Spring Training 2010
Harang cruising toward Opening Day
By C. Trent Rosecrans, CNATI.com Posted March 20, 2010 1:06 AM ET
GOODYEAR, Ariz. - After some hiccups with new mechanics earlier in the spring, Reds starter Aaron Harang said he's feeling comfortable with where he is as the Reds move closer to Opening Day.
"I feel like I'm a little bit ahead of where I've been in the past, I'm really pleased with the way things are going," Harang said following the Reds' 6-2 victory over the Mariners at Goodyear Ballpark on Friday night. "I'm adjusting well to the mechanical stuff."
One of the things Harang changed was slowing himself down I the windup - why rush when there are no runners on? He slowed up and then out of the stretch he changed the position of his hands. Harang had seen where he was making some mistakes and talked with Bryan Price about the changes, they worked on it this week and the results were good Friday.
Harang went five innings, allowed six hits, a run and struck out six without walking a batter.
"Harang threw the ball excellent tonight, he had good velocity, good tempo, a very good breaking ball and changeup," Baker said. "It's great to see."
Harang allowed a run in the first on a changeup he left up to Milton Bradley for a two-out RBI double. Other than that, he didn't allow a runner to reach third. The Reds scored three in the fifth on a two-run homer by pinch-hitter Chris Heisey and an inside-the-park homer by Drew Stubbs, who has six hits in his last three games. The Reds added three more in the sixth on a two-run Scott Rolen homer and a solo homer by Laynce Nix.
The strikeouts let Harang know how well he was pitching. He had just two strikeouts in his previous outing of the spring.
"That and keeping the ball down in the zone and going up when I wanted to and now it's down to limiting my mistakes," Harang said. "The fewer mistakes you make, the deeper you'll go in games. The changeup is coming around good, I think that's improved more than it's been in the past. I'm try to keep the same arm slot as I do with the fastball."
Harang said he threw around 80 pitches.
"I'm right on pace, the next one 90 and the next one 100," Harang said.
The next after that is likely Opening Day.
"Already?" Harang said. "I'm just excited, I'm excited how this team is playing. Everyone seems to be bonding well and having fun. We're in the dugout staying loose, it's a good group of guys and we're coming around as a team."
Categories: Cincinnati Reds, Featured Stories, Spring Training 2010
Tags: Aaron Harang, Chris Heisey, Drew Stubbs, Laynce Nix, Milton Bradly, Reds, Scott Rolen
Comments (1)
seems his plan is coming together nicely for opening day.
(mobile posting from opera 10 on symbian! nice)
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