San Diego Padres’ pitcher Heath Bell feels confident during first spring outing – MLB News
Heath Bell, a pitcher for the San Diego Padres was pleased with his performance and only gets worried two times in a year. First time when he throws in Spring Training season and the other on the day that he pitches in the regular season. Bell commented
that he has the self-belief to pitch it now, but he only needs to place it and throw.
Bell expressed his feelings and said, "I felt really good. I felt like I wanted to go out there and throw low strikes, and I was able to accomplish that, except for with my off-speed. I think I was just rushing my curveball a little bit. But the changeup
was really nice and the fastball was down in the zone."
Heath made his Cactus League debut in the Padres with a Win-Loss record of 7-6 over the Angel's at Peoria Stadium after being ruled out of action during this spring because of a stressed left calf. The 33-year-old closer threw an ideal fifth inning, requiring
only 12 pitches to trace three outs and two hit outs.
Bell appeared like his usual self on the mound, attaining 94 mph on his fastball while integrating in his curveball and the hardly used changeup. He pitched strikes on 10 of 12 throws, knocked out Jai Miller moving with a fastball and caught Matt Carson.
The changeup inspired Bell the most, taking into account that it was his least-pitched throw and he just pitched it four times in 2009 and four times in 2010. Both of the changeups he pitched against the Angel's went for strikes. It seems to be a high-quality
sign, in view of all four changeups he pitched in the regular season during last year.
His last year performance also made an impression on Padres’ manager Bud Black, who is hoping big things from Bell once more after the closer scored a 1.93 ERA and 47 saves to end the eighth inning in the survey for the National League Cy Young Award.
Black appreciated Bell in a meaningful way as he said, "Heath Bell threw the ball well. I liked the crispness of the fastball. He threw a couple of good changeups. I liked what I saw. He looked comfortable."
Bell believed that the problem with his nervous left calf is nearly following him and he does not suffer it at all while on the mound. He told that pain only occurs when he runs, so he is setting up running at about 80 percent until it is entirely healed,
since it was an injury that can simply be re-irritated.
Now it will be a big challenge for Bell to justify his position in a team by giving a top performance for the rest of the games during the spring season.
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