Sunday, April 02, 2006
Notes: Cormier out to regain form
03/19/2006
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Other than having the misfortune of pitching on a day when none of Atlanta's other pitchers had much success, Lance Cormier has had no reason to be upset with the first impression he's provided the Braves.
Before each hurler struggled in Sunday afternoon's 11-2 loss to the Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium, Cormier, Tim Hudson and Joey Devine had been three of the Braves' most impressive pitchers. In eight combined innings, they surrendered 12 hits, issued eight walks and recorded just four strikeouts.
After Hudson allowed four earned runs, surrendered four hits and issued four walks in five innings, Cormier followed with four earned runs and five hits in just two innings. Like Devine, who allowed three earned runs in the eighth inning, Cormier hadn't allowed an earned run this spring.
In his first five Grapefruit League appearances, Cormier, who was acquired from the Diamondbacks in December, had totaled eight innings, allowed three unearned runs and surrendered just seven hits.
"He's got a lot of pitches and knows where they're going," Braves manager Bobby Cox said before Cormier tripled his spring walk total with two walks against the Cardinals on Sunday.
When the Braves traded Johnny Estrada to the Diamondbacks in December, their accompanying acquisition of Cormier was somewhat overlooked. Much more focus was put on Oscar Villarreal, who was also part of the Estrada trade.
But if Cormier is able to regain the form that allowed him to begin last season with 18 consecutive scoreless innings, he also could be a very important part of Atlanta's bullpen. He'll be looking to avoid the midseason struggles that led to the 5.11 ERA he posted in his first full big-league season.
"It's not that I was tired," said Cormier, whose 67 appearances ranked fourth among National League rookies. "It was just certain times, when I had a bad game, I had a bad game. That's the whole thing, you've got to be consistent."
Cormier, a 25-year-old right-hander, spent his entire Minor League career as a starter. Thus, he was forced to learn how to handle the daily rigors of a reliever last year. While allowing just one earned run in his final nine appearances of the season, he showed he'd made some necessary adjustments.
Having been a starter throughout most of his professional career, Cormier gives Cox the option of using him for multiple innings.
With right-handed reliever Blaine Boyer's availability for the start of the regular season in doubt, Cormier will likely be able to prove himself with a number of early-season appearances.
Rising ERAs: Before Sunday, Hudson had completed eight consecutive scoreless innings and surrendered a total of five hits in his previous two starts. His problems against the Cardinals were the result of four walks -- the same total he'd compiled in his first three Grapefruit League starts combined.
Devine, who has impressed enough to remain in contention for the closer role, incurred all of his damage against the Cardinals courtesy of a John Gall one-out, three-run homer. It was the first long ball surrendered by the 22-year-old rookie, who last year became the first big leaguer to surrender a grand slam in his first two career appearances.
In four of his first five appearances this spring, Devine had held opponents scoreless. The only previous damage he incurred came on March 9, when he allowed the Devil Rays five hits and three unearned runs in two innings.
Proud George Mason grads: There are a few Braves scouts and player development executives who claim assistant general manager Dayton Moore and director of Minor League operations J.J. Picollo didn't even know their alma mater, George Mason, was playing Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night.
But with George Mason gaining entry into the Sweet 16 with wins over Michigan State and North Carolina, they're all expecting to hear Moore and Picollo make at least a few comments about their alma mater this week.
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Other than having the misfortune of pitching on a day when none of Atlanta's other pitchers had much success, Lance Cormier has had no reason to be upset with the first impression he's provided the Braves.
Before each hurler struggled in Sunday afternoon's 11-2 loss to the Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium, Cormier, Tim Hudson and Joey Devine had been three of the Braves' most impressive pitchers. In eight combined innings, they surrendered 12 hits, issued eight walks and recorded just four strikeouts.
After Hudson allowed four earned runs, surrendered four hits and issued four walks in five innings, Cormier followed with four earned runs and five hits in just two innings. Like Devine, who allowed three earned runs in the eighth inning, Cormier hadn't allowed an earned run this spring.
In his first five Grapefruit League appearances, Cormier, who was acquired from the Diamondbacks in December, had totaled eight innings, allowed three unearned runs and surrendered just seven hits.
"He's got a lot of pitches and knows where they're going," Braves manager Bobby Cox said before Cormier tripled his spring walk total with two walks against the Cardinals on Sunday.
When the Braves traded Johnny Estrada to the Diamondbacks in December, their accompanying acquisition of Cormier was somewhat overlooked. Much more focus was put on Oscar Villarreal, who was also part of the Estrada trade.
But if Cormier is able to regain the form that allowed him to begin last season with 18 consecutive scoreless innings, he also could be a very important part of Atlanta's bullpen. He'll be looking to avoid the midseason struggles that led to the 5.11 ERA he posted in his first full big-league season.
"It's not that I was tired," said Cormier, whose 67 appearances ranked fourth among National League rookies. "It was just certain times, when I had a bad game, I had a bad game. That's the whole thing, you've got to be consistent."
Cormier, a 25-year-old right-hander, spent his entire Minor League career as a starter. Thus, he was forced to learn how to handle the daily rigors of a reliever last year. While allowing just one earned run in his final nine appearances of the season, he showed he'd made some necessary adjustments.
Having been a starter throughout most of his professional career, Cormier gives Cox the option of using him for multiple innings.
With right-handed reliever Blaine Boyer's availability for the start of the regular season in doubt, Cormier will likely be able to prove himself with a number of early-season appearances.
Rising ERAs: Before Sunday, Hudson had completed eight consecutive scoreless innings and surrendered a total of five hits in his previous two starts. His problems against the Cardinals were the result of four walks -- the same total he'd compiled in his first three Grapefruit League starts combined.
Devine, who has impressed enough to remain in contention for the closer role, incurred all of his damage against the Cardinals courtesy of a John Gall one-out, three-run homer. It was the first long ball surrendered by the 22-year-old rookie, who last year became the first big leaguer to surrender a grand slam in his first two career appearances.
In four of his first five appearances this spring, Devine had held opponents scoreless. The only previous damage he incurred came on March 9, when he allowed the Devil Rays five hits and three unearned runs in two innings.
Proud George Mason grads: There are a few Braves scouts and player development executives who claim assistant general manager Dayton Moore and director of Minor League operations J.J. Picollo didn't even know their alma mater, George Mason, was playing Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night.
But with George Mason gaining entry into the Sweet 16 with wins over Michigan State and North Carolina, they're all expecting to hear Moore and Picollo make at least a few comments about their alma mater this week.
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
