Evan Grant on Brandon McCarthy

by Adam J. Morris on May 25, 2009 10:01 AM CDT

Evan Grant has a lengthy piece up about how yesterday's outing by Brandon McCarthy was the culmination of a lot of things -- mostly dealing with confidence, mindset, and "conviction."

Check it out...

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Curveball health thing cleared up a bit

Maddux had to convince McCarthy to believe he was healthy first. For McCarthy, that meant shelving his once promising curve ball during spring training. McCarthy feared the curve might put too much strain on his shoulder at the start of the year. Maddux and bullpen coach Andy Hawkins went along with McCarthy’s desire to throw a slider, but also reminded him time after time that he had a great curveball somewhere in him.

So it was McCarthy who thought the cuveball was causing health issues and the Rangers did indeed just go along with it.

"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)

by ab03 on May 25, 2009 10:16 AM CDT reply actions

Thats great mindgames right there

To McCarthy it was all mental and the Rangers allowed him to do whatever put his mind at ease about pitching. Then once he went a month with no injuries they kept reminding him how great of a pitch he had and he went back to it.

Is Maddux part psychiatrist?

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on May 25, 2009 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions

no

by Mike E on May 25, 2009 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions

No what?

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on May 25, 2009 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions

interesting

by Mike E on May 25, 2009 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions

Believing he's healthy

It’s not surprising that a guy who’s been injured a lot would take some time to just start throwing and stop being careful. A lot of time off means time finding a groove when you come back. During that time you’re inconsistent and you can stop believing in your own stuff, start being careful and nibbling. It would be awesome if this time was over and McCarthy became what everyone though he was a couple of years ago.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on May 25, 2009 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions