Mark Connor
Mark Connor
Mark Peter Connoris a former pitching coach for the Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers. Before his coaching career, he was a minor league pitcher from 1971 through 1972 who batted and threw right-handed...
building closer course feeling felt innings keeps needed pitch
Through my years, I've felt a closer needed to pitch about 20 innings in the spring. But I like the course Coco is on. As long as he keeps building up and feeling good, I think he'll be fine.
fair five goes option pitches six
We want him to keep starting. If he goes 80 pitches and five or six innings, it's fair to say he's now an option for us.
changes face fifth four gets joke likes starters time
His face completely changes from the time he gets to the ballpark. The other four days, he's easy-going, likes to joke around, but on the fifth day, like a lot of the big-time starters I've had in the past, it's all business.
certain giving purpose trying
I had him get after it. I'm just trying to make him concentrate more in every situation, have a purpose for everything. I was giving him certain outs, counts, scores, to see what he would do with it.
came felt threw time
He threw really good. It's the first time he felt like everything came together.
change fact gets player scared speeds throws
He's the player of the day for me. He was good. I like the fact that he can change speeds and throws strikes. He's not scared out there. He gets after it.
ability juan kid matter
We like this kid and his stuff. This kid has got the ability to do anything in the Majors. Like Juan Dominguez, it's a matter of consistency.
affected bigger credit laid last possibly situation table weight
We laid it out on the table for him, what his situation was, and to his credit, he's done everything he possibly could do to get back. He's bigger and stronger. We thought his weight was down last year, and it may have affected his velocity.
good pitch
It could be a good pitch for him.
chance gets good matures pitcher starting
He's a talent. As he matures and gets more experience, there's a pretty good chance he's going to be a good starting pitcher in the big leagues.
decision felt hitters mound pitch ready seen sure thrown worried
He hasn't made a decision yet but he's going to have to get up on the mound pretty quick. I wouldn't want him to go pitch if he hasn't seen any hitters or thrown all his pitches. I'm not worried yet. He said he felt better today. But I'm not sure he's ready to get on the mound.
ball came closer game january problem since stuff throwing
He has been lights-out since January and wasn't laboring, so I didn't have a problem with that. He's throwing the ball well. He probably came in here closer to having game stuff than anybody.
deserves opportunity
He deserves the opportunity to be in the rotation.
feels pitch
He feels like it's a pitch he can use.