Phils' Jose Contreras adjusts to relief role

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Jose Contreras has pitched in relief 26 times during his seven-year career, including the postseason. But at age 38, Contreras wants to prolong his time in the majors, so he has become a full-time reliever for the Phillies.

With an unfamiliar role on a new team, Contreras has gravitated toward his close friend, Danys Baez. Baez, a fellow Cuban, is two lockers away and often around to offer Contreras advice on becoming a middle reliever.

Baez is also his translator. Earlier in the week, Contreras was asked how important it had been to have Baez around to help.

"You have to tell the truth on this one," Baez said to Contreras in Spanish before asking the question.

Contreras laughed. He told Baez to go away and signaled for infielder Juan Castro to translate his answer.

"Danys and I played together for 10 years in Cuba," Contreras said through Castro. "He's been helping me a lot with things inside and outside of baseball. He's been helping a lot."

The team signed the reserved Contreras to a one-year, $1.2 million contract in the off-season. When he signed, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. called the agreement "a leap of faith."

With Colorado last season, Contreras appeared in seven games as a reliever, including the playoff series with the Phillies. He allowed two runs in 91/3 innings. That small sample gave the pitcher and his new team confidence that he could succeed in the different role.

What last season helped him do the most, Contreras said, was accept that he no longer was a starter.

"Change your mind," Contreras said. "Forget about being a starter. I'm a reliever now. I have to be ready every day."

That will be the obstacle Contreras must overcome this season. In 91/3 innings this spring, he has allowed six runs, but all of them came in one disastrous outing against the New York Yankees. Manager Charlie Manuel and pitching coach Rich Dubee have praised Contreras' stuff, especially his splitter.

But Contreras has pitched on back-to-back days just five times in his career. In Grapefruit League play, he has pitched with two days between outings. This week, he is scheduled to pitch in games every other day, and Manuel said yesterday that he wanted to see Contreras pitch on back-to-back days before the spring was over.

His appearance in the Phillies' 4-3 victory over Tampa Bay yesterday could have been an indication of how Manuel plans to use the righthander. Contreras entered with one out in the sixth inning and a runner on second base. He got Carlos Pena to ground out to second and struck out Pat Burrell looking.

"He's got good stuff," Manuel said. "That's a good place where he can come into the game."

Even though it provided only a brief stint as a reliever, Contreras said the end of 2009 was beneficial in beginning his transition.

"The mental preparation was the tough part, to be mentally ready every day to be in the game," Contreras said. "You don't know what kind of role you will have. You don't know when you'll pitch in the game, late or early - three innings, one inning, one out. That's the tough part."

Contreras' role on the Phillies is undecided as well. Manuel said he had been impressed with the pitcher's command and his ability to drop his arm slot against righthanded batters. And his splitter has been effective against lefties.

Baez has his own opinion, and did not need to ask Contreras for permission to offer it.

"He's a great pitcher," Baez said. "I'll be there just in case we have to make an adjustment when he's pitching. But he can do anything at all. It's great."