Two things get noticed when you watch Nate Jones generate a pitch. The Chicago White Sox righthander comes with an unorthodox delivery and that he throws hard. Working primarily as a setup man, he includes a 97-mph fastball.
What doesnt jump out is the fact that he is setting up better numbers than last year. The 27-year-old Northern Kentucky method is 4-5, 3.86, when compared with 8-0, 2.39. But a closer look tells a totally different story. Jones has improved in virtually every other category, with a markedly better FIP.
Jones, that has made 63 appearances this year, discu sed his evolution as a pitcher including his funky delivery on the recent trip to Fenway Park. Also hitting the scales were former teammate, and current Red Sox reliever Matt Thornton, and White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper.
Jones on his season: I feel like I am [better]. I can throw my breaking ball and my changeup in almost any count. Basically get behind and get inside a fastball count, I dont nece sarily need to go to that fastball.; I'm able to throw a slider or changeup.
I feel like Ive learned from this past year. Ive also learned from the start of the year, which didnt go well. You study from your mistakes. Outside of early on, I believe Ive pitched well.
You can run into that one week or, in my case, it was per month and a half where I wasnt consistent. Like a reliever, that can type of ruin
Joe Callahan Jersey your ERA for any year. I dont know precisely what my numbers are, however they could be a little deceiving based on a few outings.
When I began pitching better, it was a little bit little bit of mental along with a tad little bit of physical. I had to make sure I kept my confidence in each and every pitch. If I walk somebody, I cant lose the confidence of going immediately after that next hitter. Physically, I began throwing off-speed more. Thats been a big key to getting guys off my fastball.On throwing more sliders this season: With Coop [Don Cooper], thats one of his first things in spring training. Once you establish your fastball, throw that off-speed more, throw that slider more for strikes. The greater you can do that, the more they need to respect it; they have to be ready for it, rather than just being ready for just one pitch. Regardle s of how hard you throw, anybody can time a fastball.
I had to make that adjustment or I wasnt likely to be in the big leagues everything long.
Geronimo Allison Jersey I was getting hit pretty hard at the beginning of the growing season. A part of pitching is making adjustments.
I was throwing a respectable amount of sliders early, but none of them of these were for strikes. Hitters were reducing, allowing them to hit the dirt. They were letting them be balls and drawing walks. They might just take a seat on my fastball. Thats changed now.
I basically just started commanding my slider better. I got more confidence in it. Which was another popular trend, just having confidence inside it, no matter what the count is, to throw it for a strike.On the rest of his repertoire: On rare occasions Ill throw a changeup. Once in a blue moon Ill throw a curveball. Every once in awhile Ill mix one of those in only to show hitters I have it. Ill even obtain a few swings and mi ses on my small changeup, but fastball-slider is exactly what has been working for me all year. Im not prepared to stray from that just yet.
My changeup is really a variation from the two-seam circle. I kind of hold it around the horseshoe rather than on top of the 2 seams.
On his fastball: I only throw two-seam fastballs. I dont throw four-seams at all. This year, I was starting and Joe McEwing and Bobby Thigpen they were with me then wanted me to obtain later into games. They wanted me to get
J.C. Tretter Jersey guys out earlier in the count, so I didnt have a high pitch count through the fifth inning. Eventually they were like, Why dont you throw all two-seamers today? Thats things i did, also it was one of the best starts I'd in the minor leagues. Afterwards, they were exploring the numbers and also the velocity. They said, I thought you were likely to po se s a slower velo, however, you topped out at 97. Thats the toughest youve thrown so far. Why dont you stick with it? Since the middle of 2010, thats all Ive thrown.
My two-seamer doesnt sink a ton. Its hardly ever sinking or nasty. Id refer to it as more like a bore. It's available in a little bit, arm side, instead of as being a nasty sinking thing. Sometimes its maybe straighter, and other times it moves more.On his delivery: Ive never had biomechanics conversations with anybody to talk about whether its safe or otherwise. Its just something Ive always done. Im the main one doing the throwing Im not watching myself so Im not sure if Ive tried it my very existence, but Ive tried it for some time. I dont know where I got it from, it simply feels natural.
Believe me, people made fun of us a little correctly, after i was growing up. Even in senior high school and college, but Ive just always done it. Like I said, it feels natural. Thats how every pitcher ought to be. You shouldnt be considering your arm action or the way you throw, you ought to be natural. It just so happens thats my way. I dont think, I just grip it and throw it.
Being able to go available and pitch is what being a reliever is about. I want to be a bulldog and pitch every single day. Youre obviously likely to encounter problems everybody does just being tired and fatigued a bit. You just battle through that. Typically, Ive been pretty healthy.
Don Cooper on Jones: His ERA isnt as good this season, but his strikeouts, walks and hits-to-innings are better. Is he using a better season than last year? Absolutely. Hes improved his percentage of first-pitch strikes. Hes improved his breaking ball and is throwing it more for strikes. His changeup is around exactly the same, although we feel he
Andy Mulumba Jersey needs to be throwing it a bit more.
On surface of that, were throwing fastballs to all quadrants. Last year he was one-sided. He was basically away to righties. Last year, Nate dominated lefties and righties got him too much. This year hes getting righties a lot more, simply because weve think of a little better plan than he had. He was away, away, away, and today were doing so a lot more to righties. Were adding more changeups to righties on top of it. Were putting more element of doubt into hitters minds.
His mechanics are fine. Hes tall, hes back, and hes closed. And hes doing more often. When his mechanics are right, hes right. His secret is to balance and work within the ball, work back to front and not sideways. Thats when hes at his best.
Jacob Schum Jersey When hes away from his best, hes fast and coming around his stuff. Thats it in a nutshell.
Matt Thornton on Jones: Nate Jones has absolutely dominating stuff. Everyone knows that. Hes among the most-untalked-about dominating arms, late-inning guys. He has some of the best raw stuff hanging around. His ERA was high early the very first 6 weeks of the year and hes really brought it down. Its come down gradually.
As for his delivery, wed pick on him all the time. A man throws 100 and it has this unorthodox thing going on. You cant explain it, however it works for him. It effects everyone differently. Everyone has just a little tick and thats his.
Is it safe? You cant be worried about that. You just need to take care of yourself and strengthen yourself up. Look at Matt Harvey. Matt Harvey has truly good mechanics and that he blew his elbow out. It happens, with no quantity of research is ever going to figure out why some people blow out. Ive seen guys who have probably the most unorthodox, ridiculous deliveries, flying open and stre sing their elbow. Take a look at Chris Sale. If you notice a snapshot of him, whats going on together with his arm is unbelievable. And he has no arm i sues. Thats the game of baseball. You may be drastically wrong, yet youre right.