Philadelphia --- The Philadelphia Phillies are placing more trust in Antonio Bastardo and reliever left-hander has not disappointed.
Bastardo Tení to mark 1-0,0.00, 11 K and four walks in his first eight innings of work, 2011. The native of Hato Mayor limited their opponents to a batting average of .115 against left-handed hitters and he had only stuck to a rate of .083.
pitcher 25 years has helped fill the gaps in the Philadelphia bullpen squad, caused by the absence of the auctioneer Brad Lidge and lefty reliever JC Romero.
Lidge began the season on the disabled list because of a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Romero suffered a right calf injury in the third week of the season and was placed on the disabled list for 15 days.
The Cuban Jose Contreras assumed the role of closer, Ryan Madson continues as coach of the eighth, and Bastardo has been charged with dealing with difficult situations in the other entries.
is not the first time that the Phillies rely on it. The team rose to the big leagues in 2009 and placed it on his postseason roster. Bastardo pitching just twice in the playoffs but wore when he struck out Jason Giambi with bases loaded to get the third out of the eighth inning of the second game of the divisional championship series against Colorado.
The Phillies were ready to give more responsibilities to Bastard in 2010, but injuries did not let the opportunity. Discomfort in his left elbow during the season prompted Bastardo was not effective. The Phillies placed him on the disabled list and went down to the minors on several occasions.
In the past winter, Bastardo decided to change his throwing motion. The adjustment will work.
"I have not changed much with my mechanics. I changed nothing but the wrong way to take my arm out a better way, "said Bastardo to ESPNdeportes.com." I have not changed anything in the way of shooting, but I'm taking my right arm as I use. Keep on one line, always to the 'home plate'. "
Bastardo The adjustment helps keep his pitches low and stay healthy.
" work more in the lower plate . That was not doing last year and so I'm pitching better, "said Bastin." It is helping to prevent injuries. Injuries had been one of the things that put me in the situation that I went up and down me. That was not very good. "
Bastardo So effective was in 2011 that he has not allowed a run in his seven starts and tied a team record when striking out six consecutive batters in two innings of work eight April in Atlanta. Bastardo shares the mark with Jack Meyer (1958) and Willie Hernandez (1983).
"I knew that this record existed," said Bastin. "When I realized I was really surprised because only then went to pitching. No I went looking strikeouts. But to throw my pitches where I wanted. "
maturity was another factor that has helped to improve this year Bastard.
" It's totally different, "said Contreras on Bastardo." He looks more relaxed on the mound, he knows what he is doing. The work done until now has shown. "
" It's a very young last year but still over here has matured a lot and I think it will really help this team because he is a lefty in these conditions , with that slider, and that line. If he can throw where he wants is totally unhittable, "said Contreras.
"The confidence he has gained as the years go by has been what it has done much better and has given him more confidence on the mound," said Ruiz.
"He has demonstrated, get calm on the mound. There is so much trouble as before. He knows that here. I know your work and what to do. That mentality has helped him. It confidence, "said Panamanian catcher.
Bastardo admits he is applying what he learned in his last two seasons in the majors.
"That has really helped me see how things are veteran players, how to warm up in the bullpen, how to take their pitches in the bullpen. All that helps you more. The more you see, the more you learn, "said the pitcher, who was promoted to the majors as a starter in 2009 and was victorious in his first appearance.
pitching coach for the Phillies, Rich Dubee, Bastardo think has the talent to be a closer someday.
Bastardo is ready for the challenge if offered the opportunity.
"I do not set limits. I never put limits on my career. The more responsibility, better for me," said the pitcher.
Their goals for now, but they are more simple, "keep working hard, stay healthy and finish the entire season."
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