THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 6, 1996 TAG: 9606060553
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 46 lines
With the way Bob Apodaca has weaved his pitching staff in the last two weeks, maybe the Norfolk Tides pitching coach should take up quilting.
The Tides threw four shutouts in a 10-game stretch, with all four shutouts being the work of committee pitching.
In some instances, Apodaca has turned to the bullpen by design. Other times it's been gut feeling. But if pulling a starting pitcher who has a shutout is baseball's version of a ``crapshoot'' like manager Bobby Valentine says, the Tides have commanded the table when rolling the dice.
Mike Fyhrie started two of the shutouts, going seven and 6 2/3 innings, Robert Person went seven in another and Rick Reed went seven in the latest Tides shutout Tuesday night.
Tuesday's moves were by design as both Paul Byrd and Derek Wallace, who had limited opportunities in the previous week, pitched an inning of relief in a 6-0 victory over Charlotte to maintain their sharpness.
``A shutout is a great accomplishment and if a starter has one going, the relief pitcher feels, `He did his job, I better do mine,' '' said Rick Trlicek, who went 2 1/3 innings in relief of Fhyrie for one of the combined shutouts. ``Bottom line is if the other team doesn't score a run, you'll win a lot of games.''
Apodaca has made some unusual trips to the mound during the stretch and it was not uncommon for him to go to the mound after, including an out trip after a pitcher had easily retired the inning's first two batters.
``He'll come out and talk about whether the guy on deck is the guy you'd rather face,'' Trlicek said. ``Or maybe you've been in a long inning and he wants to give you a breather. He's had good timing.''
The Tides were leading the International League in pitching with a 3.34 earned run average when the stretch began and posted a 2.50 ERA during the stretch.
``Usually staffs go through streaks like this,'' Apodaca said. ``But usually you'll see a complete game in the bunch. I can't remember being involved with a staff that had four shutouts without one of them being a complete game.''
With eight relievers in the bullpen, Apodaca said there should be no reservations when it comes time to look for relief.
``We don't need any of the starters going nine innings,'' Apodaca said. ``If they go less innings, maybe they're healthier later in the season. Why push it when our bullpen is deep and strong right now?'' by CNB