The Sports Xchange
Adding slider leads to big numbers for McDonald
James McDonald, a budding National League All-Star, had been something of a frustration for the Pirates the better part of his two years in Pittsburgh.
McDonald has the 95-mph heat, the 12-to-6 curve and plenty enough poise.
But something was missing.
One March afternoon in Clearwater, Fla., McDonald was toying with a slider in warm-ups with catcher Rod Barajas. He had thrown the pitch before, but never in a game, but this one connected in more ways than one.
Barajas immediately went to pitching coach Ray Searage, who went to manager Clint Hurdle, and the beginning of a fine season was born.
It’s not a devastating slider, and it’s been inconsistent. But the mere versatility it offers has been a huge help.
“It’s given him two different breaking pitches that can violate two different lanes against hitters,” Hurdle said. “The curve is more two-plane, top to bottom. The slider is side to side. It’s become a weapon.”
McDonald used all his weapons to hold the first-place Reds scoreless over eight innings in a 4-1 victory Memorial Day matinee at PNC Park. His 2.20 ERA, and his 63 strikeouts the fifth-most in the league against only 19 walks.
“I was just trying to make my pitches, get quick outs, get off the mound,” McDonald said.
Said Hurdle: “This was another great step for James, a very strong outing. James is a kid with an open mind looking to get better. When you’re inconsistent and think something missing, some guys tinker and look for the X factor.
“With him it’s, ‘Let me try something different. Let me see what I do if I get my hand on the side of it a little bit more and see what happens.’ He’s run with it.”
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