03-20-2007, 02:14 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Greenville, N.C.
Posts: 176
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Olsen finds improved velocity
Quote:
JUPITER, Fla. -- With the season rapidly approaching, Scott Olsen says it is time for his bread-and-butter pitch, his slider, and his fastball velocity to kick into gear.
After tossing a spring-high 5 1/3 innings on Monday afternoon against the Astros, he noted one of the two have arrived.
Olsen's fastball was clocked from 88-94 mph, and for the most part he was spotting it at 91 mph. Touching 94 mph showed his arm strength is there. The radar readings were up compared to his previous start in Fort Lauderdale against the Orioles. That day he was from 86-89 mph.
"The only thing I can really think of is the other day in Fort Lauderdale. I was thinking more about my delivery and not really how fast I was throwing," the 23-year-old left-hander said. "Today, I felt more comfortable in my delivery, which makes my arm get going a little bit quicker. That's the only logical thing I can think of."
Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez on Monday tabbed Olsen as the No. 2 starter behind Dontrelle Willis, who will get the nod for the April 2 opener against the Washington Nationals.
While Olsen was tagged for three runs over 5 1/3 innings in a 4-2 loss to the Astros on Monday at Roger Dean Stadium, he did turn in an encouraging outing.
He threw 87 pitches, and his trademark slider was clocked from 82-87 mph. He prefers it to be from 82-85 mph, and says his 87 mph slider must have been a first-inning pitch to Lance Berkman.
Olsen is also mixing in more changeups, giving him a third pitch, which he didn't use much a year ago.
"With only a week-and-a-half, two weeks left in Spring Training, I should be getting my velocity back," Olsen said. "I've gone through the dead-arm period. Now I'm coming out of it. And we can get velocity. Velocity and my slider are usually the last two things to come for me. At least one of them is here."
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The Official Site of the Florida Marlins: Florida Marlins' News
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Olsen finds improved velocity
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