Duffy checks the tape and mimics a teammate to improve his delivery
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Danny Duffy watched video on his last few dismal starts and discovered a violent front side that flung open before the release. The mechanical flaw resulted in balls flying waywardly up and off-target arm-side.
The solution? Watch Wade Davis and try something you were banned from doing as a child.
During his three-inning, 45-pitch simulated game Thursday afternoon, Duffy experimented with his newest tweak: bringing his hands over his head before uncorking a pitch. He had previously kept his hands together at his chest before separating them and throwing.
"It was a tweak to start throwing more strikes," Duffy said. "That's probably the name of the game for me right now."
In his last three starts, Duffy owns a 13.03 ERA in just 9 2/3 innings, while walking 10 batters.
Both Duffy and pitching coach Dave Eiland said the tweak will help Duffy "stay over the rubber" and improve his command. Instead of his front foot drifting out front, the tinkered timing will allow Duffy's legs to become more in sync with his arm.
It gets Duffy to his arm slot more consistently, Eiland said, which in turn leads to better control. Duffy -- on the 15-day disabled list with left biceps tendinitis after suffering a stiff shoulder earlier in May -- used the adjustment while playing catch and felt a difference.
Eiland said the pair had been discussing the change for "a while." The impetus, though, was Davis.
"I was watching Wade do it yesterday and he looked really compact," Duffy said. "I just kind of tinkered with it playing catch. It felt really good and my stuff had life on it because I was staying through everything. My core wasn't extending, everything was locked in."
The 26-year-old left-hander has never thrown using this type of delivery, his father disallowing the movement because he feared it altered his son's vision. But the alteration meshed with Duffy on Thursday, the improvement apparent to Eiland.
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"It felt better for him right away," Eiland said. "So physically, it felt better and mentally, he feels better about it, too, which is the best of both worlds."
Royals manager Ned Yost said Duffy is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Saturday. If he responds well to that side session, he will be ready to go out on a rehabilitation assignment.
Duffy said there was no lingering pain in his arm Thursday. He received a cortisone shot nearly two weeks ago to neutralize the pain.
"As of right now, nah, it's out of there," Duffy said. "Just getting the arm strength up after not throwing for a couple of weeks. I think the cortisone definitely helped."
Yost said he was encouraged by Duffy's simulated game and the added adjustment.
"I know one thing, he looked great," Yost said. "He was commanding his fastball, commanding his breaking pitches. I mean, there was all kinds of life. The ball was just exploding out of his hand. It was a good tweak."
MEDLEN PUSHED TO 45
Right-hander Kris Medlen also threw a three-inning, 45-pitch simulated game Thursday. It was the most pitches he had thrown on his road back from Tommy John surgery.
"Every time you add a little more," Medlen said, "it's another adventure."
Medlen said he was pleased with his outing, which was his first time on the Kauffman Stadium mound since he was a pitcher with Atlanta in 2013. He faced Jarrod Dyson, Christian Colon and Jeremy Guthrie on Thursday.
"It's a chance for your body to not be sitting on the couch, drinking a beer, watching baseball for two years," Medlen said. "That's what I've done for a while. It takes a while for the body to get used to pitching again and all that. Little things bother you every outing, nothing this time."
Medlen is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery and his role has yet to be determined for Kansas City. He has excelled as both a starter and a reliever in his career, and his position will likely be decided by the Royals' needs.
It was the first time Yost saw Medlen face hitters in person this season, but the manager had watched video of his outings in Arizona, noticing the right-hander's grasp of all his pitches.
"If he stays healthy," Yost said, "he's going to be a valuable asset for us."
On his way off the field, Medlen had fun with the empty stadium, tipping his cap and throwing imaginary balls into the stands.
"You didn't see the standing ovation?" Medlen said.
Medlen returns to extended spring training in Arizona when the Royals finish their current homestand.
PEREZ BACK
Salvador Perez was back in the starting lineup Thursday, one night after sitting in favor of Drew Butera. Perez was hit by a foul tip Tuesday and missed Wednesday as a precaution, but was available to play.
You can follow Matthew DeFranks on Twitter at @MDeFranks or email him at matthew.defranks@gmail.com.
