56.07 Blazers' #2 Ranked Prospect Joins Big League Pen

[Bob Breum]

Erik Breum fielded questions from the press after a flurry of pitching moves today.

"Your "Bush League Rotation" has been the talk of the league. Is it true that you moved Chris Rankin to the pen?"

"We like Chris, and we expect him to be a valuable part of our plans moving forward. But he's been scuffling a bit, and we thought it was time to make a change. He'll be our primary long reliever."

"Who will replace him in the rotation?"

"Kutaiba Abdul-Nasser, whom we acquired in a mid-season trade last year from Las Vegas. He's been very effective at AAA New Jersey, and we think he's ready to return to the big leagues."

"That was the trade that sent Mitchell Purssell to Vegas, is that correct?"

"Good memory! Yes. It allowed us to clear some cap space, and we acquired a young starting pitcher that we liked."

"I understand that you have promoted your number two ranked prospect, Javier Parra? What will be his role?"

"Javi is going to join our pen in a middle relief role. He'll also be used in high leverage situations where we need someone to come in and get a strikeout. He was our first round pick four years ago. We think he's ready."

"Wasn't that You-de Szema's role?"

"No, Szema has been used strictly in a backend role, when we needed a bridge to Blenkhorn and Birstall in a close game. We may have overused him a bit, so we are going to move him to a middle relief role. Stanley Kowalski will be assuming the stopper role going forward. He's used to that role, and we think he'll be comfortable in his new assignment."

"By my count, you've added two new pitchers to the active roster. Whom did they replace?"

"We have placed Guy Shroyer and Tommy Baird on waivers with the intention of assigning them to AAA New Jersey. We hope that they clear waivers and our coaching staff can work with them to get them back on track. Both are fine pitchers who got off to bad start this season."