Grant Balfour: Now With Slightly More Sliders

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 5, 2009 7:00 AM EDT

Lost in the hoopla of trade talk and minor league roster alignments was a game. The spring training finale finally occurred, and the only thing worth while discussing - other than Carlos Pena and Pat Burrell homeruns - is Grant Balfour. Remember all that off-season discussion about throwing a non-fastball pitch? Well, today he threw 19 pitches, and only 16 were fastballs. That's 84%, about 7% lower than last year. The other 16% were sliders. Of course, it's only three pitches, and we're talking spring, but still, here are the results of the sliders:

Groundout
Ball
Ball in dirt

Could use some work. Even the batters who saw a slider weren't fooled on the next pitch, in both occurrences a fastball. Miguel Cairo fouled one off and Matt Stairs doubled.

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do you think this is a sign of things to come or just the coincidence of a SSS?

by walkoffwalk on Apr 5, 2009 9:56 AM EDT reply actions

He's supposedly used it more in spring.

So, let’s hope sign of things to come, although I won’t hold my breath.

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 5, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions

As I've stated , Balfour

is the biggest concern to me this season. his total inability to locate this spring is the reason he could never stick in MLB previously.
He’s not the type of pitcher that is very cerebral while on the mound either. Let’s hope ST is what it is, and he has a fine season

by Raymondo on Apr 5, 2009 10:14 AM EDT reply actions

He has thrown the slider more this spring

In the few appearances I’ve seen, it’s been quite noticeable.

And when I say noticeable, I mean “I swear his arm travels a whole lot slower when he throws the slider”. If guys at the plate are picking up the same thing I’m seeing (and Lord knows they’re getting paid to do this so chances are they will be) then this is a worry.
(unless, of course, it really is the curveball that he’s been working on … then THAT might be another worry)

Balf is almost a lock to regress this season (mainly as a result of the stellar year he had last year) … but I think his ST location issue is more to do with working on breaking pitches and less to do with fastball command.

To be honest, I’m not sure I want him throwing too many pitches that put a strain on his elbow. Last year was his first injury-free season and I think the high FB% had a lot to do with it.

by AussieGriff on Apr 5, 2009 10:59 PM EDT reply actions