Dyson struggles to find form he regained in 2017
MESA, Ariz. — Athletes are smart enough to know that good results from a bad approach are fleeting. Sam Dyson, expected to be the Giants’ primary setup man in 2018, understands.
Dyson was a ninth-inning blessing for the Giants in place of an injured Mark Melancon last year. Dyson converted 14 of 15 saves from July 1 through Sept. 23 after the Rangers dumped him and his 10.80 ERA in a June 6 trade to San Francisco.
Almost as soon as Dyson arrived in San Francisco and began working with Buster Posey again after they were paired in the World Baseball Classic, the right-hander started to look like the closer who saved 38 games for Texas in 2016. Or did he? Dyson was not the same pitcher. The heavy sinker he once threw at 97 mph had deserted him and he was pitching backward — as he put it, “Cutter, cutter, cutter, cutter, slider, slider, cutter, cutter, cutter.”
Dyson wants to rediscover that sinker, which he used a career-low 64 percent of the time last year, per the analytical website Fangraphs.
“I want to get back to what I’m good at, which is throwing the sinker and using the offspeed stuff to get them off the sinker,” Dyson said Tuesday. “Quick outs is what I’m going for every time. I want you to swing. I want you to put it on the ground.”
Dyson’s results this spring have been poor. Against the A’s on Monday he allowed four runs in two-thirds of an inning, including a two-run Franklin Barreto homer. The high, tight pitch he subsequently threw to Khris Davis led to some jawing between the teams.
Dyson views the issue as mechanical. At 29 he understands he cannot throw in the mid-90s with sink just using his upper body. He is working to create drive with his lower half, and he is not there yet.
He knows he can rely on Posey to guide him, mechanically and mentally.
“Sometimes he has more confidence in me than I have in myself,” Dyson said. “He’s the one catching. He’s the one who sees pitchers daily. He’s been around for a while. I think any time there’s doubt that creeps into a pitcher’s mind, sometimes you go away from what you’re good at and you start trying to do too much, or you try to change.”
Dyson figures he has six more spring appearances to get his delivery in sync so he can deliver that sink.
Sharp kid: Julian Fernandez, a 21-year-old who has not pitched above Class A, impressed manager Bruce Bochy with a perfect inning in Tuesday night’s 2-1 loss to the Cubs.
The Giants selected Fernandez in the Rule 5 draft because of a fastball that can touch 100 mph. They have to put him on the 25-man roster when the season begins or offer him back to the Rockies.
Fernandez remains a long shot to stick after allowing 10 runs in his first 2 1⁄3 innings, but he gave them food for thought against Chicago even though he faced minor-leaguers.
“He looks more confident. He looks more comfortable,” Bochy said. “This was a big test for him, playing the Cubs, this ballpark, night game, packed house. This was close to a major-league game. I thought he handled himself real well.”
Briefly: Third baseman Evan Longoria (heel-ankle injury), who has not played in a week, is expected to play Wednesday night . ... Derek Holland will start against the Mariners.