Arizona Diamondbacks saw good stuff from Vidal Nuño
MINNEAPOLIS – Just because Vidal Nuño didn't register a win in 14 starts with the Diamondbacks doesn't mean the left-hander didn't throw well or at least show promise following a July trade with the New York Yankees.
Nuño struggled in his final start of the season on Wednesday afternoon, lasting just five innings in 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins. But he kept the Diamondbacks in the game, something he did in nearly every start he made with them.
"He could easily have five or six wins instead of six or seven losses," pitching coach Mike Harkey said. "It's been a learning experience for him. He's been able to build up some confidence here and hopefully that can continue on when we get to spring training so it can make for some really good competition."
Nuño, who finished with an 0-7 record and a 3.76 ERA, said he made some mechanical adjustments after being reunited with Harkey, who was the bullpen coach with the New York Yankees when Nuño first reached the big leagues last season.
"The main thing I wanted to get out of him was he was swinging his leg behind him and making him a little bit too rotational," Harkey said. "So we wanted to try to get him on a better line to the plate, better direction, so he'd have a better chance of making more quality pitches."
Harkey said he expects to sit down with Nuño at some point next spring to talk about scaling back the number of pitches he throws, cutting down from the five he throws now to three or four.
Rookie coach
Assistant hitting coach Henry Blanco said he enjoyed his first season as a coach, but he thinks he has a ways to go before he's ready to manage.
"I would love to do that in the future," he said. "But also I know I have a lot to learn. We'll see how it goes. That's going to be a big challenge for me in winter ball now. That's going to be a good start."
Blanco will get his first managerial assignment with the Margarita Braves in the Venezuelan winter league.
Blanco was asked if he would prefer to work in a different capacity in the future, perhaps with pitchers like he did throughout his 16-year major league career as a catcher.
"I don't know," he said. "I'll think about that. We'll see what's out there. See how it goes."
Blanco's name was mentioned in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune on Wednesday as a possible coaching addition for the Twins.
Short hop
Manager Kirk Gibson said he held shortstop Chris Owings out of the lineup on Wednesday because he suspects Owings' left shoulder is still bothering him. "I see something in his swing right now that I feel like he's favoring his shoulder a little bit," Gibson said. Owings missed more than two months with a left shoulder strain before returning at the beginning of the month.
Up next
Cardinals at D-Backs
When: Friday at 6:40 p.m.
Where: Chase Field, Phoenix.
TV/radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM 98.7, KTAR-AM 620, KSUN-AM 1400
Pitching matchups
Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m. Diamondbacks RHP Trevor Cahill (3-12, 5.55) vs. Cardinals RHP Michael Wacha (5-6, 3.18).
Saturday: At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m. Diamondbacks LHP Wade Miley (8-12, 4.35) vs. Cardinals RHP Lance Lynn (15-10, 2.73).
Sunday: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m. Diamondbacks RHP Josh Collmenter (11-8, 3.57) vs. Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright (20-9, 2.38).