Baseball Guru
08-31-2005, 06:11 AM
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050830&content_id=1190204&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym
Righty had hoped to reclaim spot in starting rotation
By Ben Couch / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Steve Trachsel is the kind of guy whose last words will be profound, or at least repeatable.
He speaks with an unpracticed eloquence and easy humor, two qualities that shined through Tuesday, even though he was obviously upset.
"No, I haven't been able to put a finger on [what I'm feeling about] myself," Trachsel said. "I'm supposed to be in the bullpen tonight, so I'm just going to get ready for the game."
He paused before joking in spite of himself.
"Which means you guys are all breaking the rule -- you know I don't talk on game days."
Trachsel has been forced to accommodate a life in the bullpen since finding out Sunday that eight shutout innings weren't enough to reclaim the rotation spot he rehabbed for five months to earn.
The Mets' righty has pitched from the 'pen only once in a 12-year career, with the Cubs in 1995. He's scheduled to pitch a simulated game Thursday, and said he was told that he would only pitch in extreme emergency.
The move clearly irks the right-hander, because he felt that it was indicated he would be returning to his spot in the rotation. He pointed out that if he were intended to be used in the bullpen, his rehab assignment likely would have involved relief work instead of starts.
But don't expect him to negatively impact the clubhouse.
"That's just how it is," Trachsel said. "You don't lean on anybody. It's just something you go through. You try to act like a professional, be prepared and eventually things work out one way or another. I have no control over it."
Trachsel's unfamiliarity with pitching in relief leads him to believe he'll need 60-70 pitches to warm up -- the same as he would if he were starting. He's not worried, because he knows he won't be coming in to face one batter, but rather to pitch four or five innings.
However, he'd just as soon not take the mound as a reliever, because it would mean that his teammates weren't doing as well as expected.
"I'm trying to deal with it the right way," Trachsel said. "Hopefully, I am."
He couldn't have said it any better.
Righty had hoped to reclaim spot in starting rotation
By Ben Couch / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Steve Trachsel is the kind of guy whose last words will be profound, or at least repeatable.
He speaks with an unpracticed eloquence and easy humor, two qualities that shined through Tuesday, even though he was obviously upset.
"No, I haven't been able to put a finger on [what I'm feeling about] myself," Trachsel said. "I'm supposed to be in the bullpen tonight, so I'm just going to get ready for the game."
He paused before joking in spite of himself.
"Which means you guys are all breaking the rule -- you know I don't talk on game days."
Trachsel has been forced to accommodate a life in the bullpen since finding out Sunday that eight shutout innings weren't enough to reclaim the rotation spot he rehabbed for five months to earn.
The Mets' righty has pitched from the 'pen only once in a 12-year career, with the Cubs in 1995. He's scheduled to pitch a simulated game Thursday, and said he was told that he would only pitch in extreme emergency.
The move clearly irks the right-hander, because he felt that it was indicated he would be returning to his spot in the rotation. He pointed out that if he were intended to be used in the bullpen, his rehab assignment likely would have involved relief work instead of starts.
But don't expect him to negatively impact the clubhouse.
"That's just how it is," Trachsel said. "You don't lean on anybody. It's just something you go through. You try to act like a professional, be prepared and eventually things work out one way or another. I have no control over it."
Trachsel's unfamiliarity with pitching in relief leads him to believe he'll need 60-70 pitches to warm up -- the same as he would if he were starting. He's not worried, because he knows he won't be coming in to face one batter, but rather to pitch four or five innings.
However, he'd just as soon not take the mound as a reliever, because it would mean that his teammates weren't doing as well as expected.
"I'm trying to deal with it the right way," Trachsel said. "Hopefully, I am."
He couldn't have said it any better.