SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Rookie left-hander Patrick Corbin has the most innings and the lowest ERA among the remaining pitchers in the Diamondbacks' camp, opening eyes.
But with the rotation set, Corbin appears all but certain to open the season as a starter in a minor league rotation instead of in the major league bullpen. It is the path Josh Collmenter took last spring, and that did not work out too badly for either side.
The D-backs consider it a developmental issue – in most cases, they would rather have a high-upside prospect working regularly in the minor leagues than intermittently in the majors.
"To consider if he would be a good guy for the long (relief role), you have to consider his youth. Here, a long guy is a guy who might not pitch for six of seven days, then all of a sudden he has to come out and pitch three to five innings," Gibson said.
"I'm not sure that's a great deal for a young kid -- not to say it couldn't happen. We looked at it like what we did with Collmenter last year. He came up into the season, and it was a good transition into the starting role. Those are the kinds of things we're going to discuss and think out thoroughly."
Corbin, who pitched five no-hit innings Tuesday, is 1-0 with an 0.57 ERA in 15 2/3 innings. He has 15 strikeouts and has given up 14 runners on seven hits and seven walks.
"I think the biggest thing is coming up and showing you can play with these guys and just learning from the other guys. Every day you go out and do what you can. Learn from it and move on from there," said Corbin, who was 9-8 with a 4.21 ERA to help Class AA Mobile win the Southern League title.
EATON, LEWIS REASSIGNED
Outfielder Adam Eaton and right-hander Jensen Lewis were sent to the minor league camp after Thursday's game, leaving the D-backs with 34 players for the final week of the exhibition season.
Eaton, who hit .273 in 44 at-bats, was reassigned at Class AA Mobile, where he ended last season. Lewis was reassigned to Class AAA Reno. Lewis, signed as a minor league free agent after spending seven years in the Cleveland organization, did not give up an earned run in eight appearances over eight innings. He gave up six hits and did not walk a batter.
Manager Kirk Gibson complimented Eaton earlier in camp, saying he had the makings of a leadoff hitter.
BALK THIS WAY
Do not get Kirk Gibson wrong. He does not want to add the balk to his pitchers' toolbox. But Gibson so wants to shut down opponents' running games that he does mind it too much when one occurs. The D-backs have five this spring, one when Corbin "picked off the umpire," Gibson said, when he looked toward home before making a throw to first.
"You are trying to set them up with a little different move. It can become a tool for you. It worked for Andy Pettitte. He balked all the time. After awhile, you kind of get some respect and they don't call them on you," Gibson said.
FRIDAY PROBABLES
Right-hander Josh Collmenter (0-3, 9.75) will make his fourth and final spring start against Los Angeles Angels newcomer C.J. Wilson (2-0, 0.64) at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Collmenter had his best outing of the spring against San Diego last Sunday, giving up two runs in five innings, and was named the team's No. 3 starter a day later.
Right-handers David Hernandez, Brad Ziegler and Brett Lorin also are scheduled to pitch for the D-backs. The schedule gives Collmenter seven days' rest before his regular-season opener April 8against San Francisco in the final game of the season-opening three-game series at Chase Field.
NOTES
Ryan Roberts and Lyle Overbay were given Thursday off, and Geoff Blum is scheduled to take Friday off. Manager Kirk Gibson wants to give his players a free day before the grind of the regular season begins. "It's kind of the last round," said Gibson, adding that he planned to play all of his regulars for nine innings in one of the D-backs' split-squad games Saturday, which are against Kansas City and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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