Much-Needed Relief

The New Orleans Times-Picayune looks at Hector Carrasco, who's put up some solid numbers in the minors this year.

Sent to New Orleans, Carrasco has been sharp in Triple-A. In six appearances, he has allowed four hits in eight innings, going 1-0 with a 0.00 earned-run average and four saves. He has struck out 10, including two Monday night, and walked two.

Apparently he had a sudden transformation in his pitching abilities while in the minors.

His biggest thrill, he said, was making the Cincinnati Reds in 1994 out of Class A.

"I won three games in a row, saved six games in a row," he said. "That year, I came from nowhere."

"I remember him as a young guy who threw average," said Brent Strom, the Nationals' roving pitching coordinator. "Then all of a sudden, it was like God touched his arm. Lightning came out of it.

"From then on, this guy had a low-90 (mph) to upper-90 fastball. He's got a resilient arm and competes like a son of a gun."

Carrasco said he was pitching in Class A for the Houston organization when his transformation occurred, and he can't explain it. "I was playing catch," he said. "I was pitching the game. I threw 84. One day later, I threw 95."

And, more importantly,
He said he's enjoying New Orleans. "I love the food here, seafood, seafood gumbo," he said.

Carrasco's probably pretty low on the depth chart -- at least he was the last time we checked in with the magical dry erase board.

But, if he keeps up with what he's doing, who knows where he'll end up. He's been a useful reliever at times and could be an effective middle man, if given the chance.