News
Adams proving to be valuable setup man
Padres reliever coming full circle after '07 shoulder surgery
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
08/13/09 12:55 PM ET
MILWAUKEE -- It's certainly no knock for any reliever to be called a two-pitch pitcher, though San Diego eighth-inning specialist Mike Adams would like to think of himself as something much more than that."I think it's big when you can throw more than two pitches on any given night," Adams said. "You do not know if that second pitch is going to be there on any given night and you want to have something to fall back on."
Adams' expansive pitch repertoire, which includes a mid-90s mph fastball -- with sinking action and a cut-fastball -- as well as a curveball and new changeup, have helped him become one of the most reliable setup men in the National League.
Going into Thursday's game against the Brewers at Miller Park, Adams has a run of 23 innings without an earned run over 23 outings dating back to June 19. During this run, Adams has allowed seven hits and three walks with 29 strikeouts.
"It's very similar to what he was doing last year, though I believe he's become a better pitcher because he's had more experience setting up games this year," said Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley. "He's knows what's expected of him and I think that he has learned to blend in his offspeed pitches more than before."
Adams, who has a 0.71 ERA in 26 games with six holds since July 28, added a changeup this season that has been a good pitch for him against left-handed hitters -- who are batting .160 against him. The reason for adding it, though, came out of necessity.
It was about this time a year ago when Adams first starting feeling soreness in his right shoulder. He pitched through it and pitched well, especially in September (1.93 ERA) while taking occasionally days off to rest the shoulder.
But two weeks after the regular season, Adams had surgery to repair a small tear in his labrum and damage to his rotator cuff. Adams recovered fast enough to participate in Spring Training, though not at full strength. After eight Minor League rehab games, he was reinstated from the disabled list on June 8.
"I guess the surgery still kind of affects me. There are still days [when] my shoulder feels bad. It's something we still have to take care of to make sure I don't have ramifications," Adams said.
Enter the changeup.
"The changeup, that's something I've worked on from the beginning of this year since after surgery. I didn't know where my velocity was going to be," Adams said. "I'm still not throwing my curveball as much as last year. I think if I can get the feeling back for that pitch, I'll be in good shape."
From the Padres' standpoint, he's been plenty fine, moving into the eighth-inning role in the last month to set up All-Star closer Heath Bell -- as he did on Wednesday, tossing 1 1/3 shutout innings in a 6-5 victory over the Brewers.
"I think more and more it's my confidence [that] is higher than last year. I'm more focused, I go out there and I know exactly what I want to do," Adams said. "Last year it was more pitch by pitch."
Adding the changeup has certainly helped.
"I would still call him a two-pitch pitcher," Balsley said, "but with the ability to use four."
Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
