Bringing spring heat
Darvish uncorks 98-mph pitch in 1st exhibition start
MESA, Ariz. – Yu Darvish tried to downplay the fact that he treated his exhibition debut Saturday as if he were starting the regular-season opener.
“I’m ready to start Game 3,” Darvish deadpanned.
The dry humor Darvish showed during a seven-minute interview mirrored the confidence he displayed on the mound against the Brewers, whom he could face March 26 in Milwaukee.
Darvish said he threw six pitches — from a 98-mph fastball to Avisail Garcia to an 82-mph knuckle curve to Logan Morrison. Each pitch resulted in swinging strikeouts in the first inning.
“Just playing baseball,” Darvish said. “This was the first game. I wanted to make sure my routine is right at the time.”
Although the Brewers started a lineup that did not include Lorenzo Cain, Christian Yelich and Ryan Braun, Darvish wasn’t about to save any pitches for the opening series against the National League Central rivals.
“I’ve thrown the power curve in my nine years here (in the Cactus League), but no one has hit it well, so I can show it any time I want,” Darvish said.
Darvish’s confidence traces to the second half of 2019, when he gained his fastball command and walked only seven in 81 2⁄3 innings after walking 49 in 97 innings in the first half. The Cubs breathed a collective sigh of relief after the turnaround, considering Darvish was coming off of elbow surgery in September 2018.
“Even better than last year,” Darvish said of the transformation. “My efficiency is getting better. That’s why the hitters swung and missed a lot. That’s why I felt comfortable.”
Darvish’s fastball was clocked at 99 mph in a game in April against the Marlins, but he hit Lewis Brinson with that pitch. He wasn’t surprised to hear his fastest pitch Saturday topped out at 98 mph.
“In my first two live battingpractice sessions, I threw 96, 97,” Darvish said. “That time, it surprised me a bit. Now I’m not surprised.”
Without complete command of his fastball until the final three months of last season, Darvish said he tried to survive solely on sliders and curves.
Count first-year manager David Ross among those impressed with Darvish’s debut.
“I’m more in tune with what’s going on, but Yu Darvish looks really good,” Ross said.
During several of his bullpen sessions, Darvish frequently would check a tablet tracking his spin rate. That has become essential, especially after left-handed batters hit .243 with 19 home runs against him in 2019, compared with .181 and 14 from righties.
“I threw hard last year, but my spin efficiency is not good enough,” Darvish said. “That’s why hitters don’t swing and miss much, especially lefties.
“But this year I feel different. So I can get more swing and misses against lefties.”
Darvish struck out 101 of 375 left-handed batters in 2019 and 128 of 356 right-handed batters.
Another goal is reducing his home-run rate. Darvish allowed a league-high 33 last season, and Orlando Arcia cranked his first pitch Saturday for a home run.
“I knew (Arcia) was going to swing,” Darvish said. “Also, this is the first game. I wanted to throw a fastball over for a strike.
“So I was thinking last night if Arcia led off, he was going to hit the home run. So he can have that.”