Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Conley taking the slow road
NEW YORK – If Adam Conley glances at the velocity readings on the scoreboard in his next start, Monday at home against the St. Louis Cardinals, and sees a number lower than what he showed a year ago, he isn’t going to worry. It’s all a part of the plan. Conley has experienced a 2.5-mph dropoff in average fastball velocity in 2017 compared to this point last season, a change that reflects his solidified standing on the Miami Marlins and his ensuing altered mindset toward this year.
“I’m not the big, 240-pounder who can just heave the ball in there at 95 [mph] any time I want. I have to do a lot of things mechanically right, be healthy and fresh, feel good, take care of myself,” Conley said. “Those are things I’m doing now with the full intention of having that high-end fastball when I want it and when I need it late in the season.”
Conley’s four-seamer has averaged 90.3 mph through his first six games, according to Brooks Baseball. To this point last year, it was 92.8.
Conley explained that in 2016 he entered spring training in tip-top shape — as strong as he would be all year — in preparation of trying to win a job, which he did. His fastball maxed out at nearly 97 mph in April, but by the end of the season he hit only 94 in August and 93 in one September outing.
Now, as a more established member of the Miami Marlins’ rotation, he is looking to get stronger as the season goes on, which he said is a common approach.
“This year, I came in using the season to strengthen my arm, which is what you see a lot of veteran pitchers do,” Conley said. “They get better as the season goes on, RHP Jose Urena (2.35 ERA, 1.37 WHIP) vs. RHP Matt Harvey (5.14, 1.29): Urena, the Marlins’ primary long reliever, will make his first start of the year in place of Edinson Volquez (right thumb blister), who is expected to return next weekend. In 21 major league starts the past two seasons, Urena has a 5.33 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. He started twice against the Mets last September, first allowing one run in six innings but then getting hit around for five runs in five innings. … Harvey has struggled this season after missing the second half of 2016, striking out fewer and walking more batters than ever before. He has averaged nearly six innings per start, but allowed six runs (all earned) in each of his two most recent outings. The Marlins scored twice in six innings against him last month. Monday — RHP Carlos Martinez (3.75 ERA, 1.31 WHIP) vs. LHP Adam Conley (6.12, 1.44); Tuesday — RHP Adam Wainwright (6.30, 1.97) vs. RHP Dan Straily (4.65, 1.19); Wednesday — TBA vs. RHP Tom Koehler (5.40, 1.50) Upcoming series Monday-Wednesday, vs. Cardinals; Friday-Sunday, vs. Braves; May 15-17, vs. Astros they throw harder as the year goes on. They’re better in the playoffs and in September than they were in April. Not that I don’t want to be great in April, but I’m just saying that’s the trend.”
The results this year haven’t been as strong as last year through one month, though much more goes into that than fastball velocity. Opposing batters’ average against his four-seamer is about the same (.211 vs. .207) but they have a greater slugging percentage (.355 vs. .448).
The velocity decrease doesn’t bother manager Don Mattingly.
“Adam is not velocitydriven. He’s a guy with a big angle, he’s a tough angle to deal with,” Mattingly said. “But in general, if you’re going to ask me the difference of velocities 92 to 90, it ends up with less separation with offspeed stuff.”
Conley fully expects to be able to reach back for mid-90s heat once he hits midseason form — a phrase that should be taken more literally, as opposed to as a reference to a player appearing ready for the start of a season.
“My intention is that that stuff be there in August,” Conley said. “My intention is to be throwing the ball 95 mph in August, not at the end of February when those games … don’t really matter.”
Miguel Rojas is winning playing time from Adeiny Hechavarria. Rojas, more productive than ever at the plate, started for the fourth time in five games Saturday, with three of those starts coming at shortstop.