New starter Happ searches for consistency after trade
CINCINNATI — J.A. Happ joined the Pirates Saturday afternoon in time to throw his regularly scheduled bullpen session as he continues to search for consistency this season.
“I had a few tough outings,” said Happ, whom the Pirates acquired from the Seattle Mariners Friday before the trade deadline in exchange for Class AAA right-hander Adrian Sampson. “For me, getting a fresh start will be a good thing. I know what I’m capable of and I know I feel healthy, so I’m excited to get back out there.”
Happ will start Tuesday in place of A.J. Burnett. Left-handed reliever Bobby LaFromboise, who joined the team for less than a day after right elbow inflammation forced Burnett to the disabled list, was optioned to Class AAA Indianapolis to make room for Happ.
In 108⅔ innings with the Mariners this season, Happ had a 4.64 ERA. He struck out 82 and walked 32, and had a WHIP of 1.41.
Happ, 32, a left-hander, posted a 2.30 ERA in four starts in April. Since then, his ERA is 5.42. He allowed three home runs in his previous start, a 3⅓-inning outing Thursday in which he allowed six earned runs, but allowed three earned runs in seven innings two starts before that.
“Earlier in the year, I was throwing the ball really well,” he said. “The hardest thing about this game is being consistent, and that’s what you try to do.”
The Philadelphia Phillies drafted Happ out of Northwestern in the third round in 2004. He debuted in 2007 and pitched parts of four years in Philadelphia before joining the Houston Astros in the trade that sent Roy Oswalt to the Phillies. Happ’s 2.93 ERA in 35 games, 23 starts, in 2009 earned him second place in National League rookie of the year voting.
He spent parts of three seasons with the Astros before they traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012 in a 10-player trade that included former All-Star pitcher Francisco Cordero.
A December trade sent him to Seattle.
“He’s shown the ability to pitch, to get deeper in games,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “He’s got a bunch of games he’s gone six, seven innings. He’s pitched in the American League, usually tougher lineups to navigate through. I believe he’s got the pitches to handle both hitters, both sides of the plate.”
This season, Happ has thrown his four-seam fastball, which averages 91.4 mph, more than half the time. He also throws a sinker, cutter, changeup and, rarely, a curveball.
“Can sink it, can spin it, change speeds,” Hurdle said. “Looking for a new opportunity. We’ll wait and see what he’s able to do when he gets out there, but I believe this is an opportunity for him to be the best J.A. Happ he’s been.”
Minor move
Right-handed reliever John Holdzkom went on the minor league disabled list because of a strained right shoulder. Holdzkom is on the DL for the third time this season because of a shoulder issue. He had just come off the DL Tuesday and pitched once, walking two batters in a scoreless inning Wednesday.