Strings attached: A different twist greeted the Marlins pitchers in their first drills on Saturday. To drive home the point of pounding the strike zone, small string-framed strike zones were stationed in front of the series of home plates in the bullpen area at Roger Dean Stadium.

 

The "strike strings," as the players call them, are an instructional prop designed to simulate the strike zone. The concept was introduced by new pitching coach Mark Wiley, who has been using the technique in Spring Training for years.

 

"It also allows you to use self adjusting," Wiley said. "That's the thing about pitchers, no one can stand out there and tell you to do this or that. You have to do it for yourself. That gives you some feedback. It tells you if you are missing from one side of the strings, you need to adjust. If you are missing from the other side of the strings, you need to adjust."

 

The players embraced the teaching tool.

 

"It helps you focus more on the strike zone," reliever Matt Perisho said. "It frustrates you at the same time if you don't put it in there."

 

Added Josh Beckett: "It's something you have to get used to. I like it. It gets you to pound down in the zone."

 

There is an adjustment for the catchers, too, because they have a series of ropes in front of them. The strings are stationed inches from the front of home plate. Occasionally, the ball would deflect off the ropes, causing catchers to misplay the ball.

 

"It's more of an adjustment for the pitchers than us," catcher Matt Treanor said. "When a hitter is in there, it's more of a distraction than the ropes."

 

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Wiley built a great pitching staff in Baltimore that :censored :censored :censored pot-smoking Canadian :censored :censored :censored !!!!!

What a good idea.

Interesting concept.

 

Let's see if they can translate that to the mound in a game situation.

I like it. I hope it helps.If Wiley has been using it for years, it must be affective.