Woodruff to take it easy at All-Star Game
Brandon Woodruff is as competitive as they come when on a baseball mound but he’s actually OK knowing he won’t pitch Tuesday night for the National League in the All-Star Game in Denver.
“I’m going to be there with my wife and little girl,” the Milwaukee Brewers ace said. “That will be my time to take a little break and enjoy it, and not have to worry about pitching. My best friend is going to be there, too.”
Woodruff earned his second all-star berth with a brilliant first half but knew he’d be unavailable to pitch because of his scheduled start Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds in the Brewers’ final game before the break. What made that even easier to take was that his status allowed teammate Freddy Peralta to be added to the NL staff.
Peralta’s addition gave the Brewers three starting pitchers on the NL roster, including Corbin Burnes, a first for the franchise. With closer Josh Hader also selected, another franchise first was the selection of four pitchers overall, and making it even better, catcher Omar Narváez was added to the squad Saturday as an injury replacement for St. Louis’ Yadier Molina.
Woodruff can relate to Peralta’s situation because he, too, was added to the NL pitching staff in 2019 as a replacement for Hader, who bowed out of the competition because of back soreness. Woodruff got to pitch in the game in Cleveland, allowing one run in two-thirds of an inning in the American League’s 4-3 victory.
“Just an unbelievable experience,” Woodruff said. “Getting to throw in it was really cool, too, to have the opportunity to do that. This year is a little bit different. Second time around, and very thankful to do that. I still want to go.
“When we had the first round of guys getting in, Freddy wasn’t in but I knew (he had a chance) because it’s the same thing I went through in ’19. I know initially he was a little disappointed because he definitely deserved to be in, but I think everybody knew he would get in. The schedule was going to work out and he was going to get in.
“And he deserves to be in anyway. When it was announced, everybody was so happy and he was so happy. I know he and his family are super excited. I’m ready to see him get there and enjoy it.”
Woodruff is particularly excited for Peralta, Burnes and Narváez, who will be making their first trip to the All-Star Game. He said the first time is an experience you never forget.
“For me, the biggest thing was you grow up as a kid watching it,” he said. “And you watch Home Run Derby, and it’s the coolest thing. You’re actually sitting on the field watching it. Everything is so cool and you’re taking it in.
“You’re in the clubhouse with all the guys and you realize, ‘I’m one of the best.’ It really sinks in; the first one is really cool. I hope those guys get in (the game). They should. It’s an incredible experience and something you don’t forget. One of those things you definitely cherish forever.”
Asked what it’s going to feel to line up on the base line during player introductions as one of four Brewers pitchers on the staff, Woodruff said, “No. 1, the development part of it and the organization as a whole, it says a lot. I know Freddy got traded over and Josh got traded over but they were young.
“We all developed in the same system and came up at the same time. It’s just been building and building, and it’s a testament to the hard work, not just the players but behind the scenes. All the work you put in to get better and understand what kind of pitcher you are, and sticking to that. It’s a credit to all of our development people.
“A lot goes into it behind the scenes people don’t know about. The see us on the field but they don’t see what goes on in between. It shows a lot for the organization.”
Strickland has been solid
Hunter Strickland, pitching for his third organization this season, appears to finally have found a home in the Brewers’ bullpen.
The veteran right-hander was acquired in a cash deal from the Angels on June 12 and entering Sunday had logged 10 scoreless appearances with 11 strikeouts in 11 ⁄3
1 innings.
“Super comfortable,” is how Strickland described his time with Milwaukee. “Can’t complain. Just trying to go out there and do my job one day at a time. I don’t think there’s a role for me, so to speak. It’s just kind of, ‘Be ready,’ is the way we’ve gone about it.
“Obviously, we’ve got a talented bullpen down there. Just be ready, see how the game’s playing out and when your name’s called, go out and do your job.”
Strickland opened the season with the Tampa Bay Rays and logged a 1.69 earned run average in 13 appearances before being sent to Los Angeles on May 15 in another cash deal.
He had much less success there, posting a 9.95 ERA in 6 13 ⁄ innings over nine appearances before coming to Milwaukee.
What’s been the secret to his success with the Brewers?
Manager Craig Counsell says it’s as simple as commanding the strike zone. Strickland is also throwing his slider at a higher rate than he had at his first two stops this season — 46.4% compared to 48.2% for his four-seam fastball that is averaging 94.7 mph.
“Hunter’s just executing a lot of pitches right now,” Counsell said. “That’s why he’s having success — his execution level is really, really high, and that just spells success for him.
“Hunter’s a pitcher that, for a long time, relied on a great fastball out of the ‘pen, and now he’s just evolving into being able to consider some other options. He’s at a place in his career where he’s really open to that. Hunter understands he’s got to do something for hitters, show them different things.”
Strickland, who turns 33 on Sept. 24, said the increase in slider usage since coming to Milwaukee has been a collaborative effort but also something he’d pinpointed himself coming into 2021.
“I went into spring training starting to do that,” said Strickland, whose ERA sat at 4.03 and WHIP at 1.57 in 22 total appearances this season.
“Obviously, getting more data with that pitch and realizing that it is an effective pitch for me and that I don’t have to rely on just the fastball, it’s something we’ve focused on and a way we’ve ultimately figured out how to get hitters out.”