Jake Diekman knew he had been struggling. He knew he still had minor-league options remaining. He knew there was a chance he could be sent to Triple A if he didn’t get going.
“It’s been in the back of my mind for probably two weeks now,” he said late Thursday night, moments after he received word that, yes, he was being sent to the minors.
Save for closer Jonathan Papelbon and setup man Ken Giles, the Phillies’ bullpen has not been the strength team officials thought it would be this season.
Allowing inherited runners to score has been a huge problem.
Phillies relievers entered Thursday having allowed 47 percent (23 of 49) of inherited runners to score, the highest percentage in the majors. By comparison, the San Francisco Giants, who visit Philadelphia this weekend, have allowed just 15 percent (15 of 100) of inherited runners to score. That’s the best mark in the majors.
Diekman and Justin De Fratus have been big parts of the problem. Diekman entered Thursday having allowed eight of 14 inherited runners to score. De Fratus has allowed seven of 12 to score.
Diekman pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings on Thursday night and stranded an inherited runner. He walked lefty-hitting Jay Bruce on four pitches, though. Team officials had clearly decided before the game that they were sending Diekman out. The 28-year-old lefty has a 6.75 ERA in 25 games. He has 29 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings, but has walked 17 and allowed 26 hits. Left-handed batters are hitting .355 against him.
“He needs to work on some things,” manager Ryne Sandberg said. “We talked to him and he agreed. There’s some things he needs to fine-tune and be more consistent with. He’ll be back as soon as possible hopefully with some things ironed out.”
Sandberg had a laundry list of things Diekman needed to work on.
“Controlling the running game, commanding his pitches, working on his slider, making it more of a confidence pitch with location in and out of the strike zone, and also pitching inside to left-handed hitters,” the manager said.
“He’s a big part of the bullpen going forward. This is for his betterment and the team’s betterment. Brush up on some things and come back improved.”
Diekman spent all of last season in the majors and had a 3.80 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 71 innings over 73 games. Team officials envisioned him as a late-game stalwart this season, but it hasn’t happened. Recently, Diekman has been considered a long man by Sandberg, a clear demotion.
“I need to throw more strikes, throw inside more, control the running game and throw my off-speed pitches for strikes,” Diekman said. “I just get in my own way. I just harp on things too much. I think too much.
“I just need to go down and work on stuff.”
The Phillies have not announced who will take Diekman’s roster spot. Hector Neris could return. Dustin McGowan has thrown the ball better since his demotion. If the Phils want a second lefty to join Elvis Araujo, Cesar Jimenez could be a possibility.