Nathan takes positives from last outing, rebounds against Phillies
LAKELAND, Fla. -- In spring training, an outing like Joe Nathan's last one can actually help prepare him for the season.
Although the results weren't what he wanted -- giving up six runs (four earned) on six hits while walking one against the Philadelphia Phillies Thursday -- it wore him out, which was good.
Because of that, when offered the opportunity to throw a bullpen session instead of during a game, Nathan chose to pitch in a game.
"This is actually really nice to get right back out there," Nathan said. "I still felt tired from two days ago, throwing 33 pitches or whatever I threw. Especially in the early going of spring, this is when you can really build up things, as long as you're feeling OK. When you throw tired and you throw fatigued, you can definitely build arm strength and even though I kind of felt like I was throwing underwater today, it felt kind of in slow motion out there, I know it's benefiting me more in the long run."
The Phillies were back in town and this time Nathan was able to put up a scoreless inning.
Nathan got Odubel Herrera to swing at the first pitch and third baseman Jefry Marte made a nice play to throw him out.
Nathan walked the second batter, Cord Phelps, but catcher James McCann caught him stealing.
Finally, Nathan struck out Grady Sizemore, who swung at an 88 mile-per-hour fastball.
"His last hitter was his best hitter by far just in the sense that he really threw a good change-up, he threw a good hard slider, then a fastball to strike him out," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "That was good to see."
Although Nathan relies mostly on his slider and somewhat on his curveball, he's focused on his change-up.
It's not a pitch that Nathan has used much in the past.
"I've been working on that really hard to try and get comfortable with it and throw it in the right spots," Nathan said. "It's a pitch that I haven't used so A, it's something to get comfortable with throwing in a game and then finding the counts and situations to throw it in. We're really working hard on that pitch and that was my best pitch."
Nathan said before he maybe threw one or two a season but this spring he's used it nearly every outing.
"It's getting more and more comfortable," Nathan said. "Slider was better today, down in the zone, and I threw it where I wanted to. Curveball was a little off but it was really good in the 'pen. I just didn't bring it out to the game."
Nathan did not throw over 89 miles per hour Saturday, but Ausmus said he touched 93 in his first outing.
Although most closers are known for throwing dominating fastballs, Nathan believes he can be effective without that.
"I think when my fastball is at its best, it's good enough," Nathan said. "I think it's enough to protect my secondary pitches but for sure, my secondary pitches are definitely pitches that I'm gonna need and have to rely on a lot. I also do use a two-seam fastball and hopefully that is going to help for not having the velocity that I once did."
NATHAN CLARIFIES REMARKS FROM THURSDAY
Tigers closer Joe Nathan wanted to make something clear -- he does care about the fans.
Nathan started off his post-outing interview with this clarification.
"I don't know if it came out wrong or whatever, but it was never that I don't care about fans," Nathan said. "I think what I said was, I don't care what they do. They have the right to do what they want to do. It's not that I don't care about them as fans but I don't care how they react. They have a right to react how they want to, so I want to get that cleared up.
"I hope we can make it as popular as it was when it said I don't care about fans. I want it to be kind of fixed a little bit and come out that that was definitely not what was meant to be said and I'm sorry if it came off that way."
Nathan gave up six runs (four earned) on six hits against the Philadelphia Phillies Thursday.
When Nathan came out of the game, the fans booed, a somewhat surprising reaction during spring training.
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