As Contreras struggles at Clearwater, Qualls poised to fill in
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As Contreras struggles at Clearwater, Qualls poised to fill in
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Chad Qualls and Antonio Bastardo's names will not appear in the box score from yesterday's 1-0 win over the Pirates, but they did provide some indication of Charlie Manuel's plans for the back of the bullpen during the early-going this season. Qualls and Bastardo were both warming up as Roy Halladay finished the bottom of the eighth inning, which jibed with Manuel's earlier suggestion that he would rely on the veteran righty and the young lefty as his primary set-up men.
The Phillies hope that at some point in the not-so-distant future they will be able to add Jose Contreras to the mix, but judging by the veteran right-hander's performance in a rehab start in Clearwater yesterday, his return is not imminent.
Contreras retired just one of the four batters he faced, allowing three runs on two hits and a walk without striking out a batter in the first inning of a game against the Dunedin Blue Jays. Contreras threw 11 pitches, seven of which were balls. Two of his four strikes were hits, including a two-run home run by Marcus Knecht. He also threw two wild pitches before being replaced by lefty Frank Gailey, whom they acquired in exchange for Ben Francisco this offseason (Gailey struck out the two batters he faced).
The run down of Contreras' outing:
1. Jake Marisnick grounds out to second base.
2. Jonathan Jones singles on a ground ball to third baseman Cody Asche.
3. With Sean Ochinko batting, Jones steals second base.
4. Ochinko walks on a wild pitch that allows Jones to advance to third.
5. Jones scores on a wild pitch.
6. Knecht homers to left field.
Assuming Contreras still needs some work on his way back from elbow surgery, the Phillies will get an opportunity to see how Qualls performs in some high leverage situations. He held righties to a .218/.255/.282 line last season, striking out 28 and walking eight while allowing four extra base hits (three home runs) in 171 plate appearances. But Qualls struggled against lefties, allowing a .320/.381/.500 line with 15 strikeouts, 12 walks, 13 extra base hits (4 home runs) in 135 plate appearances.
Qualls is a former set-up man and closer with the Astros and Diamondbacks, but he has not performed well in those situations over the last two seasons. According to Baseball-Reference.com, which breaks down the importance of situations into Low Leverage, Medium Leverage, and High Leverage classifications, Qualls allowed a batting line of .320/.378/.460 with 10 strikeouts, 10 walks, and 6 extra base hits in 117 high-leverage plate appearances last year. In 2010, his line was .346/.402/.526 in 88 high-leverage plate appearances.
In 112 low-leverage plate appearances in 2011, his batting line was .236/.270/.377 with 19 strikeouts, 5 walks and 10 extra base hits (3 home runs).
If Bastardo rediscovers the groove he found last season, the Phillies won't need to worry about pitching a righty in the eighth. But there have been some questions about his velocity this spring, so the eighth inning is something that will remain a question mark until he and Qualls have an opportunity to prove themselves.
I guess we are stuck with Qualls, even though Diekman was lights out in the Spring. When oh when will be keep the best 25 instead of some of these retreads.— drhoffman- To get his fastball to have late life that Bastardo needs to get outs, his velocity needs to be higher than the 90-91 that he has been registering or it's going to be problems in the eight inning this season.— Dull
- I'm really nervous about qualls - reminds me of turk wendell. Contrares will be fine - just needs to get his control back. His velocity seems to be there, so that is a positive sign.— CosmoK
- Agreed with the first three comments above by @hoffman, dull and cosmoK.
Qualls is this years Baez - yikes! I guess all teams need someone who can be the lights up torch at the back end of the bullpen. Firemen - that's what bullpen guys used to be called. Qualls is more of an arsonist.
Lose him.— 24sDad - Two things about elbow injuries/surgery........velocity and control. Neither of which does it appear Contreras has. Will they come back in a 40+ yo? I'm betting not, or if they do, it will be short lived and he may not make it through the summer before breaking down again.— Mark1npt
- Qualls, like Durbin and others before him, merely needs to be used in the right situation against the right hitters and he'll be fine. Bastardo is still not fine, and until his velocity returns to 93-95 with wicked explosion(like in 1st half of 2011), he is very hittable.— Mark1npt
- I don't have much confidence in Qualls, as I'm afraid he's going to be the next version of Danys Baez. If that happens it will take Charlie a few of those games where he turns an 8th inning lead into a loss before finding a better alternative.— SteveS11
- I hope Ruben tells Charlie to use Bastardo and Qualls with righty lefty matchups only in the 8th. Charlie is so stubborn, wanting each guy to get a full inning, but he needs to make pitching changes because Qualls against a lefty is frightening.
Combined I think they do great in the 8th. But either one for a whole inning spells blown save.— WFChamps - Although it might take 2-3 months, I believe that one or more of Aumont, DeFratus, and Schwimmer will be up and on the pen staff. Qualls is highly suspect since he can't pitch against lefties. Bastardo is suspect in light of his lower velocity and seeming unfamiliarity with 2012's strike zone. Thankfully, Savery has shown up to pitch vs. lefties AND righties.
Contreras might not be able to pitch decently--if at all--in 2012. That arm surgery is less responsive in a guy who has grey-accumulated those many years of life on the mound.
The pen in August-September will not be the same as now.— artfulme - Sorry...I failed to include Diekman, lefty with possible terror to hitters especially lefties. That's FOUR pen guys to choose among to add to the big club staff.— artfulme
- Going into Spring Training, it was apparent that the Phillies needed a better option at setup and a situational lefty. Contreras/Bastardo are good when healthy, but don't seem to be healthy. Qualls and Stutes are 6th maybe 7th inning guys. For a team built on pitching, there are too many question marks in the bullpen.— Chainsaw
- Not what I saw in spring.....Ace's need to throw 9 innings and pray!— Lynnwood
Comment removed.- Pure speculation, but I think Qualls got derailed several years ago by a season-ending fluke injury. I seem to recall he took a line drive off the ankle or knee or something in a September game. I don't think he's been the same before this season, so maybe that has something to do with his recent ineffectiveness.— bacbank
- Who was that guy who got the save for the Nats yesterday with a clean inning and two strikeouts?— dasher
