For Breslow and Grabow, it’s Freaky Friday

March 26, 2011 (Saturday)

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Last season, Oakland A’s reliever Craig Breslow was the ace, and Chicago Cubs reliever John Grabow lost face.

Breslow went 4-4 with a 3.01 ERA, 71 strikeouts and 29 walks in 75 appearances. At a salary of only $425,000, the Yale University alum was a bargain.

Grabow , who cost the Cubbies $2.7-million, went 1-3 with a bloated 7.36 ERA in 28 games.

It may only be spring training, but so far this year, their roles appear reversed.

On Friday (3/25/2011), for example, Grabow earned his third ‘hold’ in five appearances by pitching a scoreless and hitless inning in the Cubs’ 6-3 win over the Seattle Mariners. Grabow’s spring training ERA is a not-too-shabby 3.60, although opposing batters are hitting a worrisome .286 against him.

For Breslow, Friday’s game — only his second this spring training — was a nightmare. The 30-year-old lefty gave up four hits and 3 earned runs over one inning in the A’s 10-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

Both players are getting a big salary bump in 2011, but the pressure to perform will remain highest on Grabow, who will earn $4.8-million to Breslow’s $1.4-million.

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