As expected the Milwaukee Brewers released starter Randy Wolf Wednesday morning and have called up infielder Jeff Bianchi from Triple-A Nashville.
Wolf has been terrible this season, posting a 3-10 record with a 5.69 earned run average, 96 strikeouts, 45 walks and has surrendered 21 home runs in 142 1/3 innings. In fact, Wolf has been an overall disappointment since he arrived in Milwaukee considering the contract he signed in 2010. Wolf was paid $9.25 million that season and $9.5 million in 2011 and 2012. He had a $10.0 million club option for next year but obviously, that will not matter.
Unfortunately, this had to happen on his birthday as the left-hander turned 36 years old today. However, even he should not have been surprised considering how bad he has pitched. Not to mention, the fact the Brewers are 10 games under .500 and 18 games back behind the Cincinnati Reds in the division with a little over five weeks still to play.
Wolf’s best season in Milwaukee came last year when the Brewers made their magical run to a franchise-best 96 wins, as well as, a chance to play for a World Series berth. Wolf finished the regular season 13-10 with a 3.69 ERA, 134 strikeouts, 66 walks, and allowed 23 home runs in 212.1 innings.
Unfortunately, like most of the Milwaukee pitchers Wolf imploded in the postseason with an 8.10 ERA. However, to be fair he did pitch a phenomenal game against the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series in which he received a win after only giving up two earned runs on six hits in seven innings pitched.
It appeared Wolf was going to be removed from the starting rotation even if he was not released to make room for starter Shaun Marcum, who is coming off the disabled list soon. Also, this gives prospects such as Tyler Thornburg, Wily Peralta, and maybe a few other talented pitchers a chance to show what they can do when given a couple starts in the majors.
Wolf certainly did some good for Milwaukee but considering the money he was making he needed to do a lot better. I would be shocked if some other team picked him up this season or next year for that matter, as I firmly believe he has thrown his last pitch in MLB.
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