The reality of spring training was on display today, whether the reactionary world up north wanted to see it or not. Curt Schilling pitched, Jason Varitek caught, and while both gave off the likeness of mid-season baseball players, their words not long after playing across town at Hammond Stadium told a different story.
Schilling had looked solid in going 3 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and one Michael Cuddyer home run (coming on a fastball he later said he knew he shouldn’t have thrown). But the final line was inconsequential compared to the nine change-ups which made an appearance in the outing. For Schilling, spring training was all about pitching inside, this year the priority has become developing his change.
The circle-gripped pitch has been a work in progress over the past three years. It is a straight change (“A contact pitch,” according to Varitek), unlike the downward breaking change-ups trotted out by Pedro Martinez, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Keith Foulke. Schilling thinks on some days it could be good enough to be his No. 2 option, but that kind of consistency is something that will have to be sought in sunshine of Florida. Varitek said there have been occasions in the past where Schilling has tried to ride the fastball more than usual, but came away with less-than-satisfying results.
“I’m forcing myself to throw it in counts where I would during the season if it was good,” Schilling said. “The first couple I threw today, it felt like I was throwing left-handed, because I have a mental checklist that I rapid-fire to throw each pitch, and I’ve never thrown this — or really felt this confident or comfortable to this point to use it — so it’s different. The last couple I threw, I thought I threw really, really well. It’s going to be a huge weapon for me.”
But as the media cleared away from Schilling and then Varitek, the catcher admitted that his battery-mate wasn’t the only one going through a period of change this spring.
“I’m going through a big adjustment phase right now,” the Sox’s captain admitted. “Getting my feet right … there’s a big transition. I’m still not there where I’m comfortable with some of the changes I have made. It’s helped tremendously on receiving some balls and my presentation has been better. It’s just all to make the game easier. I’ve gotten parts of it where I feel comfortable with it, and we’ve got other parts I have to keep working at. We’ve got a month to get it done.”
It sounded like this spring training has been unlike any other in recent memory for Varitek due to the adjustments. “That’s very true,” he said.
Of course a big reason for Varitek’s willingness to break down his game and build it back up at the age of 34 is the presence of new bullpen coach Gary Tuck (aka “The World’s Best Catching Instructor”). The sight of the former Yankees coach put the catchers through their paces each day via various drills is one of the newer aspects of this year’s camp. “I think that some of it is not having the availability of someone with his teaching skills,” Varitek explained.
Some of the aspects of his game which Varitek is attempting to bring to another level is throwing and presentation (presenting the pitch to both the pitcher and the umpire).
Besides Varitek, the rest of the catching situation is shaping up with Doug Mirabelli as the backup (despite Alberto Castillo’s strong start), and top prospect George Kottaras beginning the season at Triple A. Despite some favorable reviews from Toronto manager John Gibbons the other day regarding Kottaras’ receiving skills, the Canadian is still pretty raw, having not taken up baseball until he was 15 years-old. His expertise up until that point was in softball, partly because his high school in Ontario didn’t have a baseball program.
One coach who has flown under the radar is the one whose is primarily responsible for the organization of the camp. Bench coach Brad Mills has run what veteran Joe McEwing called “the most organized camp I’ve been in.” This season hasn’t been dramatically different from the last few years, but there has been subtle changes, such as the fitness tests, and much more rapid-fire pitcher’s fielding drills. (Translation: A little less standing around.) Mills didn’t get any interviews for managerial jobs this past offseason, although there was thought to be some initial interest from the Texas Rangers when their position opened up (eventually going to Ron Washington).
Everybody wants to know what is going on with the bullpen. You’re going to have to wait. Manager Terry Francona said that he would like to have defined roles by the final week of camp, but even that can’t be guaranteed. Going off what has transpired thus far, Brendan Donnelly has the pole position for the closer’s role because of his performance, stuff, and temperament. Joel Pineiro (he of the 15.43 ERA thus far) is admittedly trying to work on too many things instead of simplifying his approach. At the heart of his woes continues to be the consistency with his arm slot. Julian Tavarez and Mike Timlin (who may throw off a mound Wednesday) both would seem to have value in set-up roles. But there is a long way to go in the spring and a lot can change. Meanwhile, there continues to be plenty of encouraging signs coming from the likes of J.C. Romero, Javier Lopez, and Bryan Corey. I think they want to see more of Devern Hansack before committing to a role of value.
It could be a case of finding somebody to get into the summer months, when they can re-evaluate Jonathan Papelbon’s shoulder joint and have a better understanding of what the likes of Hansack, or even Bryce Cox, might be able to give.
Ran into Scott Shapiro, the agent for what could be potentially the biggest prize in next year’s free agent market, Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano. He was talking about his recent arbitration case involving Zambrano, which was settled for $12.4 million. Even if the club would have won the case, it would have been a record settlement since the Cubs were offering $11 million. Zambrano was asking for $15.5 million. Shapiro is currently in negotiations with Chicago on a contract which would keep his player out of the open market and thereby most likely make Curt Schilling the most sought-after free agent pitcher. Shapiro came to terms just before the arbitration case began, just like the Red Sox and Wily Mo Pena. Pena’s hearing was scheduled in the same building just before Zambrano’s.
Got to go … be back early tomorrow.
