Bryan Mitchell is owning it.

“I don’t really have a choice,” he said. “I kind of have to. I just wasn’t getting it done. At the end of the day it’s a results-based game. I had six starts. Bottom line, I wasn’t getting it done.”

Mitchell spoke Tuesday, a day after being relegated to the bullpen, having posted a 6.47 ERA in seven starts.

Knowing what he did and didn’t do – and acknowledging it – is perhaps the first step in the 27-year-old right-hander making a successful return to the starting rotation. Many in the Padres organization still believe that is a realistic possibility if he can pitch with more aggression and throw more strikes.


It is hoped there is even a correlation between Mitchell’s ownership and being successful on the mound. (He is available to pitch Tuesday.)

It had been troublesome to many for some time that Mitchell didn’t seize with more assurance the opportunity he was given to be in their rotation. The mental approach has been and will continue to be a focus of their work with him.

In fact, the most fervor Mitchell showed in his time with the Padres was following his being pulled with one out and two runners on in the third inning Saturday against the Dodgers – having already allowed three runs on five hits and three walks . In the tunnel adjacent to the dugout at Estadio de Beisbol Monterrey, Mitchell loudly expressed his displeasure with manager Andy Green’s decision.

“Any time you get pulled with half your pitch count, you’re going to be kind of pissed off,” Mitchell said Tuesday. “Especially at that stage of the game, I want to do good. In that initial five minutes, you’re going to be pissed off. That’s just being a competitor. Then you move on.”


By the end of the game, Mitchell had calmed down. He said then he was surprised to be pulled so quickly but also that “I’ve also never managed a game in the big leagues.”

On Tuesday, he said, “I get it. I wasn’t getting it done. It kind of looked like another one of the same as far as the previous start. His thinking was, ‘We’re going to have a better chance to win the game with someone else.’ Look what happened. … It worked out.”

Robbie Erlin came in, got out of the third inning on one pitch (a fly ball double play) and cruised through the next two innings in 23 pitches. Four more relievers finished off the game as the Padres came back for a 7-4 victory.

“As a competitor, you’re not ever going to say I agree about it,” Mitchell said. “But I see the reasoning, and I see the reasoning for what they’re doing now.”


Mitchell, acquired from the Yankees in December and immediately handed a spot in the rotation, had allowed four runs on five hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings in the start before Saturday and made it through six innings just once this season.

The problem essentially comes down to an inability to throw strikes, especially early in at-bats.

Mitchell has gotten to an 0-1 count just 28 times and a 1-0 count 77 times. He has made almost twice as many pitches when behind in counts versus ahead.

That hole has resulted not only in him walking 26 (to 16 strikeouts) but allowing 38 hit in 32 innings. Opponents are batting .304 against him – .353 when he is behind in a count and .189 when he is ahead.


“It got to the point where they were just sitting there waiting for a strike,” he said. “It’s all about getting ahead. I just needed to do better. … Like Andy told me, dominate one inning, dominate two innings, regardless of the situation go out there and attack guys. I’m trying to keep it as simple as possible.”

kevin.acee@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

6 p.m.: This story was updated to clarify the nature of Mitchell’s reaction following being removed from Saturday’s game.