Nobody wants to miss part of Spring Training. Not only do you have to get your arm in shape, but you have to get a feel for your delivery and feel for your release point and I think that's probably where he felt a little naked heading into the season. He just didn't have the innings the other guys had. |
Some times lack of success is just lack of experience. So what we have to figure out with the young guys is what was missing. Was it a command issue? Was it related to emotional distress? Or were there some things physically that they weren't doing that didn't allow them to be successful. |
Sure, I'm interested in Arizona, of course. But beyond the obvious connection between Bob and I, I'm just as much interested in making sure that this would be a good fit for me beyond that. |
The contrast in their pitches is significant. Yet both of them are positioning themselves to help us in their own way. If you looked at them side-by-side, you may not notice Jeff. Felix does it in an awe-inspiring way, Jeff just does it. |
The romanticism of a voyage, for whatever age, is here and alive aboard the QE2. |
The romanticism of a voyage, for whatever age, is here and alive aboard the QE2. |
There's been nothing to suggest he'll crack when he is challenged more. I see consistency in his work ethic, routine and demeanor. |
There's just a strong feeling that we need to have options. When you lose 99 games, you open yourself up to change. |
There's so much more when you get to the big leagues than a young player can anticipate. And that's beyond the pressures of trying to pitch well from the start. So we will have a good long talk about some of the things that can end up being unexpected hurdles when guys get here. |
Thornton is progressing, has progressed this year. Matt has not only had limited big-league experience, but limited experience, period. |
To a man, our guys have come in and thrown the ball over the plate. Like a lot of staffs, getting the first one under their belts is sometimes the most tenuous. But our guys have come in and done an absolutely great job at working ahead in the count, establishing a low strike zone and challenging the hitter. |
We didn't see any significant velocity until the last five, six, seven starts. He's throwing the ball better and the velocity has been on the increase the past four or five starts. |
We hope to see some real signs of the rotation coming to life in the last month. Or, inevitably, you're going to have to make a decision. |
We throw him a lot of hard stuff inside. A lot of teams do that. But he doesn't miss against us. He's got our number. |
We want him completely healthy, and we want his mechanics sound. Until that happens, he won't pitch. |