Loss leads to change in Rays rotation

ORIOLES 4, RAYS 1: Nick Bierbrodt heads to bullpen after fourth poor outing.

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times
published April 21, 2003

BALTIMORE -- The Devil Rays lost one starter Sunday when Nick Bierbrodt pitched his way out of the rotation with a fourth straight poor outing in a 4-1 loss to Baltimore.

But they appeared to have found another when rookie Seth McClung came out of the bullpen to pitch 4 2/3 dazzling innings.

Manager Lou Piniella was plotting a revamping of a rotation that has one win and a 7.47 ERA through 18 games, and Sunday's events expedited the process.

The specific plans are being finalized, but Bierbrodt is moving to long relief, Dewon Brazelton likely will be called up to start Thursday, Jorge Sosa will get another opportunity in the next week, and McClung is headed toward the rotation, with the possibility he could start Friday.

"We're going to try different things in the rotation and go from there," Piniella said.

Bierbrodt, who missed last season because of excessive wildness then recovery from June gunshot wounds, looked sharp early in the spring but has been ineffective in four starts, going 0-2 with a 13.19 ERA, allowing 32 hits in 14 1/3 innings.

He had the same problems Sunday -- not keeping his pitches low enough or throwing them hard enough -- and Piniella chose not to watch for long, pulling him with one out in the second.

"From what I've seen right now, he's not ready to start at the big-league level," Piniella said. "A little stint in the bullpen doesn't hurt anybody. Or maybe not a little, but a stint in the bullpen doesn't hurt anybody."

Bierbrodt, 24, is frustrated. He feels fine and knows what he is doing wrong but hasn't been able to correct it.

"You've got to get the job done eventually or you'll be out of here," he said.

Bierbrodt is trying different adjustments to keep the ball down. While none of his 37 pitches registered higher than 91 mph on the stadium message board, he thought his velocity was better. "It felt good," he said, "but obviously it wasn't fast enough because they hit it pretty hard."

Since Bierbrodt is out of options he can't be sent to the minors without first being exposed on waivers, a risk the Rays probably won't be quick to take. Instead, he'll handle long relief and get the chance to work things out in less pressurized situations. "Maybe I can spot him right and (he'll) gain some confidence and get him to throw the ball they way he's capable of," Piniella said.

The Rays were down 4-1 in the second and, with Travis Lee on the disabled list and Ben Grieve set to join him, weren't able to do much against Baltimore's Omar Daal, going hitless after the fourth.

McClung, at least, provided one positive for the otherwise unpleasant day. The 22-year-old right-hander made six previous relief appearances, but had his best outing Sunday, allowing no walks and just one hit -- and that was a fly ball that rightfielder Damian Rolls may have been able to catch -- to 15 batters.

"What made me more satisfied on the mound today was that I was in control of each situation, each at-bat," he said. "Because I threw strikes, I dictated what the hitter could do."

McClung was a starter throughout the minor leagues (though he pitched only 20 games above Class A) and clearly wants the opportunity to do so at this level.

"This month, maybe even this year, I'm treating like an extended spring training in that I'm still showing this team and the coaching staff what I can do, and they'll decide what role I'll be (in)," McClung said. "I try to let my playing speak for itself."

Piniella clearly likes what he's seen. "McClung did a real nice job today," he said. "We can either put him in the rotation or stretch him out one more time, but he certainly figures in that configuration."