Like adulterers and people who owe Vegas loan sharks, baseball pitchers coming out of the bullpen are used to being put in some sticky and compromising situations. Louisville Bats' relief pitcher Robert Manuel obviously has no beef with being thrown into the fire in a late-inning game, however, as the right-hander has stonewalled opponents this year with a 2.10 ERA in 24 appearances out of the pen. Manuel, who is in his first year at the triple-A level, has been using nasty stuff to keep opposing runners where they belong: off the base paths and not crossing the plate. 17 runners have been on base when Manuel has entered games this year, and all have headed back to the dugout disappointed after the 25-year-old has pitched his way out of the jams to keep the score intact. Manuel's unbelivable stat of allowing zero inherited runners to score is one of the main reasons the Bats have won nine of their last 11, as the righty hasn't allowed an earned run in his last nine outings.
In 34 innings of work, Manuel has a 3-2 record, giving up just nine walks while fanning 28. Opponents are hitting a meager .211 off him, and he has allowed a mere eight earned runs. Thus far in 2009, Bats manager Rick Sweet has typically called on the native Texan in the middle of an inning when things are looking dicey, but Manuel has also closed games out on a few occasions, earning himself three saves. If Manuel continues his clutch late-inning performances, he should find himself knocking on the door of the first big-league callup of his career.
While with the Reds at the single-A level in '06 and '07, Manuel rotated between starting duties and coming out of the bullpen, resulting in pedestrian numbers. In 2008, he went exclusively to bullpen duty and excelled while in Chattanooga at the double-A level, posting a 1.40 ERA in 47 games. His 92 strikeouts in 77 innings caught everyone's eye, earning him league All-Star honors, as well as an MiLB.com award as the Best reliever in the Minor Leagues.
Born, raised, and still living in the Houston, Texas area, Manuel attended San Jacinto North College in Houston before transferring to nearby Sam Houston State to play for the Bearkats. Scouts really dropped the ball when evaluating Manuel, as the six-foot-three Texan went undrafted, and signed as a free agent with the Mets in 2005. After a year in New York's system, Manuel was dealt to the Reds' organization for LHP Dave Williams. It looks like the Reds hosed the Mets on this deal, as Manuel is looking like a legit prospect, while Williams is no longer in the big leagues. Williams made a total of eight appearances in the Big Apple, and is now playing at the double-A level.
Louisville hopes to continue their hot streak in Columbus, Ohio, where they play on Saturday and Sunday against their IL West divisional foe, the Columbus Clippers. The Bats whipped up in the series opener on Thursday by the score of 6-1, but lost a pitcher's duel last night in 10 innings, 2-1. Even though he got he no-decision, Homer Bailey had another outstanding outing to follow up last week's Pitcher of the Week honors. Series recap to run after the weekend showdown.
Comments