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Registered: 06-2006
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Pelfrey out to prove Sinker ain't a Stinker


NY Mets' Mike Pelfrey is confident he will revive his sinker after subpar 2011 campaign
Regaining pitch could be the key to crucial season

By Anthony Mccarron / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 9:18 PM


Mike Pelfrey is throwing himself into reviving his sinker after a rough 2011.


Mike Pelfrey estimates that he has already thrown 1,000 sinkers over the winter during workouts at Wichita State, his alma mater. The Mets’ righthander is desperately trying to recover the pitch he feels he lost somewhere in the disappointment of 2011, a season he says was “nowhere close to what I envisioned or what I wanted to happen.”

That applies to the team, which was 77-85, and Pelfrey, who stumbled after a breakthrough 2010. The troubled Mets, beset by financial woes and the departure of star Jose Reyes, could use some good news and a Pelfrey renaissance would help.

His sinker could be the key to what Pelfrey believes is a crucial year in his career. “Huge,” he calls it. “I had a good year in 2010 (when he was 15-9 with a 3.66 ERA) and I wanted to take that next step in 2011 and obviously I wasn’t able to do that, by any means.

“So this year becomes even more important. I’m a firm believer that you get out of it what you put into it and I’ve worked my tail off, cleared my head and analyzed. I feel like I’m throwing the ball great right now. It’s definitely an important year for me.”

Of course, no player heads into spring training feeling that his work has been shabby (Pelfrey must report with pitchers and catchers Feb. 20). Everyone, as the cliché goes, is in the best shape of his life before camp.

But, at least, Pelfrey feels like his signature sinker has made progress. His entire pitching life, he’s been able to make the ball sink, inducing ground balls from hitters. Last year, his pitches stayed high in the strike zone and Pelfrey believes that’s why he gave up a career-worst 21 homers in 1932/3 innings en route to a 7-13 record and a 4.74 ERA.

Also, base-stealers were successful on 29 of 31 attempts against him, another flaw that he is trying to fix by being quicker to the plate from the stretch position. “I can’t say a whole lot went right,” Pelfrey said, though he did say he was happy he had stayed healthy enough to make 33 starts. “The other side of it, I didn’t reach any of my goals. Nothing was where I wanted it to be.

“I gave up way too many homers and that was a product of the ball being up a lot higher than I’d like,” added Pelfrey, who gave up 12 homers in 204 innings in 2010.

“Last year, it got to the point where it just wasn’t moving and I can’t necessarily explain why. It disappeared, but I’ve been throwing and there’s more action on the ball now.”

Some have opined that Pelfrey threw too many cut fastballs last year, falling in love with a pitch that isn’t as good as his sinker. Late in the season, he and pitching coach Dan Warthen discussed throwing his circle changeup more, something that Pelfrey also said he has gotten good movement on over the winter.

“We also talked about going back to the sinker and I feel like I’ve done that,” Pelfrey says. “I’m encouraged.”

Pelfrey, 28, has always been among the most baffling Mets. He seems loaded with potential, but he’s been short on consistency. He has talked in the past about becoming an ace-type pitcher, but has yet to elevate his pitching to that level.

“The offseason clears your head and you can get a fresh start,” Pelfrey said. “It’s well-needed the way the year went. I’ve enjoyed the offseason and I’m getting that itch back to compete.”

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/mets-mike-pelfrey-confident-revive-sinker-article-1.1019527#ixzz1ltXbl7yA


Last edited by vtmet, 2/9/2012, 10:27 am


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Once I thought the truth was gonna set me free
But now I feel the chains of its' responsibility
2/9/2012, 10:26 am Link to this post Email vtmet   PM vtmet Blog
 
LaidBackRider Profile
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Re: Pelfrey out to prove Sinker ain't a Stinker


I don't see how this team can squander nearly $6 million on this putz when they pay 1/3 less for the decent pitching of R.A. Dickey. How many pitchers are capable of nearly a 5.00 ERA and would work for major league minimum? That is what Pelfrey did last year yet he GOT A FREAKIN' RAISE instead of being non-tendered as would have been economically prudent to do.
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Re: Pelfrey out to prove Sinker ain't a Stinker


I'm reserving comment since I'm still in the minority who don't feel Pelfrey is a complete waste. Let's just hope he's over the bugs from last year.

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Re: Pelfrey out to prove Sinker ain't a Stinker


When will you realize that 2010 was the fluke year, he sucks, first it was yips, then his catchers, then the "pressure" of opening day, blah freaking blah.
2/11/2012, 10:23 pm Link to this post Email RenoHitman   PM RenoHitman Blog
 
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Re: Pelfrey out to prove Sinker ain't a Stinker


I am confident Chris Schwinden, Josh Stinson or even freakin' 42 year old Miguel Batista would outperform Pelfrey at minimum cost. All of the above are just placeholders, anyway, until the younger pitchers are available. Signing Pelfrey to a raise was even stupider than signing Ronny Cedeño. It is nearly Ollie-esque in its bidding-against-yourself stupidity. They should have gone to arbitration and let his agent PROVE he deserved a raise. They should have non-tendered him or traded him for some N-th level prospect to another team just to be out from under the salary.
2/12/2012, 3:22 pm Link to this post Email LaidBackRider   PM LaidBackRider Blog
 
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Re: Pelfrey out to prove Sinker ain't a Stinker


yup
2/12/2012, 5:19 pm Link to this post Email RenoHitman   PM RenoHitman Blog
 


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