Milwaukee Brewers: Who is the Real Carlos Villanueva?

When Trevor Hoffman was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers in the winter, it was thought the biggest benefactor for the Milwaukee Brewers would be Carlos Villanueva.

Villanueva is a similar pitcher to Hoffman and many thought he would turn into a future closer under Hoffman's tutelage. To this point in the season, Villanueva has shown signs of a great future and moments that make him look like a starry-eyed rookie.

This is his fourth season with the Brewers, and everyone is still waiting for him to show signs on either side of the spectrum just who is the real Carlos Villanueva.

To be fair to Villanueva, he has been bounced back and forth between being a starter and a reliever during his first three seasons with the Brewers. 2009 is the first season that he is being used as a full-time reliever and there needs to be time to adjust to a new, defined role.

Villanueva has had two horrible months and one amazing month so far in 2009.

With Trevor Hoffman starting the season on the disabled list, Villanueva started the season as the Brewers' closer. Although he saved two games, he blew three other opportunities and finished April with a 6.17 ERA.

He showed very little control walking six in 11 2/3 innings. At times he looked to have no confidence on the mound and appeared to let any adversity overwhelm him.

The month of May was a polar opposite for Villanueva. He was literally unhittable. In 12 1/3 innings pitched in May, he allowed only four hits, walked just three, and struck out 17.

He did a great job getting ahead of hitters and sent them back to the dugout with a devastating changeup. Talent and confidence was shown that lead many to believe Villanueva is a future closer.

Villanueva reverted to his April form when the calendar turned to June. He pitched a full inning less in June than May but allowed 18 hits and allowed 10 runs for a June ERA of 7.94.

He did a good job cutting down on the walks, but giving up multiple hits in an outing can be just as devastating as walks for a relief pitcher. In 11 appearances in June, he gave up multiple hits in five of those outing, and four of those resulted in multiple runs for the opposition.

Although July has just begun, it appears Villanueva is showing more of his May form. In two appearances, he has allowed only one walk and one hit in 1 2/3 innings.

Great relief pitchers like Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera don't worry too much about their confidence. They can endure a rough outing and bounce back the next day to shut down the same lineup that defeated them only a day earlier.

Pitchers like Carlos Villanueva need to build their confidence over a long period of time in order to become a valuable member of a bullpen.

Everyone knows he has the talent and ability to be a future closer, but Brewer fans are hoping he has the heart and guts to become the complete package and a mainstay at the back end of the Brewers' bullpen for years to come.