Eddie Butler to seek out advice from Rusin, Bergman, etc

DENVER — I was busy making excuses and Eddie Butler was busy looking for solutions.

No matter the nature of the “put up or shut up” mentality that often accompanies professional sports, we often forget that to make it to this level, these guys often have to develop some kind of routine. Every athlete I’ve ever met has described themselves as “a creature of habit” when given the chance. But for Butler, developing a routine and regular habits at the MLB level has been a constant struggle through no fault of his own.

He has been bounced from the bullpen to the rotation to the bullpen and back again. Most recently, he sat for 10 days between throwing pitches in an actual game (he was throwing side bullpen sessions) but rather than see this obstacle as one he cannot overcome, he is beginning to embrace the new normal.

“Hey look, whatever they want me to do,” Butler told BSN Denver. “Whatever keeps me here is what I have to do, and if this is my role, I’m going to find a way to make it work.”

Recognizing that this problem is not uniquely his own, Butler — under some counsel from catcher Nick Hundley — has decided the next step is to seek out advice from players like Chris Rusin and Christian Bergman who have both switched back and forth between starting and long relief.

While he admitted that at times this situation has been “stressful” for him, he reiterated that he does not need a defined role, just a roster spot, and that means doing whatever it takes. Also, Rusin and Bergman have shown that this in-between shifting can be a role. And a vital one at that.

Butler listed all kinds of advantages of coming out of the ‘pen including not having to “save pitches” for later in games and has told BSN on more than one occasion that he has no qualms if he ultimately ends up as a reliever.

This new wrinkle in his approach shows how willing he is to embrace whatever role he is given and that has not been lost on the Rockies. “He’s been asked to do a lot,” said manager Walt Weiss, “and he’s battled for us.”

And he will continue to for as long as he is given the chance. “I was really happy they let me go back out for the fifth [in the game last night] they let me go out there and fight for the team.”