Being consistent, mechanically and emotionally, vital for Velasquez taken in Bradenton, Fla. (Pirates)

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Vince Velasquez throws a bullpen session at Pirate City.

BRADENTON, Fla. -- When Vince Velasquez signed with the Pirates this winter, one of the first things he asked his new pitching coach, Oscar Marin, is what did the pitching team do with José Quintana.

Velasquez is in the same spot as Quintana was a year ago and Tyler Anderson the year before that. At the time, those two lefties were veterans who no longer had a firm grip of a rotation spot and signed a one-year deal with the Pirates to try to fix what had gone wrong. In both cases, it worked, and both Anderson and Quintana signed lucrative free agent deals this winter.

Velasquez was looking for a chance to start this winter and was willing to tinker and experiment to try to reestablish himself after spending the last year as a swingman for the White Sox. The Pirates had ideas, and given their recent track record with reclamation projects, Velasquez signed a $3.15 million contract.

“I think this is going to be a big turnaround for me, knowing that consistency is right there," Velasquez told me. "Every bullpen I’ve been throwing lately, it’s been an easy fix.”

Velasquez got his first game action of the spring Friday, pitching two innings of one-run ball against the Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium.

It's more several fixes than just one. Hand positioning is one. Shortening his arm path is another. How he lands and finishes his motion home have been explored. It's not a complete overhaul, but tinkering to try to make sure his stuff plays.

"It was really exciting to see his last live BP with two ups," Marin said earlier this spring at Pirate City. "We’re getting closer and closer to where he wants to be."

But above all else, it's about being consistent. Both in his delivery and mentally. 

The latter has been challenge at times in Velasquez's career, especially early. A couple well-executed pitches would turn into bloops and things would turn south. While he couldn't remember the year or the details, he remembers a time when in Pittsburgh things snowballed on him, putting him in a rut that took him some time rebound.

“You’ve got to bite the bullet and keep going," Velasquez said. "Shouldn’t let your failure define you.”

So Velasquez took his own advice. He's always been willing to take advice from coaches and players about the mechanical side of the game. He did the same with the mental, learning how to handle those ups and downs.

“I think I gave myself numerous ways to give myself that cushion that I don’t need to go down that road anymore," Velasquez said. "I don’t need to. I’ve fought through adversity situations before and I’ve bounced back from them.”

This challenge to re-establish himself as a starter is, in his eyes, just another adversity.

There does seem to be a path in place for him to get better and be more consistent on the field. Marin's trip to the Chapman Baseball Compound in Orange County, Cali. this winter was particularly productive, giving him visual feedback of what he should stride to do.

Because if there is one thing that connects Velasquez to Quintana and Anderson, it's his willingness to learn. Both veterans before him had to make some changes and didn't fight the collaborative process. If Velasquez clicks, the Pirates establish themselves as a destination for pitchers looking to take one-year bounce back deals.

“No one has a grasp of knowing it all," Velasquez said. "I think that’s where this game really humbles you, because when you feel like you’ve got it figured out, you don’t and it can really bite you on the butt.”

“The question is, ‘how can you be consistent?’" he added. "Consistency goes a long ways, and I think in this game, the more you are consistent, the more you are healthy, the more you allow yourself to experience those experiences, the more you are allowed to deal with those adversities, deal with the success.”

Consistency mechanically and emotionally could result in what the Pirates are hoping to see: Another success story.

“This game can be really fun," Velasquez said. "I think I’ve found happiness now realizing that.”

Loading...
Loading...