FORT MYERS, Fla. — This offseason the Red Sox made overhauling their pitching program the membership’s high precedence, and since taking up as pitching coach Andrew Bailey has labored with each pitcher on the roster to attempt to discover methods to unlock their full potential.
It’s nonetheless early in camp, however there are already encouraging indicators that work is paying off.
Through the primary week of video games the Red Sox pitching workers has been robust throughout the board, with solely a small handful of duds interspersed amongst what have in any other case been stellar performances. The membership’s starters have broadly regarded nice as effectively, and several other arms have proven notable enchancment by way of velocity, command or their strategy usually.
“The guys are doing really well, we have individual goals for each and every pitcher and the guys are hitting on them so far,” Bailey mentioned Thursday morning. “We’ve got to keep the gas pedal down and keep giving them quality feedback and holding them accountable and setting high standards and we’ll continue to do that and watch these guys progress through camp.”
Rejuvenated Giolito
Lucas Giolito was the membership’s largest offseason acquisition, however the former Chicago White Sox standout isn’t coming to Boston driving a wave of momentum. Last summer time, Giolito endured the second half from hell, posting a 7.13 ERA amid a chaotic stretch during which he modified groups twice and handled vital turmoil in his private life.
Now in a significantly better place, Giolito delivered a gem in his first outing final week and confirmed off a major uptick in his fastball velocity. Following the outing Giolito lavished reward on Bailey and the pitching program.
“I think it’s been extraordinary so far,” Giolito mentioned. “We get all the information we need, any questions we have we go in there and we can break down video or mechanics or whatever, and then also keep it simple. There are always drills available to us to continue to hone things in, so I’m very excited to be here and be working with him.”
Friday’s second outing didn’t go practically as effectively — he allowed a leadoff residence run and couldn’t get out of the third after loading the bases with one out — however his velocity uptick was nonetheless obvious.
Even amid his struggles final season Giolito nonetheless made 33 begins and threw 184.1 innings, and this yr the Red Sox are relying on him to be a workhorse. Bailey mentioned Giolito has completed all the pieces they may have requested for and that to this point everybody has been on the identical web page.
Slaten shining
Despite having solely ever pitched 5 video games above Double-A, Justin Slaten was considered by the Red Sox as by far the very best expertise accessible within the Rule 5 Draft and the membership instantly swung a commerce for him after he was taken by the New York Mets.
Slaten should make the Opening Day roster and spend the complete yr within the majors, in any other case he’ll be supplied again to his unique staff, the Texas Rangers. But to this point Slaten has been all the pieces the Red Sox hoped he’d be and has regarded proper at residence on a giant league mound.
“Yes, absolutely. He looks the part, he’s throwing like the part, going about his business the right way,” Bailey mentioned. “He’s come to work this spring to earn a shot at making the team and it’s so funny, experience doesn’t really matter, you’ve got to start somewhere, and guys that are filling up the zone, generating swings and misses are the guys we’re going to take and so far he’s done that.”
Through his first three outings, Slaten has thrown three scoreless innings with no walks, and he’s dominated each lineup he confronted. His fastball has persistently touched 96 mph, and on Tuesday in opposition to St. Louis he threw 11 of his 14 pitches for strikes, together with a mixed seven whiffs and referred to as strikes. Friday in opposition to Minnesota was even higher with eight strikes on 9 pitches.
“All I’m trying to do is go out there and throw everything I’ve got in the zone,” Slaten mentioned. “If they hit it, they hit it, and if not, great.”
Tweaks paying off
This time final yr Tanner Houck was nonetheless recovering from again surgical procedure, and whereas he believed getting into camp he was totally wholesome, he’d come to comprehend later that wasn’t the case.
Now he actually is totally wholesome, which has helped Houck take pleasure in among the largest velocity good points by any pitcher in camp, Alex Cora mentioned final week.
Those velo good points weren’t apparent in his first outing, however his command was vastly improved. Houck was excellent in his debut on Monday, and afterwards he mentioned he’s made some mechanical changes he hopes will reduce down on his walks sooner or later.
“Anyone who’s ever shot a gun or shot a bow, wherever your sight is, that’s where it’s going,” Houck mentioned. “I’m treating my left shoulder as my sight, pointing it towards home, and if I get it over wrapped then it’s pointing at the third base dugout or the hitter. So as long as I can keep that in line, keep my head still going towards home plate, I like my chances of getting it over the plate.”
“I love the way he goes about his business, very calm, cool, collected, very focused and diligent in his side work and his routines,” Bailey mentioned. “His ability to be in zone is really going to help him capture his upside and he’s off to a good start so far.”
Campbell including new sinker
Acquired in alternate for second baseman Luis Urias final November, right-hander Isaiah Campbell had a robust rookie season in Seattle final yr, posting a 2.83 ERA in 27 appearances. He was a monster in opposition to lefties, holding batters to a .483 OPS, however whereas he was efficient in opposition to righties too (.704 OPS), Bailey felt Campbell wanted one other weapon to assist maintain these batters trustworthy.
“I think finding a fastball that we can be in zone with against righties is going to help him,” Bailey mentioned.
The resolution was a brand new sinker, which Campbell started throwing in early January and debuted in sport motion this previous week.
“It’s still a very new pitch but very happy with how it’s coming along,” Campbell mentioned. “Really happy with the two I threw to (Nolan) Arenado, threw them both for strikes with good movement on them, so it’s getting more and more comfortable with it, and the more I throw in games — I don’t think it’s a pitch I’ll strike a lot of guys out with, it’s going to be showing right-handed hitters something else.”
Campbell is among the many high contenders for one of many final spots in Boston’s bullpen. Like Slaten, he’s thrown three straight scoreless outings to start out the spring.
Source: www.bostonherald.com