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February 13, 2008
Really Mel?
Today, I heard John McLaren, the manager of the Seattle Mariners, during "Baseball This Morning" on XM Satellite Radio - talking about the philosophy that (his new pitching coach) Mel Stottlemyre is imparting to the M's pitchers. As per John, he said that Mel is telling his young pitchers "I like to pitch inside. I like to pitch inside - a lot."
Just not to David Ortiz, I suspect.
Posted by Steve Lombardi at February 13, 2008 08:12 AM
Comments
Or to anyone really. Mel was the guru of the 2 strike slider down and away. He never had his pitchers challenge batters inside with heat ahead in the count. It wasn't how he pitched himself and it's not how he coached. He told Ron Darling specifically to stop trying to strike batters out. He preferred making the batter make contact, inducing groundball outs. Unfortunately, bigger, stronger athletes and steroids made Mel's strategy an anachronism. Although he never criticized Mel per se, Jim Kaat often said that modern pitching coaches should emphasize changing speeds as much if not more than location.
Posted by: JohnnyC ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.waswatching.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at February 13, 2008 09:51 AM
Yup, it will interesting to see what happens to King Felix over the course of Mel's tenure.
Posted by: Rich at February 13, 2008 10:33 AM
It's worked for Mariano Rivera for 12 regular seasons and 13 post seasons. Balls hit on the ground have less chance of going over the fence....
Posted by: susanmullen at February 13, 2008 09:06 PM