RELIEVER LYLES STILL STRUGGLING, BUT MANAGER BLACK SEES TALENT
cincinnati » Former Rockies managerwaltweiss used to praise the raw talent of former starter-turned-reliever Jordan Lyles.
Current manager Bud Black likes Lyle’s fastball velocity and sharp breaking stuff, too. But, clearly, something isn’t working.
Lyles allowed four runs Friday night in Colorado’s 12-6 victory over Cincinnati. He has been scored on in seven of his 12 appearances.that adds up to teamhigh 8.53 ERA that includes five home runs, the most among Rockies relievers.
On Saturday, Black was asked what’s going wrong with Lyles, who signed a one-year, $3.175 million contract in December to avoid arbitration.
“In general, when a pitcher is getting hit hard, it’s about (bad) location,” Black said. “He’s got the weapons. His fastball has velocity and movement, and he has a tight slider, and a good curveball.
“But for Jordan, it’s about transitioning from a starter into a reliever. He’s a guy who came in with a starter’s mix of pitches, … and sometimes it gets a little convoluted as to what a pitcher’s trying to do.”
Philadelphia story. Starting shortstop Trevor Story, current- ly rehabbing at Triple-a Albuquerque as he returns from a strained left shoulder, probably will rejoin the Rockies in Philadelphia this week for a fourgame series that begins Monday.
Black didn’t say exactly when Story is going to be activated, but he dropped several hints.
When a reporter mentioned the City of Brotherly Love, Black said: “Story loves the Liberty Bell. He loves Ben Franklin. He might not love it all four days. But he loves it.”
Story played the first game of his rehab assignment Friday night, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIS.
“Opposite-field home run,” Black said. “Opposite-field, hardhit single. Drew a walk. Looked good in the field. Running well. He had a really good game.”
Golden Nolan. Despite a 12-8 loss to the Reds on Saturday, third baseman Nolan Arenado made yet another Gold Glove play, drawing applause from appreciative Cincinnati fans.
Arenado snared Devinmesoraco’s sizzling grounder along the third-base line, righted himself, and then gunned the ball from his knees to cut downmesoraco at first.
“Defensively, he’s been unbelievable,” Black said. “Seeing him firsthand, every day, this is a special player on both sides. I’ve said this many times: This is the best defensive third baseman that I have seen.”