The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Happ’s work has been paying off
J.A. Happ has things in line. The veteran lefty worked on keeping his body aligned properly during his delivery this year. It has so far resulted in a very solid spring training. Happ gave up a home run — just the second run he has allowed in four starts this spring — Monday in another strong outing.
Happ struck out five in four innings and did not walk a batter. Over 13 innings this spring, Happ has allowed just those two runs, struck out 16 and walked one batter.
“I think you start with the crispness of the fastball, which was there (in 2019) a little more sporadic, and I think definitely returned to some degree late in the year,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “That’s been there the whole (spring).
”I think he’s doing a better job with his secondary pitches. . So I feel like his pitch mix is a little tightened up. But delivery wise and everything, he’s in a good spot.”
Happ, 37, spent all winter working at the Yankees complex all winter, trying to bounce back after a horrible 2019 in which he was stung by the home run. Part of that was keeping his body properly aligned during his delivery to make better use of his bottom half.
It’s paying off. Monday, Happ said he felt himself falling off line at times, but was able to quickly correct himself. He is pleased with the progress but knows that the real test is once the season starts.
”I don’t know if you know how to predict those type of things but it can certainly give us some confidence going into the season,” Happ said.” You try to flush it if it’s bad and take the positive it’s if it’s going well. But, you know, we do have two weeks to go so hopefully the progression continues, but overall I felt like I lost it at times today but was able to kind of rein back in my delivery. And, you know, rather quickly so that was good, making some adjustments.”
Maybe you can’t predict how it will carry into the season, but there might be an indicator. Last spring, Happ allowed six homers in 111⁄3 innings pitched.
Happ was stung by baseballs that were more lively in 2019 than any previous year. Happ pitched to a 4.91 ERA in 30 starts and one appearance out of the bullpen. He struck out 140.
Happ allowed a careerhigh 34 home runs in 1611⁄3 innings pitched and across baseball, hitters crushed a record-busting 6,776 homers.
”I think he was searching a little bit the first half. I think he was trying really hard to find it because he wasn’t quite where he wanted to be,” Boone said. “And again, I don’t think he was far off. But I think it was a challenge for him kind of grinding through getting there, and I think late in the year he got there. And then I know he worked really hard in the winter to kind of find that. He came in having already thrown some ‘pens, and he’s really hit the ground running. He looks great.”
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred was scheduled to hold a conference call with all 30 team owners at 5 p.m. Monday. They would discuss their plans for dealing with the growing concern about the virus, which has forced the Japanese professional baseball league to postpone it’s season.
Happ said the union is working with the league on how to proceed.
“Everybody’s trying to work, on both ends, to come together to figure out the best way to go about this, it’s potentially scary,” Happ said. “But, you know, other than that, like doing due diligence to try to figure out the best way to go about it.”