Season Over for Holmes
MILBURN (June 13, 1981) - Losing pitchers for the season seems to be common place for the Milburn Mallards, and they have just lost their first one for the 1981 season.
Reliever Hal Holmes has been diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff, and will not pitch again this season.
Holmes suffered the injury in the June 12th game against Baltimore. After getting the first two hitters out he faced, he grabbed his shoulder after throwing a pitch and motioned to the dugout.
In 15 innings pitched this season, Holmes had yet to give up a run, and had only allowed 5 hits.
Mallards manager Charlie Pepe has indicated he believes the club will replace the 26-year-old Holmes with a fielder rather than another pitcher. "Our starting pitchers have been going long into ballgames, so we can get by with five in the bullpen," he added.
Charlie is correct, we can get by right now with a 10 man pitching staff. Our bullpen has not been worked too heavily thus far, so we will fill Holmes' spot with a fielder. Most likely Oscar Gutierrez will get the call to be a 5th outfielder.
Losing Hal hurts though. He has been stellar in the bullpen this season, as well as last year. Fortunately we have some depth there, including some guys at AAA Porterville who could/should be up with the big club as well.