Knebel afforded opportunity to work on things in bullpen
Corey Knebel did something Saturday that major-league relief pitchers seldom are afforded the opportunity to do.
He threw a lengthy, full-go bullpen session.
If that sounds odd for a relief pitcher, the only thing that allowed it was that Knebel no longer was on the Milwaukee Brewers' active roster. He was optioned on Thursday to Class AAA Colorado Springs but because players have 72 hours to report, Knebel stayed here to work with pitching coach Derek Johnson and bullpen coach Lee Tunnell.
“It went good,” Knebel said of the session. “It was a positive pen. We’re going to keep going until D.J. thinks it’s right.”
Knebel likely will throw another bullpen session Sunday, then head for Colorado Springs to see some game action. He is eligible to rejoin the Brewers on Sept. 2.
Knebel began the season as the Brewers’ closer but suffered a hamstring strain in his third outing and missed five weeks. His command has been erratic since that injury and had worsened in recent weeks, particularly with his curveball.
Since his last save on July 27, Knebel was 0-2 with an 8.68 earned run average in 10 appearances. He was removed from closing duty after blowing a save on Aug. 9 against San Diego, walking the bases loaded and allowing a run-scoring infield hit.
Overall, Knebel is 2-3 with a 5.08 ERA and 14 saves in 41 appearances, including seven homers allowed and 19 walks in 39 innings. It has been a far cry from his all-star season of 2017, when Knebel saved 39 games, posted a 1.78 ERA in a league-high 76 outings and struck out a whopping 126 batters in 76 innings.
Relievers can’t work much on their mechanics in-season because they have to be available to pitch on a daily basis. Thus, Knebel’s sessions with Johnson and Tunnell before reporting to Colorado Springs could prove valuable.
Asked if there’s any one thing that has caused his command issues, Knebel said, “If I knew, I probably wouldn’t be in this situation. Right now, I’m listening to D.J. and Lee. Whatever they see, from the outside looking in, is what I’m going to focus on.
“Whatever I can do to clear my head and figure out anything, I want to do it. I’ve been going into games in important situations and not doing my part, not doing my job. I’d rather get it right to where I can go in and do my job.
“That’s the most important thing right now. As long as (manager Craig Counsell) can put in guys that can get the job done, that’s what counts. I’m going to get back there. That’s the goal.”
Knebel throws two pitches – a high 90s (mph) fastball and sharp-breaking curveball, and needs to throw both for strikes to be effective. Once he feels mechanically sound doing that, he’ll pitch in games in Colorado Springs to make sure he’s ready to return to the Brewers.
“This is a good thing,” he said. “It’s good to get some time off and work on some stuff. I’d much rather be working on stuff right know than hurting the team.”
Iron man Kratz: Veteran catcher Erik Kratz, worked all 15 innings behind the plate Friday night as the Brewers pulled out a 7-6 victory over the Pirates. Kratz tied the game with a two-run single in the 15th before Orlando Arcia delivered the game-winning hit.
Kratz caught 253 pitches in the game but it wasn't the longest one he has caught in the majors. Playing for the Pirates in 2016, he worked all 18 innings of a 2-1 victory on July 17 in Washington. The Nationals tied the game in the ninth before the teams went scoreless until a Starling Marte homer in the 18th off Oliver Perez. In that game, Kratz caught 275 pitches.
"It was a day game and it was like 95 degrees," Kratz recalled. "I really wasn't tired (Friday night). I was tired of not scoring (for 13 innings after a four-run first). When you play that long, you have to win. It's really hard on the team that loses."