Bobby Parnell brings pitching improvements after consultation with Sandy Koufax - MLB Update
Sandy Koufax's advice works for Bobby Parnell as he decimates batters with his curveball in Spring Training, in a stark contrast to terrible last two months in the 2011 regular season.
While Koufax fixed his location, it was Jason Isringhausen to whom he owes the curveball.
It is a mixture of speed and command that has resulted into his faster recovery from last year low.
Manager Terry Collins is all-praise of him and highlighting the contribution Koufax made. He thinks he can create a lot of confusion in the hitters’ mind by manipulating his throws now.
“Sandy told him he’s got to learn to pitch upstairs,” said manager Terry Collins. “I know Sandy said, ‘This guy has got too good an arm not to have guys fouling balls off of him all the time.’ If he throws upstairs, he will change their eyesight. He’ll get
some swings and misses up there, too.”
One of the issues he has resolved now related to his fastballs. By relying too much on fastballs, he had become predicable and thus had to pay the price.
However, in Spring Training he made a deliberate adjustment, following a fastball with a curveball and then vice versa, he played on batters’ minds successfully.
“Sandy wants to see more fastballs fouled straight back,” Parnell said. “That comes with me being able to elevate, and for me to elevate I have to be down [with the curveball] first.”
By the time he entered in Spring Training, at maximum, Mets expected a little better than last year performance, but with drastic changes in his repertoire, he turned out to be the most dependable for them.
Unlike his competitors Ramon Ramirez and Jon Rauch, he exhibited consistency on the mound during Spring Training. Even if at some occasions, he was low on count, he immediately restored his dominance with a couple of outs.
His presence has strengthened the Mets’ bullpen further along with Ramon Ramirez, Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco.
Since he comes late in innings where pressure is higher and he has to enter into a mental zone more than becoming a physical battle, his consistency is pivotal. If he continues honing his skills the same way, he can contribute immensely to the Mets as a
relief pitcher.
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