Afternoon notes

Thursday, 14 February 2013 15:16

Written by Bill Brink

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Chris Leroux said today that he thinks he is fighting for a spot as a long reliever. 

"I think I'm going to be a bullpen guy and hopefully I do well enough in the bullpen that if they need a pitcher down the road, they can look to me as opposed to in the minor leagues," Leroux said.

Leroux felt he matured as a pitcher when he lost some velocity after an early April pectoral injury knocked a couple miles per hour off his fastball.

"My strikeout numbers were still there," he said. "I think that was just because I learned how to use my stuff as opposed to just throwing it."

***Absentee list: Stolmy Pimentel and Brandon Inge.

***Clint Hurdle indicated today that Justin Wilson will likely compete for a spot in the major league bullpen. Hurdle has talked for a long time about wanting two lefties in the 'pen, and Wilson could complement Tony Watson in that role. Neal Huntington has said Jonathan Sanchez could compete for a spot in the bullpen as well, and it's possible Jeff Locke becomes a middle reliever, but Wilson is the most likely as of right now.

That would project the bullpen to be: Jason Grilli, Mark Melancon, Watson, Jared Hughes, Wilson, Leroux and Bryan Morris. Andy Oliver, Duke Welker, Vin Mazzaro, Mike Zagurski and some of the other non-roster invitees are also possibilities.

***Hurdle said he and the team were candid with Inge: He won't earn a starting spot, but could compete for a bench spot with the chance to pinch-hit, enter in a double switch or platoon.

***Hurdle said Jeanmar Gomez will join Sanchez, Locke and Kyle McPherson in the race for the final rotation spot. Oliver could also join this competition.

It still appears that Locke, McPherson and Sanchez are the three main candidates.

"He's well aware of the fact that numbers don't lie as well," Hurdle said of Sanchez. "The command, and the numbers, his pitch-ability last year wasn't anywhere close to what he feels he's capable of. We're not going to try to recreate him. We do believe we've got some people here that can help him."