Dave Duncan
Dave Duncan
adjusting defense good importance natural pitchers pitching placed
It was a natural progression. It was good for the pitchers to know how much importance we placed on defense. We're always adjusting ... defense as well as pitching strategy.
benefits consider depends fifth gain guy looking pitches sitting
It depends a lot on who the fifth guy is. You have to consider how long he's going to be sitting out before he pitches again, No. 1, and what benefits you're looking to gain from that.
added basic pitcher strike
I got started with a basic thought. I wanted to know how each pitcher got strike one. Once I did that, I added this and then that.
finds given opportunity pitcher
Sometimes that's what happens. Used in another role, given a different opportunity - a pitcher finds his strength.
ability advantage appear ball club game league major middle pitch shown type
He's shown that he has the ability to pitch at the major league level. Opportunities come in different ways. When you get them you have to take advantage of them. If he makes our ball club he'll probably appear in the middle of the game as a situational type left-hander.
hard league major needed pitch strike top
He hasn't needed it. But he's going to need something like that at the major league level. It's hard to pitch at the top of the strike zone.
aggressive balls pitch situation sure swung throw
Delgado was very aggressive and swung at balls that weren't strikes. There was no need in that situation to throw him a strike. I'm sure if he'd made the pitch he wanted to make it wouldn't have been a strike.
guys majority pitchers season step successful
At the same time, these guys are going to have to step up and be the pitchers they were the majority of the season for us to have a successful postseason.
needs pitch
Reyes needs to pitch innings. He needs to show us he can go out there consistently. Hopefully, he'll get 180 innings.
beat control field gain good mistakes pitch places point walk wants
It could be a good pitch for him if he can gain control of it to the point where he doesn't make mistakes that are hit. If his mistakes are down, OK. If he makes mistakes up ... I don't think he wants to walk off the field after getting beat on a changeup. But he can find places to use it.
ball balls consistency developed feet four future gets ground innings keeps leagues minor needed pitches throws time
He throws four pitches for strikes, he keeps the ball down, gets a lot of ground balls and he's a strikeout pitcher. He's got a lot of innings pitched in the minor leagues and ... he has developed the consistency that's needed to pitch at this level. We feel it's important he get his feet on the ground up here (in St. Louis) for the time in the future when he's a starter.
change location pitches speeds spring takes time
He's a location and change of speeds pitcher. It takes a little time during the spring to get all of your pitches going and get comfortable with them. He's doing good.
belt guys hope hurt next pitches quality seeing step time understand
All the pitches they got hurt on were belt high. I don't like it, but I understand it. Next time out, we hope to be seeing guys take another step forward, making more quality pitches, get them in that mode.
control delivery games great guys kept pitches season sign struggling
He was struggling with his delivery and his control. His pitches weren't sharp. But I told him it's a great sign because you're going to have 10, 12, 15 games during the season when it just isn't working. A lot of guys give in to that. But he didn't. He kept battling.