The transition from starter to reliever has marked a new stage in the career of Antonio Senzatelawho claims to feel increasingly comfortable in a role that requires him to be ready every day and leave behind the usual routine of a rotation pitcher.
The Venezuelan, at the service of the Colorado Rockiesexplained that having finished last season in the bullpen served as a basis for assuming that new responsibility from the beginning this year. Furthermore, the experience lived in World Baseball Classicin which Venezuela he kept the scepter, it also allowed him to better understand the demands of the relay and strengthen his mental preparation.
“Last year I ended up in the bullpen, it helped me a lot to start as a reliever this year. I had an experience in the Classic too, which helped me a lot,” said the right-hander, who in his first eight relief pitches of the campaign had only allowed one earned run, to show off an ERA of 0.50. And in that period, he also added 18 strikeouts.
Senzatela recognizes that the biggest challenge has not been physical, but mental. As a starter, he had a more structured routine and several days of rest between starts. Now, as a reliever, the requirement is to remain available every day.
“Be ready every day. As a starter I had four days off. Here I don’t have free time, I have to be ready every day, unless I pitch two or three innings in an outing. That has been the only difficult thing, but more mentally, because my body feels good,” he explained when asked about the most difficult thing to do in a transition from starter to bullpen man.
Tips from here and there
In this adaptation process, the support of the clubhouse has been fundamental. The right-hander pointed out that he talks to several teammates, but from time to time he uses the phone to ask his friend about things. Carlos EstevezKansas City closer.
“All the boys have helped me. I have talked to everyone about it, also with my friend Carlos Estévez, who has been a relief worker all his life. I call him or write to him to see what he can recommend,” he said.
He also remembered with special value his closeness with Johan Santana during the World Classic, an experience that he considers key to his growth. “Johan taught me a lot in the Classic, we talked a lot. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to share that experience,” he said.
