April while recovering and pitched in four games before being sidelined again.

Setup man Ryan Madson picked up four saves in his absence, but he'll be out at least until early July after breaking his right big toe kicking a chair following a blown save April 28.

In light of all that, the Colorado Rockies' accusation last week that Phillies bullpen coach Mick Billmeyer was using binoculars to try to steal their signs might have served as a welcome distraction for a group of relievers struggling to make up for the missing pieces.

Except they've been holding up pretty well, yielding an NL-best 1.69 ERA and a .207 opponents' batting average this month. For the season, the Phillies' bullpen ERA of 3.66 ranks sixth in the league, an improvement over last year's ninth-place finish (3.91).

"I knew we'd have ups and downs but that the bullpen would do its job," said Romero, who missed the first three weeks recovering from elbow surgery. "I keep saying the same thing: This team will go as far as the bullpen takes it."

What neither Romero nor anybody else expected was for Contreras to be closing games. The veteran right-hander had made two relief appearances since the start of 2004 until getting traded from the Chicago White Sox to the Colorado Rockies on Aug. 31.

Contreras spurned the Rockies' free agent offer to return partly because he felt he had a better chance to get another crack at starting with the Phillies, and he acknowledged the change in roles was initially difficult. Pitching on back-to-back days, in particular, presented a mental block.

"The day when I would start, I was focused on my game from the time I woke up," Contreras said. "But now I have to be ready every day, from the first to the ninth inning. That was an adjustment, as well as the physical preparation, the work in the gym, how much to run. Danys has been a big help."

Fellow Cuban Danys Baez, a former closer who has made 445 of his 471 career appearances out of the bullpen, convinced Contreras he could extend his career as a reliever.

By working on his mechanics to use his legs more and by understanding he doesn't have to save himself for an extended outing, Contreras has improved his velocity, reaching 97 mph with his fastball.

"Even I am amazed," he said with a smile. "Imagine, starting to throw hard in my old age."

In 15 appearances covering 13'sinnings, mostly in a setup role, Contreras has a 0.68 ERA, 18 strikeouts and two walks.

"He's got a big arm, he's got a great split and a good slider," pitching coach Rich Dubee said. "He's come up big for us so far, and we anticipate him doing it the whole time."


Source: /www.usatoday.com