Manuel Corpas has put the month leading up to the all-star break behind him. His eyes are focused straight ahead on the remainder of the season.
“Now it’s about the second half and helping my team win,” said Corpas, who went from closing games early this season to a setup role and is now in a longer relief role.
Corpas utilized the all-star break to rest, spend time with his family and iron out some of the kinks in his mechanics. Rebounding from an abysmal stretch when he posted an ERA of 9.95, Corpas has lowered his season ERA to 4.12 with solid work over his past 10 games. In his most recent outing against Pittsburgh on Wednesday, he pitched 2 2/3 innings with four strikeouts.
“For me, it helped,” Corpas said of the all-star break. “I don’t know about the other guys, but it helped me because I threw a lot of innings (in the first half).”
After his emergence as the team’s closer during the Rocktober run in 2007, Corpas signed a four-year contract extension worth $8.02 million. He has been unable to duplicate his success since then. A year ago, he threw in 35 games but was limited because of bone spurs in his elbow.
Lately, manager Jim Tracy is pleased with his production.
“He’s the guy that has held everything else in place,” Tracy said. “Manny Corpas has done a little bit of everything. He has pitched length. He has pitched in the sixth, or the seventh. I don’t know that you can ask a guy to be any more flexible and respond in the manner he has.”
After every outing, Corpas takes a tape of the game home. He said he is constantly replaying his last outing, be it in his car or at home, to study his mechanics and pitch location.
Over his past 10 outings, Corpas has an ERA of 2.84.
“Now, I’m throwing a little bit better,” Corpas said. “My sinker is better, slider is better. My mechanics are much better. I throw more strikes now, and I don’t walk too many people right now and that’s what I like.”
Whether he plays the role of a long reliever or closer, Corpas is all about the team.
“Every time they give me the ball, I just need to help (the team),” Corpas said. “I don’t care if I throw two or three innings. It’s better than one (inning) in Triple-A.”
