Dodgers Spring Training: McCarthy Content With Start, Works On Curve
After starting Erik Bedard in their first Cactus League game this year, the Los Angeles Dodgers have slowly advanced to getting their expected regular-season starters on the mound when Clayton Kershaw took the ball Thursday and Brandon McCarthy was on the bump Sunday.
McCarthy threw two innings, allowed two hits and one earned run before finishing his day in the bullpen. As for his Dodgers debut, the 31 year old viewed it as a step in the right direction. “I got a better idea of what I need to work on and where I’m at with some things,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy struck out to open the game, then gave up consecutive hits. He retired the last five batters he faced and took more from the second inning than a nervous-laden first. “The second inning, I got back into it and felt like I settled down and came away with some positives.”
As for throwing an estimated 20 pitches in the bullpen, McCarthy wanted to refine his curveball. “A lot of it was just mechanics on the curveball and staying through it.” Coming off a season in which he struggled with the Arizona Diamondbacks before finding success in New York, McCarthy believes he’s now found the correct throwing program.
During his nine-year career, he’s managed to make a minimum of 30 starts just once — in 2014. McCarthy hopes it was the beginning of proving he’s moved on from his injury past, but also understands this season as well as the years beyond are keying in validating that sentiment.
From the Dodgers perspective, who signed McCarthy to a four-year deal, should he managed to remain healthy and carry over his success with the Yankees, they’ll once more have a viable fourth starter to back Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Mike Bolsinger Discusses First Start Of Spring
Listened to comments by Hershiser after the game. He believes McCarthy has figured it out. I believe when one of the starters needs some time we will have guys like Bolsinger, Zach Lee and others to fill in unlike last year.
Don’t put too much faith in Bolsinger, or Lee…..Bedard will be the first guy called up if they need a starter. Bolsinger has never been all that good in the NL west.
Yes Bedard does look good and has been effective in the past. I hope this is Lee’s year to impress. Read an interview and he said he really go hit in PCL AAA. He said it made him understand that you must pitch to get ground outs and he had to refine his pitches and improve his location and control. Lee was a highly touted quarterback prospect which means he is very competitive. I think he bounces back and pitchers really well in OK this year. These guys can count. It looks like Greinke opts out and Anderson is on a 1 year deal. Depending on Greinke’s season there may be stupid money out there for him and more of a turn off too many years on a deal. So I figure we lose him and Anderson. You figure, if healthy, Beachy for one spot and Lee, Reed, Holmes and Urias are all possibilities for the other.
Holmes at least 2 years away…he was at low A last year and only for a short time……If they win the series, Greinke stays……