Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The Houston Astros decided it would be wise to move starting pitcher Brad Peacock from the rotation to the bullpen. The move was a smart one considering how much Peacock has struggled in five starts for the Astros during the 2013 Major League Baseball season.
Houston acquired Peacock in early February when the team traded infielder Jed Lowrie to the Oakland Athletics. No one can blame the Astros for making the move considering how much they needed to bolster the starting rotation. Not to mention, Peacock has posted a 0.75 earned run average in three career games (two starts) in the big leagues. Even though the three appearances occurred in 2011, his numbers in the minors last season were not dreadful by any means.
Unfortunately, Peacock’s stint amongst the starters has been cut short for now because he has been unable to keep runners off the base path. The 25-year-old is 1-3 with an 8.44 ERA, 19 strikeouts and 13 walks in 21 1/3 innings this season.
Manager Bo Porter insists that the move is not a demotion, but rather a way for him to give his pitcher the best chance to help the Astros win ball games.
“It more so has to do with us as an organization trying to put him in position where he could have some success,” Porter told Astros.com. “We believe that he’s still a starting pitcher, and you guys have witnessed it. We’ve had starters go down in the bullpen and pitch in long relief and they’ve had great success, and we’re hoping the same thing can happen with Brad Peacock.”
Whether the move pays off is completely up to Peacock. If the right-hander can accept the challenge of improving his performance on the mound then maybe he can return to the starting rotation a better pitcher.
