March 18, 2003
Two for Seconds
Two young Kansas City Royals relievers are trying to perfect a second pitch:
The word went out early this spring to Ryan Bukvich and Jeremy Hill that a fastball, even one zooming in at 95 mph or more, is just not enough.
The Royals ordered the two young relievers to develop another pitch and then emphasized the point by limiting the number of fastballs each could throw when they were brought into games.
"They need to understand that they're not going to pitch in the big leagues with only one pitch," Royals manager Tony Pena said. "Even if you are a one-inning guy, you need to have something else.
"We're addressing that now. That's something they need to learn right now."
Initially, the message went down hard.
Bukvich, 24, and Hill, 25, both understood the benefit of possessing an off-speed pitch to complement their fastball. But the competition this spring for bullpen roles is fierce.
"The first thing I had in my mind," Bukvich acknowledged, "is I'm trying to make the team. I want to throw my best stuff. That's my fastball."
Is spring training the time to be working on a second pitch? What have these pitchers been throwing in the minors? And if you have a great fast ball, why can't you throw it for an inning to get the side out. There's something wrong with the way the Royals are developing their pitchers.
Posted by David Pinto at
09:12 PM
