The secret to Hector Santiago’s return to late-inning success might be throwing a few less strikes.
Santiago specifically is targeting a reduction in the four home runs he has allowed in 6 1/3 innings, after giving up just 11 in 132 2/3 innings last season.
“I’ve actually thought about going out of the zone with certain pitches instead of trying to throw everything for strikes,” Santiago said. “I try to make sure I don’t walk anybody.
“Sometimes you have to go out of the zone to be able to get somebody to chase something, and I don’t think I’ve been doing that of late. Maybe I need to get someone to chase something and ground out or swing over something.”
Locating the screwball certainly is not an issue in Santiago’s mind. He felt as if that pitch was at its best this season during Wednesday’s appearance against the A’s and still doesn’t regret the changeup thrown to Yoenis Cespedes that led to the game-tying homer.
“I’ve actually figured out how to throw it at a lower velocity where I had it last year and throw a bigger break,” said Santiago of his screwball. “It’s just a fact that I’m throwing it right in the middle of the plate. I have to start working on getting off the plate.”
Here are some Pitch-F/X stuff for Santiago: Player Card from BrooksBaseball.net. Pitcher Profile from TexasLeaguers.com. Heat Maps from Fangraphs.com.
White Sox right-hander Andre Rienzo was one of two Minor League pitchers suspended for 50 games due to violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention Treatment Program, as announced by the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball on Thursday.
Rienzo, a 23-year-old native of Sao Paolo, Brazil, came to the team as a free agent in 2006. He was 3-0 with a 1.08 ERA for Class A Winston-Salem as part of its 2012 starting rotation.
After the suspension was announced, for Rienzo testing positive for metabolites of Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance, the White Sox released a statement from Rienzo.
“I have been informed by Major League Baseball that I have tested positive for a prohibited substance, and as a result, I will be suspended for 50 games,” Rienzo said in the statement. “I want to make it clear to Major League Baseball and the Chicago White Sox that I have never intentionally taken a prohibited substance.
“Unfortunately, during the offseason, I used a dietary supplement that I purchased at a health food store in my home country of Brazil, believing it to be legitimate. It is now apparent that the supplement was tainted. I understand that I am responsible for what I put in my body, and therefore have accepted the 50-game suspension. I look forward to returning to the game I love, and I appreciate the support the Chicago White Sox have given me during this process.”
Charlotte Knights Player IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Terry Doyle (W, 1-1) 6.0 5 0 0 1 7 0 3.63 Jhan Marinez 1.0 2 2 2 1 1 0 4.35 Anthony Carter 2.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.35 Pitches-strikes: Doyle 100-65, Marinez 25-14, Carter, A 19-14.
Groundouts-flyouts: Doyle 7-3, Marinez 0-1, Carter, A 5-0.
Batters faced: Doyle 25, Marinez 6, Carter, A 6.
Terry Doyle, RHP, White Sox (Triple-A Charlotte): 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K. Control specialist could work his way into White Sox bullpen at some point during season.
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