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Cards Notebook: The Reyes experiment
By Joe Strauss
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
04/13/2008
SAN FRANCISCO — Only two weeks after it began out of necessity, the Anthony Reyes Relief Experiment has convinced some within the Cardinals' clubhouse that Reyes has found his true calling.
Reyes worked a scoreless 10th inning Saturday to preserve the Cardinals' hard-fought 8-7 win over the San Francisco Giants. Closer Jason Isringhausen got the decision after the Giants tied the game against him with a two-run ninth, then paid attention to Reyes' nerveless performance.
"I think Anthony is better suited to be in the bullpen than he is starting," Isringhausen said. "He doesn't think as much."
Isringhausen said that he and fellow sage Russ Springer have discussed the role with Reyes, who has seemed to thrive when not faced with having to pace himself as a starter. Reyes' velocity has increased dramatically since spring training, allowing him to strike out six without a walk in 5 2/3 innings. Reyes also sports a 3.18 ERA and a victory to go with Saturday's save, while realizing the positive reinforcement that eluded him in 2007.
"As a reliever, you're going to face guys one time,'' Isringhausen said. "You don't have to worry about setting anybody up (for a later at-bat). You just go out there and work to one half of the plate. Let (the fastball) eat and throw hard."
Isringhausen theorizes "there was too much going on" for Reyes to thrive as a starter. A new role has freed him up.
"He's got a good riding fastball and a good biting slider," Isringhausen said. "As a reliever, as long as you can throw your fastball to both sides of the plate and have a good breaking ball, that's what you've got to do. The main thing as a reliever is not walking people."
Reyes low-keyed the role change but admitted his comfort zone is expanding.
"My mentality has always been to try and throw it by the guy," Reyes said. "The last few years it's been tough. Now I feel normal. My mentality is starting to come back, and that's the groove I need to be in."
By Joe Strauss
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
04/13/2008
SAN FRANCISCO — Only two weeks after it began out of necessity, the Anthony Reyes Relief Experiment has convinced some within the Cardinals' clubhouse that Reyes has found his true calling.
Reyes worked a scoreless 10th inning Saturday to preserve the Cardinals' hard-fought 8-7 win over the San Francisco Giants. Closer Jason Isringhausen got the decision after the Giants tied the game against him with a two-run ninth, then paid attention to Reyes' nerveless performance.
"I think Anthony is better suited to be in the bullpen than he is starting," Isringhausen said. "He doesn't think as much."
Isringhausen said that he and fellow sage Russ Springer have discussed the role with Reyes, who has seemed to thrive when not faced with having to pace himself as a starter. Reyes' velocity has increased dramatically since spring training, allowing him to strike out six without a walk in 5 2/3 innings. Reyes also sports a 3.18 ERA and a victory to go with Saturday's save, while realizing the positive reinforcement that eluded him in 2007.
"As a reliever, you're going to face guys one time,'' Isringhausen said. "You don't have to worry about setting anybody up (for a later at-bat). You just go out there and work to one half of the plate. Let (the fastball) eat and throw hard."
Isringhausen theorizes "there was too much going on" for Reyes to thrive as a starter. A new role has freed him up.
"He's got a good riding fastball and a good biting slider," Isringhausen said. "As a reliever, as long as you can throw your fastball to both sides of the plate and have a good breaking ball, that's what you've got to do. The main thing as a reliever is not walking people."
Reyes low-keyed the role change but admitted his comfort zone is expanding.
"My mentality has always been to try and throw it by the guy," Reyes said. "The last few years it's been tough. Now I feel normal. My mentality is starting to come back, and that's the groove I need to be in."
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