Brazoban Proving to Be a Real Gamer

Reliever Yhency Brazoban is about to join a handful of rookies to have pitched in 100 games.

Brazoban has been in 67 games this season, tying the Dodger rookie record for one season set by Duaner Sanchez, who made 67 appearances last year. But Brazoban also made 31 appearances in August and September last season, giving him a total of 98.

He didn’t lose his rookie status in 2004 because he pitched fewer than 50 innings and was in the major leagues for fewer than 45 days before rosters expanded in September.

Five pitchers have made more than 100 appearances as rookies, according to Elias Sports Bureau, and all needed two seasons to do it.

Terry Forster (1971-72) and Dan Quisenberry (1979-80) share the record at 107. They are followed by Mike Perez (104 in 1990-91), Kevin Hickey (101 in 1981-82) and Mike Stanton (101 in 1989-90).

Early this season, it appeared Brazoban would be a candidate for rookie of the year. He notched 21 saves in 25 chances after being thrust into the closer role when Eric Gagne began the season on the disabled list.

However, his inability to change speeds effectively caught up with him and opposing batters sat on his 97-mph fastball. Brazoban, a converted outfielder, is throwing his slider more often and is developing a changeup.

“He’s making progress toward becoming a complete pitcher,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “Yhency has a very bright future with us.”

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The curveball Barry Bonds hit for his 704th home run in the first inning Friday night was described as “a stupid pitch” by the man who threw it, Brad Penny.

“He hasn’t proven he can hit the fastball yet,” Penny said.

However, Penny’s velocity was down in the first inning. Later in the game he reached 98 mph, but Bonds said, “Something was wrong with Penny in the first. He wasn’t the same. It looked like something was bothering him.”

Penny said he was fine, although the home runs by Bonds and Randy Winn in the first clearly bothered him. After the inning, Penny took a bat and smashed it against the bat rack.

Bonds left the game in the eighth inning, his knee obviously causing him pain. He walked down the dugout steps sideways to reduce pressure on the knee, which has been surgically repaired three times.

“I’m just plodding along, trying to get it back,” said Bonds, who did not play Saturday but is expected to be in the Giant lineup today.

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Reliever Jonathan Broxton is the only player who will be promoted from double-A Jacksonville, which won the Southern League championship Saturday by finishing off a best-of-five series against West Tennessee with a 3-1 victory.