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Pitcher makes mark in majors
Brewers notes: Pitcher Tyler Cravy proves he belongs in the majors.
PHOENIX – When right-hander Tyler Cravy joined the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Aug. 16, he brought an overnight bag from Class AAA Colorado Springs.
That “overnight” turned into a six-week stay in the majors.
“I had to go shop for some clothes,” Cravy recalled.
The Brewers were playing a makeup doubleheader against the Cubs, and after Cravy tossed two scoreless innings of relief in the opener, he figured he’d be using his return ticket to Colorado Springs the next day. Things changed, however, when starter Chase
Anderson was hit by a line drive in the first inning of the nightcap and exited the game.
With Anderson down for a few days, the Brewers decided to keep Cravy around for another arm. He remained in the majors for the rest of the season and enjoyed his best stretch of pitching at that level.
Over his last 14 appearances, all but one in relief, Cravy compiled a 0.96 earned run average, allowing only seven hits over 182⁄3 innings while limiting opponents to a .115 batting average.
It was a remarkable improvement from his brief action with the Brewers earlier in the season, when he had a 6.52 ERA over six outings (one start) with a 1.655 WHIP and .350 opponents batting average.
Cravy, 27, who had been bounced around from starting to relieving in previous stints with the Brewers, said settling into a regular routine in the bullpen made things easier for him.
“I got into a good rhythm, which was nice,” he said. “Knowing what your role is and what you’re going to be doing definitely makes it easier. That was by far the best I’ve pitched up here. Everything just fell into place.
“I’m hoping I stick with that role. I was comfortable with it; it was easier to prepare. The bullpen guys really worked well together. We had a good bunch down there. It was ‘next man up.’ ”
Cravy was a different pitcher during that stretch. He made “a few tweaks” to his delivery, adding some deception, and even came up with a quick pitch that caught hitters off guard.
“He certainly pitched very well over that time,” manager Craig Counsell said. “He did a really nice job. There is value in pitchers who can (pitch in relief as well as start).
“He got on a little bit of a roll. He did add some things, but it was more with deception, not stuff. He had a little more turn in his delivery. He did have some different things to throw at hitters.”
Whether Cravy stays in a relief role or returns to starting in the minors remains to be seen. During his minor-league career, he has made 77 starts and pitched 80 times out of the bullpen.
However it shakes out, that “overnight” stay last season proved Cravy can get the job done in the majors.
“I think it helped with confidence a lot, knowing I can pitch up here and get guys out,” he said. “I know what I can do now, not trying to do too much. I know what I’m doing now. Once I get into a groove, I know what I’m capable of.”
Out of sorts: What was hoped to be a breakout 2016 for outfielder
Michael Reed wound up being a struggle, but he believes he learned valuable lessons from his experience.
After making his major-league debut at the end of 2015, Reed hit just .248 with eight home runs and 45 runs batted in over 121 games at Class AAA Colorado Springs. He did post a .366 on-base percentage and steal 20 bases, but he also struck out a career-high 124 times.
“I wouldn’t say it was disappointing. I think I learned a lot from it,” he said. “It was a learning experience for me not to stray away from what works for me and my approach. I think I did kind of stray away from that, the type of player I am, and it didn’t work.”
While the Brewers went through the likes of Ramon Flores, Alex
Presley and Jake Elmore in the outfield as 2016 progressed, Reed tried to remedy his issues with the Sky Sox before finally getting a September callup.
“I just think I got in a pull-the-ball mentality,” said Reed, who hit .182 in 22 at-bats and is a .214 hitter in 15 career bigleague games.
“I hit the ball well to right field, I hit the ball well to the gaps, and I think I got away from the type of hitter that I am. Maybe (trying for) the home runs a little bit. But every year I’ve progressed in my power numbers, so I’ve got to trust that will come.
“I think I got away from a little of the mechanical side of what works for me, and my approach.”
A fifth-round pick of the Brewers in 2011, the 24-year-old Reed’s battle to make his first openingday roster in 2017 has become even tougher with the presence of top prospects Lewis Brinson, Brett Phillips and Ryan Cordell in majorleague camp.
He certainly stacks up well with them physically at 6 feet and a rock-solid 215 pounds. But Kirk
Nieuwenhuis would appear to be the fourth outfielder at this point and super utility man Hernan
Perez also is able to play out there, leaving younger players like Reed facing an uphill battle.
“You focus on your game, but with all these talented players around you it only makes you a better ballplayer,” he said. “It challenges you as a player. They’re all great guys and they’re all going to help the Brewers in the future in one way or another.
“But you worry about your game and you help them with whatever they need help with, they help you, and it only makes you collectively a better ballclub.”