E. Gonzalez in, Koplove out
PHOENIX -- Mike Koplove wasn't exactly shocked to hear he was being optioned to Triple-A Tucson on Thursday, but that didn't take away the sting.
"I didn't think it was out of the realm of possibility," the right-hander said when reached on his cell phone after hearing the news. "But it's never something you want to hear.
"I haven't thrown as well as I know I can for a good part of the year."
Koplove is 2-1 with a 5.06 ERA in 30 appearances this season.
"This is a guy we really envisioned being basically our setup guy and we feel like we need him to get to where we want to go," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said.
Koplove has struggled with his command, walking 15 and striking out 21 in 32 innings. He has also hit five batters.
"I think it's more mental than mechanical," Koplove said.
Melvin seems to feel the same way.
"I think it's a lot of things," Melvin said. "It's psychological. I think he lost his confidence when he goes out there. He's not throwing the ball where he wants to, which weighs on him a little bit because he's always been a guy that can throw the ball over the plate with all his pitches at any time. So I think it's a combination of confidence and maybe some mechanical issues as well."
There is no timetable for Koplove to return and Melvin admitted the move should be a wakeup call, not just for Koplove, but the rest of his bullpen that has struggled of late.
"They said just go down and throw well," said Koplove, who signed a two-year, $2 million contract during the offseason. "I just have to go down there and work on some things."
Welcome back: To take Koplove's place in the bullpen, the D-Backs recalled right-hander Edgar Gonzalez from Tucson.
"Edgar's pitching lights out and we really need a guy in more of a long role," Melvin said. "He was rewarded by his performance and how well he's been doing."
This year has been quite a turnaround for Gonzalez. Used as a starter in Tucson, he was 6-1, 3.00 ERA in 12 starts this year. Last year, the 22-year-old made 10 starts for the Diamondbacks and struggled to an 0-9 record with a 9.32 ERA.
A big reason for the difference is the work Gonzalez has done with Tucson pitching coach Mike Parrott, who has him using his legs to drive towards the plate. Last year, Gonzalez relied mainly on his arm and left too many pitches up in the zone.
"The pitching coach really helped me," he said. "I'm using my whole body now and I'm able to keep the ball down. I'm also throwing more changeups. I'm better with my changeup."
Catching up: The Diamondbacks have not yet started negotiations with Tuesday's No. 1 pick, Justin Upton.
Arizona scouting director Mike Rizzo said they hoped to get something done in relatively quick fashion, but took Thursday to catch their collective breaths after a hectic couple of days with the draft.
Speaking of the draft: The D-Backs hosted right-handed pitcher Brett Jacobson at Wednesday's game.
The 11th-round pick from nearby Cactus Shadows High School could be a tough sign for the Diamondbacks as he has a scholarship offer to Vanderbilt. The organization, though, felt he was too good to pass up and will take their chances in reaching an agreement.
Returning: Claudio Vargas will go back to the bullpen after making a spot start Wednesday night. With last weekend's doubleheader, the Diamondbacks were in need of a starter and though Vargas was claimed on waivers to add depth to the bullpen, he did have starting experience and therefore got the nod.
Vargas gave up six runs on eight hits over five innings in taking the loss Wednesday, his first appearance in two weeks.
"We felt like he threw the ball pretty well, there was probably just some rust," Melvin said. "He didn't walk anybody, and made them hit their way on base, which we want to see here. We want to cut down our walks and make these guys earn their way on base."
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
"I didn't think it was out of the realm of possibility," the right-hander said when reached on his cell phone after hearing the news. "But it's never something you want to hear.
"I haven't thrown as well as I know I can for a good part of the year."
Koplove is 2-1 with a 5.06 ERA in 30 appearances this season.
"This is a guy we really envisioned being basically our setup guy and we feel like we need him to get to where we want to go," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said.
Koplove has struggled with his command, walking 15 and striking out 21 in 32 innings. He has also hit five batters.
"I think it's more mental than mechanical," Koplove said.
Melvin seems to feel the same way.
"I think it's a lot of things," Melvin said. "It's psychological. I think he lost his confidence when he goes out there. He's not throwing the ball where he wants to, which weighs on him a little bit because he's always been a guy that can throw the ball over the plate with all his pitches at any time. So I think it's a combination of confidence and maybe some mechanical issues as well."
There is no timetable for Koplove to return and Melvin admitted the move should be a wakeup call, not just for Koplove, but the rest of his bullpen that has struggled of late.
"They said just go down and throw well," said Koplove, who signed a two-year, $2 million contract during the offseason. "I just have to go down there and work on some things."
Welcome back: To take Koplove's place in the bullpen, the D-Backs recalled right-hander Edgar Gonzalez from Tucson.
"Edgar's pitching lights out and we really need a guy in more of a long role," Melvin said. "He was rewarded by his performance and how well he's been doing."
This year has been quite a turnaround for Gonzalez. Used as a starter in Tucson, he was 6-1, 3.00 ERA in 12 starts this year. Last year, the 22-year-old made 10 starts for the Diamondbacks and struggled to an 0-9 record with a 9.32 ERA.
A big reason for the difference is the work Gonzalez has done with Tucson pitching coach Mike Parrott, who has him using his legs to drive towards the plate. Last year, Gonzalez relied mainly on his arm and left too many pitches up in the zone.
"The pitching coach really helped me," he said. "I'm using my whole body now and I'm able to keep the ball down. I'm also throwing more changeups. I'm better with my changeup."
Catching up: The Diamondbacks have not yet started negotiations with Tuesday's No. 1 pick, Justin Upton.
Arizona scouting director Mike Rizzo said they hoped to get something done in relatively quick fashion, but took Thursday to catch their collective breaths after a hectic couple of days with the draft.
Speaking of the draft: The D-Backs hosted right-handed pitcher Brett Jacobson at Wednesday's game.
The 11th-round pick from nearby Cactus Shadows High School could be a tough sign for the Diamondbacks as he has a scholarship offer to Vanderbilt. The organization, though, felt he was too good to pass up and will take their chances in reaching an agreement.
Returning: Claudio Vargas will go back to the bullpen after making a spot start Wednesday night. With last weekend's doubleheader, the Diamondbacks were in need of a starter and though Vargas was claimed on waivers to add depth to the bullpen, he did have starting experience and therefore got the nod.
Vargas gave up six runs on eight hits over five innings in taking the loss Wednesday, his first appearance in two weeks.
"We felt like he threw the ball pretty well, there was probably just some rust," Melvin said. "He didn't walk anybody, and made them hit their way on base, which we want to see here. We want to cut down our walks and make these guys earn their way on base."
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
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