SCOTTSDALE -- Arizona Diamondbacks closer Addison Reed tested his arm and his delivery in game conditions for the first time this spring Tuesday, and it was good.
Reed pitched a scoreless inning in a "B" game against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park, saying he felt comfortable with the mechanical tweak that has changed his landing spot on the mound.
"Everything felt good," said Reed, who experienced shoulder soreness before arriving in camp and has slowly built up his arm since.
"I was 99 percent positive that everything was going to feel great. Every bullpen I've thrown, the live bullpen I've thrown, everything felt normal. Any time I get on the mound, there is always a little excitement."
Reed, who had 32 saves last season, has returned to a delivery he used in previous seasons, when he landed with his left leg about six inches closer to the first base side of the mound as he released the ball. It was the delivery that worked at San Diego State and got him to the majors, but it slipped away last season, when he landed more toward the third base side.
"It felt a lot smoother. To me, it was an easy fix. I feel like I caught onto it quick, and everything felt great," Reed said.
Reed threw 13 pitches, nine strikes, while facing four batters in his one inning Tuesday. He hit Mike Baxter in the foot with a slider and retired the next three -- two with a runner on third base. Reed struck out his final batter, a left-handed hitter, on a slider that broke down and in.
"He threw some good sliders," said catcher Tuffy Gosewisch, adding of the delivery, "It looks like a little better angle coming in to the hitters. A little tougher angle for the hitters to see out of his hand."
Reed noticed he had gotten away from his normal delivery while looking at video. He said coaches and his agent spotted the difference, but it didn't register at the time.
"Not only is it going to help me throw the ball better, it is going to put less stress on my shoulder," Reed said.
"It felt a lot smoother," Reed said. "I saw video of 2011 and compared to last year, and it was a good 12-13 inches over" toward the first base side in 2011. "Just one of those things where you don't really pay attention. Once of those small things, and the next thing you know you are 13 inches over."
Reed and the D-backs believe he will be ready for the start of the regular season April 6.
"If I feel like I did today ... and if I get four or five more outings, there is no doubt in my mind that I'll be ready," Reed said.
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