Beavan poised to prove his ability to Mariners
SEATTLE -- For Blake Beavan, an opportunity is an opportunity, and being in the big leagues is better than being anywhere else.
That's how the big right-hander is looking at it this time around after being recalled by the Mariners from Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday. Beavan, 24, had made the team as a starter out of Spring Training and was relegated to a relief role before being optioned back to Tacoma on May 1.
After Wednesday's 7-5, 16-inning loss to the White Sox sapped the bullpen -- most notably Hector Noesi, who finished the game with three innings -- the Mariners needed some length. Enter Beavan, who was slated to start Tacoma's game on Thursday but instead will slide into a long-relief role. Noesi was optioned back to Tacoma.
"I'm still young," said Beavan, who was 3-2 with a 4.91 ERA in seven starts for Tacoma and 0-1 with an 8.27 ERA in seven appearances -- including two starts -- for Seattle.
"My biggest thing was that I'm a starter, and the purpose of me going down there was to get back into a rhythm, which was starting again and getting back to doing what I did last year and what I showed at times in Spring Training, which was throwing my fastball and then throwing everything else off of that.
"I kind of got away from that a little bit when I was in the bullpen. I tried to do some things I wouldn't normally do, like throw my offspeed [pitches] a lot more and not use my fastball as much -- trying to overthrow at times. not focusing on mechanics and focusing on throwing, which kind of hurt me sometimes.
"I feel a lot more comfortable, and I feel a lot more complacent as to where I need to be, as far as my mechanics go and what I need to do to go out there and keep us in the game, whether it's starting or relieving."
Beavan said that the experience he's gained from being up with the Mariners in parts of the last three seasons has helped him with expectations and with knowing how special each callup is.
"I feel like it's more that I'm up here for a reason, which is to help with the bullpen right now, and obviously with what happened yesterday, with the 16-inning game, they're kind of short a little bit right now," Beavan said.
"This time around, I think it'll definitely be better, whether it's in the bullpen or getting in the rotation again. I'm going to do everything I can and be positive and breathe confidence. I'll just go out there and take the ball when they need me to."