Friday, March 20, 2009

Big Pelf Bustin Out The Weapons


Mike Pelfrey all but assured his position as the #2 starter behind Johan Santana yesterday, pitching six innings, giving up one run, striking out three, and walking one.

This spring Big Pelf has experimented with multiple pitches, most notably a front door sinker. Pelfrey has become inspired to throw this two-seam pitch after watching Livan Hernandez in camp. That along with his confidence in making the team has allowed Pelfrey to practice throwing other pitches.

To set up this new pitch, Pelfrey throws a four seamer inside. Then he busts out the front door sinker, which causes left-handed hitters to give up on the pitch. Pelfrey in describing the pitch,
“I’ll start at almost the same spot and have it come back. Left-handed hitters start to give up on it. They kind of think it’s in and it comes back. It’s almost like a free strike.”

Mets manager Jerry Manuel has been impressed,
“The big fellow is starting to move the ball on both sides of the plate. That’s very exciting. When you can freeze left-handed hitters with a ball that’s coming back, that’s impressive for a young man.”

Source:
Joe LaPointe - NY Times

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