July 3, 2006
Baseball Stuff
Matt Belisle is currently a relief pitcher for the Reds, but lots of people would like to see him given a chance to start, seeing as the third-through-fifth starter positions continue to be weaker-than-normal in the rotation.
Here's stuff stolen from his bio page on Reds.com until I can get back to do this properly. At the very least, I'll put this in bullet form so you can actually read it.
- In his first full season in the Major Leagues went 2-6-1, 4.09 in 55 relief apps and 2-2, 5.25 in 5 starts.
- made all 5 starts in his first 15 apps of the season, then beginning 6/9 made his last 45 apps of the season in relief (4.11era)
- in his last 10 apps of the season allowed 15 runs (9.1ip, 10er), a stretch preceded by 9 consecutive scoreless apps (6.2ip) that had lowered his ERA to 3.77 through games of 9/4
- began the season with 2 relief appearances but then from 4/13-4/23 made his first 3 big league straight starts (1-1, 6.23)
- during that span took the spot in the rotation vacated by the disabled Ramon Ortiz
- following that 3-start stretch, from 4/27-5/13 made 8 consecutive appearances out of the bullpen (0-2, 3.46)
- followed that stint in the 'pen with starts on 5/25 vs Wsh and 5/31 at Hou (1-1, 4.09) and then finished the season with the 45 straight relief appearances
- in his 5 starts the Reds went 3-2
- twice was called upon to replace that day's starting pitcher
- in those 2 starts went 2-0, 2.45 after earning a 6-5 victory on 4/13 at StL (replaced Ramon Ortiz) and a 12-3 win on 5/25 vs Wsh (replaced Aaron Harang)
- on 4/13 at StL made his first Major League start after Ortiz was scratched that morning with a groin injury
- in that 6-5 victory became the first Reds pitcher to win his first ML start since Luis Pineda on 6/25/02 at Chi (5-2 win)
- in the 11-10 victory on 7/4 at SF earned the first save of his professional career
- on 9/30 at StL allowed Albert Pujols' 200th career homer (grand slam)
- on 5/31 at Hou, in front of 35 family and friends, produced an infield single off Brandon Backe for his first career hit.