Earlier this week, Manny Parra was ushered out of the starting rotation. That paved a path for Milwaukee Brewers’ Chris Capuano, who starts Saturday against Pittsburgh.
“When I step onto the mound tomorrow, it will be a feeling of freedom,” said Capuano. “It’s a feeling of release. I can get let go. That’s truly the time you can enjoy the fruits of your labor.”
Three years of intense labor, to be exact. After rehabbing from not one, but two Tommy John’s surgeries, Capuano was placed in relief duty, making 15 relief appearances this season and going 1-2 with an ERA of 3.54. While the bullpen work has prepared the lefty for longer stretches, nothing is sweeter than getting back to the starting spot he has been eyeing all along.
By: Melissa S. Wollering
“It’s three years of setting small goals for yourself, setting a plan for each day to help you get to those goals,” said Capuano. “That’s the hard work, so when you get to step out there on the mound, that should be a reward and a place for me to be free from all that.”
The Pirates might be just the right matchup for Capuano, who snapped a franchise record 13-game losing streak with a win against Pittsburgh on July 19. Capuano says his goal on Saturday is to stretch the number of innings he pitches, given his prohibitive pitch count range. He then hopes to tack on another ten, 15, or 20 pitches in each additional outing, if all goes well.
“I’m set up to throw anywhere from 60 to 70 pitches,” said Capuano. “That’s a soft number. It really depends on how tough the innings are out there, if I’m able to put together some clean innings and quick innings. Obviously I’ll be able to go a little longer than if I have to labor through an inning.”