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Spring projects: What Sox pitchers are working on this spring
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The bullpen sessions that are a staple of spring training can seem monotonous. But for John Farrell, they represent an opportunity.
The Red Sox pitching coach, now in his fourth season overseeing the Boston staff, can use this time to work with his pitchers to develop approaches meant to help address any areas in which they might have struggled last year or over a longer period of time. For all pitchers in spring training, Farrell said, the chief goal is a basic one: Prepare for the season. Nothing is more important than the simple act of spring repetitions to build arm strength, regain touch and feel of pitches and thus be in a position to execute when the curtain actually lifts on the regular season.
But a pitching coach is by nature a teacher who is always trying to find ways for his pupils to improve. And so, with each pitcher this spring, Farrell has areas of emphasis that he's hoping his staff members can refine as part of an effort to become even more successful.
Here is a pitcher-by-pitcher primer to what Farrell hopes to see from several members of the Red Sox pitching staff:
Josh Beckett (17-6, 3.86)
Key numbers: Went 2-2 with a 7.22 ERA in April, 12-2 with a 2.17 ERA from May 1 thru Aug. 12, 3-2 with a 6.02 ERA from Aug. 13 thru Oct. 3
Farrell said that one simple element proved pivotal in determining the difference between Beckett's struggles at the beginning and end of the season and his dominant stretch during the middle of the year. That key thus represents the key area of emphasis for Beckett in spring training.
"The one thing we want to do is hammer home maintaining leverage of his fastball down in the zone. And I know that can be very simple, but with him, because of how fluid his delivery is and how he gets his whole body into it, he has a tendency to elevate fastballs that don’t have that same downhill plane," said Farrell. "When he’s commanding the bottom of the strike zone, his curveball is coming out of the same slot, it’s not recognized by the hitter, his changeup has the appropriate action. His [goal] is very simple: maintain a downhill angle. Yeah, there are some mechanical things that will affect that, but that’s the main thing."
Jon Lester (15-8, 3.41)
Key numbers: Fell behind to a 1-0 count more often (385 times) than he went to 0-1 count (371).
Opposing hitters after 1-0 count: .269/.359/.415/.774
Opposing hitters after 0-1 count: .206/.243/.297/.540
Farrell said that Lester is simply working on refinement, with the following goals:
"Increasing first pitch strike percentage. Increase the use and effectiveness of his changeup and fastball to his arm side."
The changeup would help Lester with right-handers (.237/.299/.350/.649), though he actually proved more vulnerable against left-handed hitters (.257/.306/.411/.717) in 2009. That explains the interest in using the fastball in with greater comfort to left-handers.
Jon Lackey (11-8, 3.83)
For Lackey and the other newcomers to the Red Sox pitching staff, the most important thing is familiarization. Farrell wants to get an understanding of how his new pitchers so that he can find out how best to help them on the execution of their pitches going forward. And so, Farrell's priority during the spring with Lackey will be to gather information that can be useful come the regular season.
"What we do know so far is that he’s very competitive with a straightforward approach to pitching. Loves to compete," said Farrell. "But [the goal] is more getting to see him in game action and then get the feedback from him about what he’s feeling to be that other set of eyes."
Daisuke Matsuzaka (4-6, 5.76) and Tim Wakefield (11-5, 4.58)
Key numbers: Matsuzaka and Wakefield were available to make a combined 33 starts in 2009, after making 59 in 2008
Injuries and poor conditioning prevented Matsuzaka from being effective until last September. Wakefield, meanwhile, had an All-Star first half before a bulging disc kept him sidelined for most of the second half. As such, leaving Fort Myers in good health is the clear priority.
"[Health] is the first and more important [goal]," said Farrell. "With both, it’s re-establishing their strengths as pitchers. We know what those are, but health certainly allows that to play out."
Farrell did not that Matsuzaka's return to the mound in September was highly encouraging. The 29-year-old was 3-1
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