June 18, 2005
The Drese Angle
An interesting article in the Dallas Morning News on Ryan Drese's immediate improvement with the Washington Nationals.
Despite his underwhelming statistics – a 4-6 record, a 6.46 ERA, opponents' .334 batting average – the Nationals clearly wanted Drese and were the lone team to submit a waiver claim. They saw a pitcher who needed not an overhaul of his mechanics, but rather to make a few tweaks in his arm angle. So pitching coach Randy St. Claire went to work.
Drese threw on the side Sunday and a light session Monday to prepare for Wednesday's start. St. Claire noticed Drese was throwing his pitches from three arm slots. His sinker, his out pitch, came from an angle that put a sideways, not downward, movement on the ball. Hitters can recognize the spin easier and lay off a pitch that is supposed to land outside the strike zone.
What the article fails to discuss, however, is why Orel Hershiser didn't make this correction.
"Orel [Hershiser, the Rangers' pitching coach] will tell you that I was moving in this direction," Drese said. "But this is a game of wins and losses, and that's the bottom line. ... I was disappointed, and I think they [the Rangers] made a mistake. But I'm in Washington now, and it's a place where I'm wanted."
If Drese continues to perform well in Washington, the Rangers should re-evaluate Orel's performance as coach. It also makes me wonder if someone will be able to give Pedro Astacio a similar boost.
Posted by David Pinto at
11:47 AM
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Hershiser got most of the credit last year for turning Drese around. He should take just as much blame that Drese reverted back to form.
Hershiser has done a great job with Young and his terrific performance on the mound.
If the Rangers make it to the playoffs this year, Hershiser's got nothing to worry about. If they fall out of contention, Showalter and all the coaches have something to worry about. If they narrowly miss the playoffs, I think the staff is still safe.
If the Rangers fail to make the playoffs, Hicks needs to fire Showalter and Hershiser, guaranteeing a World Series win next year (look at the 96 Yankees and the 2001 D-Backs).
As far as Washington goes, St. Clair appears very hands on with the pitchers. He has got to lead the league in most visits to the mound per game.