With a somewhat typical does of ambiguity, Brewers manager Ned Yost has insisted all season long that his bullpen's biggest strength is its flexibility. That said, some roles have started to emerge.Yost all but declared Salomon Torres as his closer -- at least until Eric Gagne is able to return from the disabled list.
Torres' durability and experience in the closer's role makes him a natural fit for the ninth. He's been successful thus far, converting seven of nine save opportunities. The fact that he can pitch multiple innings -- Yost brought him into the game with two outs in the eighth on Sunday -- makes him all the more valuable.
"He's done a really nice job," manager Ned Yost said. "He's a bit of a throwback because he is a two-inning guy."
Along with his seven saves in 2008, Torres is 4-1 with a 2.50 ERA and leads the team with 30 appearances (36 IP). In his 14-year career, Torres has 36 saves. He has made 342 appearances since 2001, the most of any active pitcher in the majors.
In addition, it seems that Yost has determined other bullpen roles, as well. Guillermo Mota has been tabbed the "eighth inning guy," or at least he was until he lost a game Friday night. Brian Shouse can expect to see some action there, as well.
Carlos Villanueva has shown he can pitch quality innings in any bullpen role. He and Tim Dillard are the leading candidates for seventh inning duty while Mark DiFelice will handle long-relief work.
It remains to be seen how these roles will be affected when Gagne and David Riske return from the disabled list in the coming weeks.
Starters settling in: It's no coincidence that as the starters have settled down the team has started to make some noise in the NL Central.
Since suffering a sweep against the Red Sox two weeks ago, the Brewers have won 13 of 19 games. Starters picked up the victory in nine of those games; an impressive feat considering the starting five -- aside from Ben Sheets -- had just five victories in the first 48 games of the season.
Aside from a hiccup Saturday night at Colorado (5 ER, 5 H, 4 IP), Dave Bush has started to get into a groove. He went seven innings in back-to-back games, picking up a victory last Sunday against Houston. In his last four starts, Bush (2-6, 4.91 ERA) has allowed just three walks.
Left-hander Manny Parra worked seven innings in his last start, picking up a victory against Arizona. In his last two outings, Parra is 2-0 and has allowed just two runs on eight hits with 14 strikeouts.
Combined, the starters have made quality starts in 11 of the last 13 games.
The real McClung: It's hard to guess which version of Seth McClung will show up tomorrow night at Minute Maid Park.
The right-hander will make his fourth start of the season. In his last outing, he picked up the victory going six innings against Arizona while allowing just a run on six hits with four strike outs ... and picked up two hits of the Diamondbacks' Randy Johnson.
It was a similar performance to his first start of the year, when McClung (3-2, 4.25) allowed two runs on four hits in five innings against Washington. The hulking right-hander followed that with a dismal outing (6ER, 8H, 6BB, 1SO) against Atlanta on May 29.
"If he's able to emerge and hold a spot down, it means he's pitching good. That would be great for the rotation," Yost said. "You have to earn the right to play every day at the major league level. Seth is doing that."
Cameron's woes continue: Armchair managers may get their wish regarding slumping centerfielder Mike Cameron.
Yost told reporters that he is considering moving Cameron, who has been a fixture in the No. 2 slot since joining the team, to a spot lower in the order.
After serving a 25-game suspension to open the season, Cameron is hitting just .214 with seven homers and 19 RBIs. Yost has started Gabe Kapler in three of the Brewers' last four games.
Cameron was in his regular spot in the field and lineup Saturday night, but went hitless in four trips.
Kapler has been one of the hotter hitters of late. His 2-for-5 performance Sunday capped off an 11-game stretch in which he's hitting at a .481 clip (13-for-27) with eight RBIs. During that time, Kapler raised his average from .274 to .330.
Still, it's unlikely that Cameron will lose his starting role. As Drew Olson wrote yesterday, Cameron's offense isn't the main reason he was signed to a free agent deal before the season. And he won't get into an offensive groove by sitting on the bench.
"I have to find ways to get Cameron in there so he can get straightened out," Yost told MLB.com's Adam McCalvy in Denver. "He's not going to get straightened out sitting. ... I want to make sure the timing is right. I don't like to do things on an impulse, but we're getting closer to that point I think."
Injury report: RHPs David Riske and Eric Gagne are eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list, but the team is still a ways away from bringing either reliever back.
Riske threw off a mound for the first time Saturday and will throw another bullpen session on Tuesday. Gagne, meanwhile, is playing catch from a flat surface and is building back strength before he begins throwing from a mound.
Weeks back in town: Rickie Weeks is spending his day off back in Milwaukee, where he is undergoing an examination on his left knee.
The leg stiffened after a rough play at second base Friday night at Colorado. Rockies infielder Jeff Baker slid into second trying to break up a double-play. Weeks finished the game, but was held out of the lineup Saturday and Sunday.
The examination is precautionary and Weeks is expected to return to the team in time for their game Tuesday night at Houston, although it's not a given that he will be in the lineup.
Quick hits: Sunday's victory snapped a six-game losing streak at Coors Field. ... ... Opponents have just three hits (.136 average) against RHP Tim Dillard. ... 3B Russell Branyan has homered in four of the last six games. ... OF Corey Hart's inside-the-park homer last week was the first-ever by a Brewers player at Miller Park. ... Brad Hawpe's grand slam Saturday was the first allowed by a Milwaukee pitcher this season. ... Before Saturday, the Brewers had homered in eight straight games and hit a major league-best 16 during that stretch. They're tied for third in the NL and fifth in the majors with 70 home runs this season.
On the farm: Mat Gamel and Matt LaPorta continue to terrorize Class AA Southern League pitching; Gamel is batting .378 with 14 homers and 58 RBIs while LaPorta leads the league with 16 homers. Huntsville leads the North Division with a 38-26 record. ... Jimmy Mojica, Lorenzo Cain, and Stephen Chapman each had two hits and an RBI to lead Class A Brevard Country to a 5-0 victory over Fort Meyers Sunday. ... Derrick Turnbow continues to work out his issues at Class AAA Nashville; his ERA is now down to 8.10.
This week: The Brewers will enjoy a day off today in Houston before opening a three-game set with the Astros tomorrow night. The Brewers were swept during their last their last trip to Houston and returned the favor last week at Miller Park. It's back to Milwaukee Friday night when the Twins come to town for a three-game Interleague series.
He said it: "My hallway is where I'll be sending them." --RHP Seth McClung when asked if he would be sending the balls he saved from his two hits against Randy Johnson would be sent to the Hall of Fame.
Around the division: Cubs manager Lou Pinella is thinking about adjusting his rotation to give his top three starters, Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Ted Lilly, three starts apiece before the All-Star break. ... RHP Francisco Cordero was charged with his third blown save of the season after giving up a two-run homer to Florida's Cody Ross Saturday night. ... Pittsburgh OF Xavier Nady has sat three of the Pirates' last four games with inflammation around his ankle. ... The Astros' bullpen has thrown 194 1/3 innings this season, causing manager Cecil Cooper concern. ... St. Louis starters Todd Wellemeyer (inflamed elbow) and Adam Wainright (sprained middle finger) could miss their starts this week. Manager Tony LaRussa is considering starting reliever Kyle McClellan.
N.L. Central Standings: 1, Chicago, 40-24; 2, St. Louis, 38-27 (-2.5); 3, Milwaukee, 33-30 (-6.5); 4, Houston, 32-32 (-8.0); 5, Pittsburgh, 30-33 (-9.5); 6, Cincinnati, 30-34 (-10).
