Olsen fitting in very nicely indeed
Torborg relying on rookie right-hander
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com |
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Olsen's impact may not be reflected in his won/loss record, but the 25-year-old right-hander is making inroads. He's filling the void as the fifth starter now that Brad Penny is on the disabled list with an ailing elbow.
In Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Reds at Pro Player Stadium, Olsen was one of few bright spots for the Marlins, lasting seven innings and throwing six strikeouts, both career highs, and allowing only two earned runs.
Despite the promising performance, however, Olsen's record fell to 0-3.
"We could have been in real dire straits if things got real bad early," Marlins manager Jeff Torborg said. "He really helped us."
Solidly pitched innings that give the Marlins a chance to win are crucial to Florida's depleted staff. By lasting seven, Olsen saved more wear and tear on the bullpen, which worked overtime Wednesday night after Josh Beckett was relieved with no outs in the second inning.
"My attitude is, I'm going to do whatever is asked of me," the right-hander said. "If they want me to start, I will. Or I will come out of the bullpen."
While Torborg acknowledges that Olsen has been inconsistent, the manager admires the righty's competitive fire.
For his part, Olsen endeavors to maintain his calm even when he's struggling.
"When you get in a jam, you have to try to curtail it," he says. "The damage that is done is over with. I think about making my next pitch."
Thursday's loss was Olsen's sixth start and his first decision since losing 5-3 to the Diamondbacks on April 26.
"I felt strong the whole game," he said. "I didn't feel I lost anything in the seventh."
Most encouraging for the Marlins are the signs that Olsen has regained his command. He walked just one Thursday and now has issued only three free passes in his last 19 innings. It's a dramatic improvement from the seven walks allowed in four innings at Milwaukee on May 3.
After that game, pitching coach Brad Arnsberg detected a mechanical flaw in Olsen's delivery. On the point of releasing the pitch, his arm was almost directly overhead, causing his pitches to sail high.
Since then, Olsen has adjusted to having his arm slot a bit away from his head. The results have been much better.
Against the Reds, Olsen was most pleased with his fastball. He was locating it where he wanted on both sides of the plate.
At one stretch, he retired 14 straight batters from the second to sixth innings.
But the Reds did damage early, which once again forced Florida to play catch-up.
Olsen started off the second by giving up singles to Adam Dunn and Sean Casey. Then Aaron Boone walked, loading the bases with no outs.
Barry Larkin then lofted a routine fly ball to right field that Eric Owens misjudged and then dropped. Dunn and Casey scored, with one run unearned.
"It was a horrible play," said Owens, who had been starting in left field but has played right a number of times. "I was staying in and froze. When I went back, I couldn't catch it. It set the tone for the entire game. I stunk on that play."
It was the third straight game in which the Marlins have allowed runs in either the first or second innings.
"That's tough," Torborg said. "At times we have overcome it. But you can't keep on doing it."
The Reds made it 3-0 on Larkin's opposite-field solo homer in the seventh. Olsen felt he made a good pitch to Larkin, tossing a cut-fastball on the outside part of the plate with the count at 2-2.
"Ollie did a good job," Marlins left fielder Kevin Millar said. "We had a big error but, hey, those things happen. We never got really going."
The Marlins managed only seven hits, and only one for extra bases: Derrek Lee's seventh-inning home run to center off Jimmy Haynes.
Florida has now lost 13 of 19 with the Mets coming to town.
"Everybody hits this," Torborg said of the losing streak. "The question now is, how do we respond to the down time? If you can't get up for the Mets, it is hard to get up."
Joe Frisaro covers the Marlins for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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