PHILADELPHIA — When I first saw Carlos Estevez pitch in spring training, I shook my head.
Thankfully, I shook my head from a safe place behind the batting cage. I didn’t have to step in against Estevez’s 99 mph fastballs and swing a bat.
The players who stepped into the cage — veterans such as Nolan Arenado, Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon — also shook their heads. In awe.
“That guy is the real thing,” Arenado told me. “His fastball is explosive … he’s got an electric slider.”
That was five months ago, before Estevez’s seven consecutive saves in late July and early August, followed by the two blown saves on the Rockies’ last homestand. Those meltdowns prompted angry fans to fill my in-box with emails labeling Estevez as the Rockies’ latest bust.
I think the skeptics are wrong. I think the 23-year-old right-hander is going to get it right.
“Carlos is made of the right stuff, believe me,” manager Walt Weiss said. “He’s got plenty of stuff to get the last three outs of the game. He’s going to be a really good closer. He already is. But itap like being a field goal kicker. The one time you miss, everybody wants you to get fired. But at times he’s been absolutely dominant. He’s going to be very good.”
I agree with Weiss. Estevez has the mentality and self-confidence to get the job done. Like a good NFL cornerback, he’s able to let failure role off his back.
OK, so what’s going wrong? Why is he 2-7 with a 5.05 ERA? It’s not because he lacks talent. His fastball hums at 96-100 MPH, his slider has a hard break and he’s got an improving changeup. Nor is his problem lack of precise command.
“He’s got three good pitches, they are all good weapons,” Weiss said. “But right now it’s about his ability to throw strikes with those weapons.
“At this level, if it’s a ball out of your hand, and the hitter knows that, then the pitch serves no purpose. You have to put the hitter in a position to make decisions on whether it’s a ball or a strike.”
As Weiss explained, control is a pitcher’s ability to throw strikes. Command is the ability to pinpoint the ball within the strike zone.
“With Carlos’ velocity, he just has to be able to throw strikes,” Weiss said. “He doesn’t have to hit corners and that type of thing. His stuff is that good — right now.”
While fans might not care, one of the other things that impresses me about Estevez is his accountability. Save or blown save, he’s always ready to answer the media’s questions. There is a maturity and a confidence about him that’s impressive.
Adam Ottavino, the veteran right-hander who supplanted Estevez as Colorado’s closer, is equally impressed.
“He has the pitches, he just has to be more consistent with them, and he knows that,” Ottavino said. “But he has to throw his fastball for strikes, because that’s his money maker.”
How good can Estevez be?
“He’s incredibly talented and he’s going to save hundreds of games,” Ottavino said. “But right now it’s tough. You have to grow up quick, you have to make adjustments quick. But he’s working hard. When I was his age, I was struggling in Double-A. I mean struggling bad. You have to keep that in perspective.”
Spotlight on Bryce Harper, Nationals Outfielder
Whatap up: Harper made headlines this spring when he was in which he crusaded to make baseball a cooler, hipper sport. “Baseball’s tired,” he said. “It’s a tired sport, because you can’t express yourself. You can’t do what people in other sports do. I’m not saying baseball is, you know, boring or anything like that, but it’s the excitement of the young guys who are coming into the game now who have flair.” Unfortunately for Harper, baseball’s not a lot of fun right now. As the Nationals come into Coors Field for a three-game series beginning Monday, Harper is hurting and enduring a disappointing season even as the Nationals have taken command in the National League East.
Background: Harper missed his fourth consecutive game Friday amid a that said Harper’s stiff neck may be something more serious, and the result of a shoulder injury he has dealt with for two months. Nationals general manger Mike Rizzo adamantly denied the report, but there is a chance that Harper will not see action against the Rockies.
Saunders’ take: Harper, last year’s National League MVP, is in a ditch. His .208/.335/.353 slash line over his past 48 games is troubling. So is the fact that he has batted .128 over his past 47 at-bats without a home run. Harper’s 2015 season was one for the ages. He batted .330, second in the NL, and his 42 home runs tied for the NL lead with the Rockies’ Nolan Arenado. He led the NL in runs scored (118), on-base percentage (.460) and slugging percentage (.649). Entering the weekend, he was batting just .233 with 20 homers and an .812 OPS. Harper is one of the game’s great young players and he’s a joy to watch. You might not like his bravado or his style, but he is good for the game. In the wake of Prince Fielder’s retirement because of chronic neck issues, here’s hoping Harper’s ailments are not serious and he regains his MVP form in time for the postseason.
UP
1. Cubs: Throttled St. Louis 13-2 Friday for 11th consecutive win and improved to 41-17 at home.
2. Rangers: A 26-8 record in one-run games (.765) is on pace to be best since the Brooklyn Bridegrooms went 14-4 in 1890.
3. Mariners: Eights wins in last 10 games has M’s in hunt for an AL wild-card berth.
DOWN
1. Mets: After getting swept at home by lowly Arizona, manager Terry Collins ripped his team, threatening to bring up minor leaguers.
2. Rockies: Bullpen meltdowns and two bad starts by Jon Gray led to seven losses in nine games.
3. Tigers: In last nine days, three starting position players and two starting pitchers have been placed on the DL, including shortstop Jose Iglesias.
