NATIONALS NOTEBOOK
Ayala's Injury Puts Stress On Bullpen
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
After Washington Nationals right-hander Luis Ayala pitched a scoreless eighth inning against the New York Mets on Aug. 21, no other National League pitcher had appeared in more games. Ayala's ERA through those 66 appearances was 2.55, and he was an essential piece of Washington's bullpen.
Since then, Ayala has pitched to one batter -- Atlanta's Andruw Jones, who hit a game-ending home run in the 10th inning on Sept. 1. A bone spur in Ayala's right elbow cost him a month, and altered the way Manager Frank Robinson used his bullpen.
Monday, though, Ayala threw in a simulated game at RFK Stadium, and though doctors will evaluate him again today, he expressed optimism that he might pitch again this season.
"I try to work hard for the rest of the season," Ayala said. "I hope I'm available for every day."
When the Nationals were at their best, Robinson had Ayala, Gary Majewski and Hector Carrasco as set-up men to get to closer Chad Cordero. Now, because starters Tony Armas Jr. and Ryan Drese are out for the season with injuries, Carrasco is in the rotation. That, coupled with Ayala's injury, has put undue strain on Majewski and Cordero, who entered last night's game against the San Francisco Giants with 145 appearances between them.
"It's kind of taken a toll on those guys," Robinson said. "Also, it's kind of tied my hands a little bit [preventing] the moves that I've been making all season long."
The experience has been difficult for Ayala, too.
"I'm thinking I should be in there," he said. "It makes it hurt more. When I see the game is close, and I think I should be in, I can do nothing."
Schneider Returns to Lineup
Catcher Brian Schneider returned to the lineup for the first time since Sept. 11 having missed the entire six-game road trip, save for two innings on Sept. 13, with shoulder soreness. He tested his throwing motion prior to Sunday's game in San Diego, and he said then that the key was how it felt afterward. "It wasn't any worse," he said.
Schneider's replacement, Gary Bennett, is six for his last 44, dropping his average to .220.
