Brewers counting on Turnbow

02/22/2006
PHOENIX -- Bushy-haired Brewers closer Derrick Turnbow did a national television interview Tuesday that had one of his teammates rolling.
"I was cracking up the whole time," said Brewers newcomer Jason Kershner. "He actually said, 'Preesh.'"
That's Turnbowese for, "I appreciate your kind sentiments." There's also the rapid-fire "Whaddup-whaddup," Turnbow's favorite greeting and the basis of his clubhouse champion fantasy football team's name. And while most people might simply say, "Yes," Turnbow goes with, "Believe it."
It sometimes gets confusing because the Tennessean tends to slur his words more than the two-fisted slobber on the old scoreboard at County Stadium. When that happens, fellow reliever Matt Wise steps in as translator.
"He's one of my best friends and it's cool to know that he's not going to change," said Wise, who first met Turnbow when they were teammates with the Angels and does a spot-on impression. "He's going to be the same guy."
The Brewers hope so.
They plucked Turnbow off waivers from the Angels and he shocked himself and everyone else by emerging as the closer and saving 39 games, tying the club record. He won his last seven decisions and his 1.74 ERA was fourth-best of regular Major League relievers behind Mariano Rivera, Billy Wagner and Huston Street.
Turnbow was named the Brewers' pitcher of the year, tied Carlos Lee for top newcomer honors and won a legion of fans in Milwaukee.
Did he ever see it coming?
"Not a chance," Turnbow said this week at Maryvale Baseball Park. "I was just hoping to be in the big leagues. I never expected to be anywhere close to where I'm at. I just have to keep working hard and just keep it going as long as possible."
Turnbow extended a hot streak for Brewers general manager Doug Melvin and assistant GM Gord Ash. Scott Podsednik, selected off waivers from the Mariners, was the first, followed by Brady Clark (Mets) and Turnbow. All have blossomed into big-league regulars.
That doesn't mean Melvin could have envisioned Turnbow's dramatic step forward.
"We took some chances [at the 2004 Winter Meetings] trading Danny Kolb and Luis Vizcaino, both our closer and setup guy, and a great story came out of it with Derrick Turnbow," Melvin said. "We can't sit here and say we knew that was going to happen."
Turnbow reported to Spring Training last year as a relative unknown. The Brewers knew he could throw hard, but finally harnessed his command under the tutelage of Brewers pitching coach Mike Maddux and bullpen coach Bill Castro.
He eliminated jerky hand movement in his delivery and found a consistent release point. He learned a slide step. As the year progressed, he developed a devastating slider.
By mid-April, Brewers manager Ned Yost had lost some confidence in right-hander Mike Adams, who was supposed to be the closer. He needed a new closer, and turned to Turnbow on April 24 at San Francisco.
"I was in a daze, but at the same time I knew what the situation was," Turnbow says now. "It was the first time that I had felt pressure like that. I'm not going to lie. But like every first, you just have to get through it and try to learn something from it.
"It's something where either a guy can deal with it or he can't deal with it. Fortunately, I can deal with it pretty well."
At the time, Turnbow had 11 Minor League saves but none in 44 career relief appearances since 2000. He took quickly to the new role, saving 39 of 43 opportunities for the Brewers.
"He's a special guy," Castro said. "He got the chance and went ahead and took advantage of it. It's unbelievable what he's done."
"I seriously think he should have gotten some consideration for the Cy Young [Award]," said Wise. "Maybe I'm biased because I'm a teammate and he's a good friend of mine, but he was dominating."
Turnbow's goal this spring is to "continue doing what I'm doing." But there were a few changes; he was married on Nov. 7 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and he did not start a throwing program until the first week in December. He is tinkering this spring with a move from the first base side of the pitching rubber to the third base side, looking for more plate coverage with his slider.
For the first time in his career, he heads into the season entrenched as a closer. Wise and the newly re-acquired Kolb (who shares the franchise saves record with Turnbow) likely will set up Turnbow, leaving three or four open spots in what should be another solid Brewers bullpen.
"It makes you a little more relaxed because you know your role, but at the same time it adds a little more pressure," Turnbow said. "There is pressure to repeat, no question about it."

Source: http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/