SAN FRANCISCO - A week to 10 days ago, Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin sat down with Justin De Fratus and explained he would be used in longer spurts, in relief appearances lasting potentially as long as three innings.
De Fratus' role has been different most of the season - last year's seventh-inning man has logged nine multiple-inning appearances - but it wasn't until this recent conversation the 27-year-old righthander really accepted it.
"It was like, 'Hey, it's not a demotion, man. It's what we need,' " De Fratus said before Saturday's game against the Giants at AT&T Park.