The Brewers, who in recent seasons had trouble finding effective left-handers for their bullpen, have some interesting decisions to make in that area this spring.
One decision was made for them when it was decided that veteran lefty Tom Gorzelanny would have to open the season on the disabled list. Gorzelanny had offseason shoulder surgery and is making progress on a throwing program but does not have enough time to get ready for opening day.
“He’s still a ways away,” said manager Ron Roenicke. “It doesn’t look real good unless something happens where he comes along really fast.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a lot (of season missed), as long as there are no setbacks. But we’re pushing it maybe a little (to think Gorzelanny would be ready on opening day).”
With Gorzelanny headed to the DL, it could impact the status of a couple of other lefty relievers — Wei-Chung Wang and Zach Duke. Wang is a Rule 5 draft pick who must be kept all season or offered back to Pittsburgh, which likely would want him back.
Duke is trying to make the bullpen as a non-roster player and has been impressive for the most part. On Wednesday, he struck out the side in an inning of work against the Los Angeles Angels.
“It’s hard to talk about all these things because so much changes,” said Roenicke. “We spend a lot of energy talking about stuff that we can wait to talk about.”
Roenicke isn’t ready to make it official yet, but lefty Will Smith almost certainly will have a spot in the bullpen.
“The way he’s throwing the ball, yeah,” said Roenicke. “He looks really good. He probably commands the ball better than I thought (previously), down in the zone.
Of the decisions the Brewers have to make with the assortment of lefties, Roenicke said, “That’s nice to have. And (they are) good ones. I don’t want lefties that are not good. They’re good.”
NOTES, QUOTES
–RHP Yovani Gallardo was named the Brewers’ Opening Day starter once again by manager Ron Roenicke. Gallardo will be the first pitcher in club history to start on Opening Day in five consecutive seasons.
–RHP Francisco Rodriguez, already behind the other pitchers after arriving late in camp, suffered another setback when he stepped bare-foot on a cactus in the backyard of his spring home. Rodriguez had several spines removed from his left foot and the lingering swelling and soreness delayed his first exhibition appearance.
–RHP Michael Olmsted, a non-roster invitee to camp, was released after posting a 6.75 ERA in two exhibition outings. Olmsted, who had been removed from the 40-man roster after a rough 2013 in the minors, signed a minor league deal with Boston after being released.
–LHP Zach Duke, a non-roster invitee to camp, impressed manager Ron Roenicke and his stuff with the way he performed in exhibition games. In five appearances, Duke was 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA and had six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. The former starter said he embraced a change to relief pitching.
–2B Rickie Weeks (offseason hamstring surgery) had scar tissue break up while running the bases March 12, but that was viewed as a good thing. Weeks said he felt freer moving around afterward and expected to only get better.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Been around for a long time and this is the first one. I don’t think I’ve been on the DL before. I don’t think something has happened to me before the season or during the season.” — Brewers RHP Francisco Rodriguez, after getting injured stepping bare-foot on a cactus.