As Hendriks wins award, Treinen back
On the same day fillin closer Liam Hendriks was named the American League Reliever of the Month, the A’s welcomed Blake Treinen, the man who usually fills the role, back from the injured list.
There will be no closer controversy: Treinen will get one outing in a nonhighleverage situation, then he will be back in the spot where he enjoyed a recordsetting season last year.
“He’s had a pretty good body of work for us,” manager Bob Melvin said of Treinen. “We just want to make sure he’s healthy and gets out there. You can do all the minorleague rehab you want, it’s different at the bigleague level. So we want to get him a game where he feels comfortable.”
Treinen, who missed 12 days with a right shoulder strain, said Wednesday he’ll work wherever the team needs him, but, he said, “I’m not worried about it. I’d love to work in the ninth, but I don’t make those decisions. Whatever is best for the team, I’m OK with it.
“It’s whoever’s spot earns it. No one is enti
tled to it. This business is ‘what have you done for me lately?’ It’s about production.”
In 2018, Treinen’s 0.78 ERA was the lowest in majorleague history by a pitcher with a minimum of 80 innings. He was also the first pitcher in bigleague history with 30 or more saves, 100 strikeouts and an ERA under 1.00. This year he has a 4.08 ERA. Over his past 15 games, he has a 5.87 ERA and, he said, the results were the reason he finally decided to go to the training staff with shoulder discomfort.
“When you feel stuff and have success, do you say anything? Or do you say something when you hurt the team with it?” Treinen said. “That’s when it becomes a problem. My stats are one thing, the team losing is another. I can live with a 4.00 ERA if I am still doing my job, but I can’t live with not performing and costing the team a win. That’s why I felt it was necessary to say something and take a little bit of a step back.”
The trip to the injured list was Treinen’s first, and he said he appreciated Melvin, the front office and the training staff figuring out a way to get him some time to heal in the middle of the season. While he was working to come back, Treinen said, his slider and sinker both showed improvement.
“It’s hard, mentally, watching guys competing and not being able to play,” he said. “It’s good to be back.”
Hendriks was honored for a terrific June in which he went 10 with two saves and an 0.60 ERA; he struck out 22 in 14 appearances and became the second pitcher in franchise history with 14 or more outings and at least 22 strikeouts, combined with an ERA under 1.00, joining Diego Segui in August 1968.
“It’s cool to be acknowledged for an entire month,” Hendriks said. “I’m pretty pumped.”
Last year, the A’s designated Hendriks for assignment on June 25, but after he cleared waivers, he went to TripleA Nashville and turned his season around, eventually coming back Sept. 1 and becoming the team’s opener, including for the wildcard game at New York.
Hendriks earned three saves while Treinen was out, and hadn’t allowed a run in his past 12 outings entering Wednesday. He then worked a scoreless ninth and 10th at the Coliseum against the Twins.
Hendriks has performed just about every job in the bullpen this season, from opener to closer.
“I’m going to be in whatever role they want me to be,” Hendriks said. “I’m not going to say no or anything; I’m not going to change my mindset. If they want me to be the opener, if they want me to throw the seventh, I’ll throw the seventh. I’ll be ready no matter what happens. I’m excited to be pitching, I’m excited to be on this team.”
“Every role Liam has been in, he’s been great for the team,” Treinen said. “He’s Reliever of the Month. He’s having a career year. His stuff has always been good, but it’s exponentially better this year. He’s just doing it.” Luzardo update: Top pitching prospect Jesús Luzardo was diagnosed with a Grade 2 lat strain, and there is no timetable for his return.
Luzardo was expected to make his bigleague debut with the A’s shortly after the AllStar break, but Grade 2 lat strains typically need a month of recovery time. Luzardo then would need to go through the process of getting stretched out to start again, which means the team would be lucky to get him back out on a rehab assignment in August. Briefly: Long reliever Aaron Brooks was designated for assignment; Melvin said the team is hopeful that he will clear waivers and be available at TripleA Las Vegas . ... Lefthander Sean Manaea (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Friday and could head on a rehab assignment after that, but Melvin said it might be a stretch for Manaea to be back in the rotation this month . ... Jharel Cotton (hamstring) will throw live batting practice at Class A Stockton on Thursday... Second baseman Franklin Barreto, called up Sunday, was named the Pacific Coast League Player of the Month after batting .387 with nine homers and 32 RBIs with Las Vegas in June.