How important is Manny Parra to the Milwaukee Brewers?
To many fans, he is nothing more than an erratic left-hander that will be lucky to make the starting rotation in 2010.
His 2009 stats bare that out to be true: Parra finished the season 11-11 with a 6.36 ERA in 140 innings, spending time in the minors due to ineffectiveness.
In three seasons with the Brewers, Parra has become the ultimate underachiever.
No one will argue with the talent the 27-year-old possesses, but he has yet to put together any significant stretches of success.
He has gone 21-20 with a 5.17 ERA in 68 career games with the team. His career WHIP of 1.652 speaks to his inability to keep runners off the bases. He's averaged 4.4 walks for every nine innings pitched, and he led the Majors in wild pitches in 2008 with 17.
While there is a problem physically with his control, the greater problem for Parra lies in between his ears.
So many times last season Parra seemed to psych himself out on the mound, looking both scared and intimidated by the moment.
Parra should benefit greatly from new pitching coach, Rick Peterson.
Peterson is known for his extensive work with biomechanical research for pitchers, and his presence can only serve as a positive for Parra.
Along with Jeff Suppan and Dave Bush, Parra will compete for the final two spots in the rotation this spring. With two lefty starters already in the rotation, it would appear that Parra could be the odd man left out of the rotation.
However, Bush does have experience in the bullpen and could be moved there.
Many fans want Suppan released, but the Brewers aren't in any position to pull off such a move.
The one plus that Parra has going for him is his talent. He threw a perfect game in the minors for the Nashville Sounds in 2007, in only his second start in Triple-A.
It's his talent that has so many fans dumbfounded by his disappointing performances thus far with the Brewers.
Outside of Yovani Gallardo, Parra has the best "stuff" of any pitcher on the roster. As crazy as it may sound, he has the ability to be a 20-game winner.
Will Parra put together his mental and physical problems this year and become that 20-game winner?
Probably not, but there's no reason to think he can't win double digit games and lower his ERA over two full runs from last year.
If, and it is a giant IF, he can put it all together and become the pitcher that many believe he can be, he'll give the Brewers a great young duo atop their rotation.
The Brewers have already given up on another talented but wild lefty, Jorge de la Rosa. He won 16 games for the Rockies last year.
The Brewers can't afford on giving up on Parra too soon, so expect him to be in the rotation when the season begins.
The difference between a great Manny Parra and the Manny Parra everyone has seen the last couple of seasons could very well be the difference between making the playoffs in 2010 and being a sub-.500 team again.
Yes, he's that valuable to the Brewers.
To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .
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