March 4, 200620 yr Brian Moehler is looking for a long, lost friend this spring: his change-up. ''I've got to have that pitch,'' said Moehler, who even had opposing hitters asking him last season what had become of a pitch that once made their lives more difficult. But Moehler, who relied strictly on a two-pitch arsenal of a fastball and cutter last season with the Marlins, said he never was able to gain confidence throwing the change-up after returning from ligament replacement surgery to his right elbow in 2003. ''That was my bread and butter before I had my surgery,'' he said. ``That was my pitch.'' In talking with other pitchers who have had Tommy John surgery, Moehler discovered that's not uncommon. 'I talked to a couple of guys and said `What's the toughest pitch to get back?' They all said the change-up. Why, I don't know,'' Moehler said. ``I've got to believe it has something to do with the way the arm turns over, and that ligament -- you just don't trust it.'' Moehler is working on rediscovering that pitch, but he said progress is slow. On Friday, when he made his first spring-training start, he got Orioles leadoff hitter David Newhan to fly out to left on a change-up. But Moehler said ground balls are usually the norm when the change-up is working. ''I don't have the conviction to throw it yet,'' Moehler said. ``I'm guiding it.'' Moehler said he believes the lack of a third pitch led to his late-season downfall, when he went 2-6 with a 6.67 ERA after the All-Star break. He had a 4-6 mark and 3.27 ERA before. ''I truly believe that's what happened last year,'' Moehler said. Moehler, who is the only Marlins player making more than $1 million this year, pitched two scoreless innings Friday in his spring debut, striking out three while allowing a hit and a walk. THIS AND THAT • The clothing world has its Abercrombie & Fitch. Friday's game between the Marlins and Orioles had its version: Abercrombie and Finch. Marlins outfielder Reggie Abercrombie doubled off Orioles pitcher Brian Finch when the two squared off in the third inning. • Two Marlins minor-leaguer pitchers -- Paul Mildren and Kenny Berkenbosch -- have left camp to play in the World Baseball Classic. Mildren will play for Australia and Berkenbosch will play for The Netherlands. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/14014838.htm Be interesting to see how the change progresses over the spring. Hopefully he can get it strong. And we'll just ignore that the Miami Herald forgot Dontrelle Willis is also making more than a million. How that kind of thing doesn't get caught is beyond me.
March 4, 200620 yr I'm glad we brought Moehler back. He's got potential to be a real leader and do some nice stuff on the mound, maybe not an allstar performance but a good job.
March 4, 200620 yr That pitch is going to help him a lot. The Change up is the best pitch in baseball. Dominance will begin to show...
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