“I still want to throw that pitch!”

Scheduled time with Steve is mandatory. Down time with Steve is mandatory. Free time with Steve is optional.

There’s some freedom. This isn’t football.

Relievers usually don’t get as much time with the pitching coach, but he’s good at getting with all of us.

“I still want to throw that pitch!”

Obviously we talk pitching; which includes how to pitch to batters on the next team we’re facing.

Scouting reports exist for long conversations in back rooms of ball parks across the land as former pitchers talk to current pitchers about how to get guys out.

“I still want to throw that pitch!”

I respect Steve. I respect his knowledge of the game. I respect and admire what’s he’s done, both on and off the field.

And while we’ve only been working together for a couple of seasons before this, I thought spring training brought us closer.

And by that, I mean I think he’s got a much better understanding what I can do but also how he can make me even better.

But regardless what anything says, I think I can freeze Marcus Braxton with an inside changeup.

Steve is bringing up his stats and showing me his hot zones. We’ve got video of his swing against that pitch and the analytic numbers to throw more cement on the foundation of his argument against throwing that pitch.

But despite all that, he hasn’t convinced me. In fact, I would argue that he’s talked me into it even more.

“I still want to throw that pitch!”