It certainly was no shock after the Brewers' 7-1 loss to Chicago today when we were told that left-hander Manny Parra had been optioned to Class AAA Nashville.
Parra was tagged for six runs in 1 2/3 innings to fall to 3-8 with a 7.52 ERA. Over his last five starts, Parra is 0-4 with a 13.50 ERA, with 40 hits, 15 walks and 32 earned runs allowed in 21 1/3 innings.
The Brewers called up left-hander Chris Narveson from Nashville but he will pitch in the bullpen, not the rotation. Because of two upcoming off days, the Brewers won't need a fifth starter until the last week of the month.
"It's just disappointing, more than anything," said Parra. "I haven't been pitching well at all.
"The numbers don't lie. I haven't pitched the way I'm capable of pitching. Mostly, it's just being uncomfortable."
Parra's main problem has been the inability to command his fastball, forcing him to use other pitches and pitch behind in the count. Manager Ken Macha said maybe Parra can relax and benefit from the coaching of Chris Bosio in Nashville instead of continuing to grind up here.
Pitching coach Bill Castro just told me that he thinks it's a good thing that Parra will go down to the minors, where there's less pressure.
"He has been pressing," said Castro. "I think this is going to be good for him, to go down and relax, and see things from a different point of view. We're going to need him."
To make room for Narveson on the 40-man roster, the Brewers moved second baseman Rickie Weeks (wrist surgery) from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL. In 20 relief outings for Nashville, Narveson was 3-3 with a 3.38 ERA. In 40 innings, he allowed 29 hits and 11 walks and logged 43 strikeouts.
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