Stephen Strasburg hopes a radical change will solve his injury woes
Stephen Strasburg
After yet another season cut short by injury, Stephen Strasburg is experimenting with an unconventional idea in hopes that it will result in improved durability.
The Nationals right-hander, who has tossed more than 183 innings in a season only once in parts of seven major-league seasons, made his Grapefruit League debut Friday – and pitched exclusively from the stretch. That’s right, he didn’t use a windup – by choice – on any of the 23 pitches he threw in two scoreless innings.
“I feel like as I’ve gotten older, for whatever reason,” Strasburg said, via The Washington Post, “the windup’s just been an issue as far as getting that right feeling of staying on the mound, not drifting too much towards first or third base side on my leg kick and sticking the landing a little better.”
Manager Dusty Baker told MLB.com that he is fine with the change:
"As long as [Strasburg] felt comfortable and as long as he was throwing strikes. It looks like it didn't change his velocity and his location was actually better. He had excellent location out of the stretch. You know guys are always trying to improve and trying to reinvent themselves. Perhaps he'll even be better than he already is."
