M’s Silva tweaks mechanics

Published 10:39 pm Thursday, March 26, 2009

PEORIA, Ariz. — Nobody can say Carlos Silva is a completely changed pitcher until he starts posting numbers during a season that counts.

But, in addition to the weight he has lost, Silva is making some subtle tweaks to his mechanics in an effort to never repeat his 4-15 nightmare of 2008.

That’s why pitching coach Rick Adair spent so much time during Silva’s 10-minute session in the bullpen Thursday working with him on what may seem like subtle movements.

He has Silva working with a full, over-the-head windup that he hopes will create a better downward plane and a sharper break on his pitches. In the past, Silva has pitched without a full windup. The work Thursday became as detailed as the split-second between when Silva lifts his hands before he steps back with his left foot.

“We were talking about reasons why he had lost some sink or the angle,” Adair said. “Losing the weight has obviously been very positive for him from a delivery standpoint in trying to get him a little more athletic. And working on a full windup delivery has helped, too. And that rhythm has carried over into his stretch. It’s helping his body posture.”

Adair had worked with Silva on the changes early in spring training, and he was pleased to see the right-hander sticking with them during the World Baseball Classic. Even when Silva was mired in a difficult final start for Venezuela, he didn’t fall back on the old motion that would have been more comfortable, Adair said.

“He’s just now getting to where he feels comfortable with it,” Adair said. “It was refreshing to see him take some things and implement them and try them in a game during the WBC, and then come back here and really grind on it. It’s always refreshing to see anybody try to learn some concepts that are fundamentally sound, but especially a veteran guy like this.”