Bully For Reyes
Three Colorado batters.
Three knockout punches.
When the Cardinals won 3-0 Thursday at Busch, we were treated to the spectacle of Anthony Reyes, the most puzzling of all Cardinal curiosities, mowing down Ryan Spilborghs, Troy Tulowitzki and Todd Helton during a 21-pitch, 16-strike, three-K eighth inning.
I don’t know if Reyes has a future in the bullpen or not, but if he can throw strikes at that rate, he’s got a chance.
Maybe a term in the bullpen will alter his mindset.
It’s just a theory… but I wonder …
Does Reyes have too much time to think between starts? Do his headwires get tangled by too much analysis? Does he stress between starting assignments?
Maybe it’s mentally healthy for Reyes to sit in the bullpen and yuck it up with the joking, conniving, wingnut veteran relievers who keep it fun, keep it loose, until it’s time to quickly warm up for emergency duty. Maybe Reyes likes sitting around this baseball firehouse, keeping his mind off the game until he enters the fray. The uncomplicated mind can be a beautiful thing.
What we saw Thursday was an old flash of natural ability that once excited scouts: Reyes, raw.
I don’t know if the Rey Gun can keep this up, but the three-strikeout binge was yet another fascinating turn in the Anthony Reyes story… a story that never seems to end.
–B
i commented early in spring training that i thought reyes would be much better off in the bullpen. for one, two and sometimes three innings, he is an outstanding pitcher. it’s only when he thinks about lasting six or seven that he gets in trouble. in the pen, he doesn’t have time to think too much before he enters the game. by taking off the pressure of starting, they may allow reyes enough time to find his correct mental attitude. this is just the latest in a string of good moves by the team. early, i was very worried about this team, then they signed lohse, brought up mcclellan and put reyes in the pen. all great moves. i think mo has quite a bit to do with this and i say bravo!