Note: The Return of Ollie Freedom
In a win yesterday against the Yankees, Oliver Perez let up just three hits and one run, while walking nobody and striking out eight, with 106 pitches in seven innings.
…this is the first time all season that he did not walk a batter…
Prior to the game, pitching coach Dan Warthen explained that he and Perez had recently worked on making changes to the pitcher’s delivery, such as letting Perez pitch from the center of the rubber, which is something Rick Peterson would not allow.
…also, he changed the start of his windup, instead of stepping to the side and returning to center, now he’s stepping directly back and coming forward, which he said gives him more power…
…the by-product appeared to be more confidence throwing inside, and so he also threw more fastballs in general, which looked outstanding…also interesting, as Brian Schneider acknowledged after the game while talking with Kevin Burkhardt, perez was working more back and forth, i.e., changing speeds, than side to side, i.e., painting the corners…
Perez, talking to reporters after the game, said:
“Today was the real Ollie…I was having fun, but at the same time I was focused…Before, I was trying to be a different pitcher. Right now, it’s me…I was really there, and I’m happy for what I did today and I have to keep going…Before, I was trying to be too perfect, I was trying to be a different pitcher, but today was the real me.”
Manuel, on Perez, talking to reporters after the game, said:
“Everybody has tried some different things with him…What has happened in the past is that they last for one inning, two innings, but this adjustment that he made today seemed to carry him throughout the game, which we should expect next time he takes the ball. He should be the same way.”
…next time he takes the ball…excellent…keep going, ollie…
Dan Warthen, as quoted by the Star-Ledger:
“That’s all part of it, all part of Ollie being Ollie. It’s great. These are the things he was able to take from the bullpen to what he did today, with a lot of freedom, a lot of Ollie freedom, which is stuff he wants. If he wants it, then he’s going to feel comfortable.”
…i have said this a few times already, but, the way it was explained to me, warthen is a total 180–degree turn from peterson, who had a master philosophy about pitching and he expected all pitchers to subscribe to it…whereas warthen has no philosophy, other than throwing two of your first three pitches for strikes…instead, warthen works with each pitcher and tries to maximize that specific pitcher’s strengths…as my colleague Ted Berg has explained, perez comes from the Mexican League, where personal style and creativity is valued asset…so, maybe by letting ollie shed ‘The Jacket,’ so to speak, and, instead, just be who he is, he’ll return to form…time will tell…
