Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The day has finally come. The Oakland Athletics called up ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte Friday for the series against the Boston Red Sox. In order to add Venditte to the 60-man roster, the A’s had to place Coco Crisp on the 60-day DL and option reliever Dan Otero to Triple-A.
Venditte’s call up from Triple-A has been something everyone has been talking about all season. Everyone wants to see Oakland’s switch pitcher throw in an MLB game. However, his unique pitching style will not only bring the Athletics a lot of attention, but it will also strengthen their bullpen.
Oakland’s bullpen has been struggling this whole season. Otero had a 12.00 in his last seven days in the MLB before heading to Triple-A Nashville. Closer Sean Doolittle has been and will be out for most of the season due to shoulder injuries. Fernando Abad, who was the A’s go-to lefty specialist last season, has been horrible and currently has an 11.12 ERA at away games.
Thankfully, the A’s have Eric Scribner, Tyler Clippard and now former starter Drew Pomeranz in the bullpen who have been pitching well pretty consistently. Now the Athletics have an additional lefty and righty reliever with Venditte.
Venditte has been great this season down in Triple-A. He had a 1.36 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched in Triple-A this season. Additionally, Venditte has only allowed five runs in 19.2 innings against right-handed batters and no runs against left-handed batters in 13.1 innings pitched. Venditte is no circus act – he is the real deal.
If Venditte can pitch as well as he did in spring training and in Triple-A Nashville, he will give the Athletics bullpen the boost it needs. There is no promise that we will see him pitch this series against the Red Sox. But the fact that the Athletics know they have a solid reliever to go to in the bullpen is significant.
Samantha Riley is an Oakland Athletics writer for www.RantSports.com. You can follow her on twitter @Riless22.
