Pitchers urged to keep heads

Hurlers told the key to surviving Coors is to pitch as they always do.

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times
published June 22, 2002

DENVER -- Having heard the horror stories and seen the horrible performances, the Rays gave their pitchers specific and simple instructions going into the weekend series at Coors Field.

"Don't change anything," manager Hal McRae said. "Try to keep us in the ballgame. Keep the ball down. Don't walk anyone. Pitch aggressively. Mainly, do the things we've always done.

"Don't be intimidated by the ballpark, and don't try to shut them down. Just outpitch the other guy."

Doug Creek was the only Rays pitcher with experience in Coors, where the combination of the light air and large park have ruined many a pitcher's night.

"If you think about it, it will kill ya," Creek said. "The bottom line is to remember they've got to pitch here, too. It's like pitching in Fenway (Park); just don't look behind you. You pay for your mistakes a little more here. And there's good pitches you might pay for, too.

"But if you think about it and let it consume you, it's one strike against you."

Creek said the challenge of pitching at Coors is more of a mental one, but there are physical ones, too. Because of the altitude, balls tend to feel drier and slicker in a pitcher's hand, which makes it more difficult to get a comfortable grip, especially on a breaking ball.

The Rockies have been storing balls in a humidor to make the balls more normal, but Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina complained after Thursday's game that the balls felt "slick, really slick."

Rays pitching coach Jackie Brown said the only way to combat that is "lots of resin and lots of saliva."

Brown said the grip is more of an issue for offspeed pitches "because they involve more feel."

The thin air also can make it difficult for pitchers with big curveballs because the ball doesn't break as much. That could be an issue tonight and Sunday when the Rays send Wilson Alvarez and Joe Kennedy to the mound.

"The guys with the big breaking balls may have a tough time," Creek said. "And sinkers may seem a little flat."

The humidors had seemed to hold down the scoring some, until the Yankees and Rockies combined for 70 runs and 95 hits in three games.

"It must have broken for a few days or someone must have forgot to turn it on," Brown said.