FRANCISCO CARRILLO, PREPARES TO PLAY

[- !el Catire *O*]

 

Caracas.- The conversation was not about sabermetrics or new formulas to analyze baseball. Every word that came from one of the brains of a LVBP team was focused on immeasurable aspects, and that he is one of the most digested and updated with new trends in strategies.

He talked about phenomena that occur in the short winter seasons. How it is that men separated from the branches of MLB or the demands of Japan arrive in the Caribbean leagues and become unbeatable beings.

"They are those guys you want to have on the team," said the anonymous member of a management. "Types that come from modest leagues, that have no restrictions and, above all, that they shoot with balls. That they have courage. Francisco Carrillo is one of those guys. "

That is the common denominator used by some inside the diamond to define the reliever of Leones del Caracas, which will start the ninth week of the season as one of the five best firemen of the championship. Its effectiveness is 1.38 and its WHIP (average of opponents based on each inning) of 1.10.

But unlike the other bullpen men, his arm has endured as much or more stress than many starters in the circuit. He has 32.2 chapters for having pitched in 21 of the 44 games played by the hairy ones. Henderson Álvarez, who opened the inaugural match of Navegantes del Magallanes, has the same amount of work and has only relieved once. Carrillo has more accumulated acts than Dietrich Enns, effective initiator who joined Omar Bencomo Jr. and Pedro Avila in Bravos de Margarita.

Mike Rojas, manager of Caracas, uses both Carrillo and Loiger Padrón in the past. It is the pill that calms some headaches.

That work is unsustainable unless there are two elements that keep it possible: Preparation and courage. And, for most of those consulted inside the cave, Carrillo owns both.

"I think the key to everything is his presence. He is not afraid I know that if I use it, he will go to do his job, "said Rojas, without many decorators to say that although the right does not throw balls, it does" have them ". "When he gets up there he does it with authority. Attack the hitters. "

After finishing talking to some of his men in the bullpen, Greg Sabat, pitching coach of the club, set out to analyze Carrillo. It also emphasizes courage. However, he knows that someone can have a lot of courage to face a huge bull, but if he is not prepared for it, he will very likely be crushed by the bull.

"He is, perhaps, one of the pitchers who best prepared to be here," said the instructor. "Every day he prepares. Go out to work, to be strong. "

How is it that a pitcher who did not play in any big league can awaken so much confidence in the technical staff of Lions for their preparation? Carrillo has the answer, and it is something different from what one expects.

He, who is not under the mantle of an MLB organization since 2015, his last year with Chicago Cubs. In 2018 he gave himself completely to Cacaoteros de Miranda, the team that dominates the Bolivarian Baseball League.

 

Francisco Carrillo has become a credit card in the bullpen of Leones

"When I joined them, I was not prepared, and I thank them immensely because they opened the doors and gave me a preparation to start here. Above all, I thank Omar León, "said Carrillo. "I had a few innings with them. I saw it as an opportunity. They let me work in the Agua Linda Complex, they got trainers and pitching coach ".

It is possible that this conditioning keeps Carrillo up, which in November added 20.1 tickets, almost the same as launching initiators like Charle Rosario or Williams Pérez. And, the best thing for him and Leones, is that he did it well. He accepted four touchdowns (1.77 ERA), rivals batted him for .205 and his WHIP was 0.98.

"It's critical that I keep watching the game, watching the hitters. Seeing what pitches can help me. That's what I do, "he said. "The paramount thing is always to come prepared. Work before the season and focus on the role you have. That is the key, the preparation. "

Carrillo, 28 years old, is a free agent. Opportunities for independent leagues and Mexico have come to him, although there is still nothing concrete. For now, his entire baseball world is Leones del Caracas, a club that gave him the chance to debut in the league last year. In two seasons and 53.2 innings his effectiveness is 1.68.

"This is an honor", he released to close and return to his duties.

HEADLINES

CBPC presented the candidates for the SDC 2019 Hall of Fame
Omar Bencomo Jr. was suspended for violating the anti-doping program of the LVBP
Francisco Carrillo, preparation and courage or nothing
Jairo Díaz worked to return with Caribes
Delmon Young placed dynamite in the University and is new King of the Home
Willson Contreras participated in the Home Run Derby without forgetting his Cubs
César Hernández believes he can help Lara after December 20
José Osuna plans to be with Margarita until the end
José Vargas took the Player of the Week
Magellan was not intimidated and won the second at the UCV
Caribes beat Tigres in 10 innings
Bravos retaliated for the Eagles by home runs