Searage: Things "Clicked" With Volquez
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan) -- Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage joined Bpb Pompeani on Saturday. Edinson Volquez is 1-0 with a 1.71 ERA so far after struggling in spring training. Searage told Pompeani that things clicked after watching another pitcher's bullpen session.
"It clicked," he said. "Right there, and if you watch him pitch now, he'll come out and that front arm will just have a little bit of pause. It doesn't completely stop, has a little bit of pause and lets his arm come out and then up, and now he's got his angle he needed before so it's just weird how some of these things work."
Searage discussed his approach to pitchers with Pompeani. Searage talked about focusing on the mental side, as he's been in the same shoes before.
"What I try to do is to get to the emotional side of them, the mental side of them and try to help keep that simple and keep that corralled," Searage said. "Because once you go outside the corral on the emotional part and the mental part, things can really get out of hand."
Wandy Rodriguez has struggled early, posting an 0-2 record with a 7.31 ERA. Pompeani asked if Searage is encouraged with what he's seen from Rodriguez.
"I am encouraged, Bob," Searage said. "The ball's coming out of his hand really good. He feels really good about himself, he's just a little bit of rust in there. We're working on it in his pen sessions."
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(Photo Credit: The Fan)
