8
2013
Dillon Gee Looks To Find His Groove Against Tigers Today
An article by 
They all can’t throw like Matt Harvey this time of spring.
Overpowering and arguably flawless in yesterday’s start against Miami, Harvey had one of those seamless starts pitchers rarely have in their third spring training game.
Dillon Gee, today’s starter against Detroit in Lakeland, has no such illusions.
“My mechanics are off,’’ Gee said. “It will be just my third start of the spring, so they are bound to be off. Spring training is for trying to figure out that kind of stuff.’’
Gee insists it is not an injury-related mechanical problem, but a matter of working off the rust that is a natural occurrence this time of year. It’s part of the process of getting ready to make 30 stars a summer.
“It’s all about location,’’ said Gee as he laced up his shoes while sitting at his locker yesterday afternoon. “Location is all about repetition early in spring training. I’m trying to refine everything.’’
As it is with Harvey and Jon Niese, Gee said mastering his change-up is the pitch he most needs to refine that will tell him if he’s ready to start the season. A change-up is thrown with the same motion as the fastball, and even though the pitcher uses the same grip, he releases the pitch with a different pressure on the ball.
“The change-up is such a feel pitch,’’ Gee said. “It takes time to feel comfortable with it. … Having good results would be good, but the important thing is to feel comfortable with all my pitches and improve my location.’’
Gee made a good impression in 2011, going 13-6 with 114 strikeouts and 71 walks in 160.2 innings. He was 6-7 with a 4.10 ERA in 109.2 innings last year before it was cut short when he had surgery to repair an artery in his shoulder.
Gee complained of numbness in his arm and hand that prevented him from properly gripping the ball. The injury generated the uneasy speculation of there being a problem with blood circulation, which naturally lends itself to concern about a heart issue.
Surgery repaired the problem and alleviated the heart concern, but Gee still had the concern about his ability to throw. He rehabbed and threw in the bullpen in mid-September to preclude the wonder of a winter of not knowing.
“I wanted to prove to myself and everybody else that I could still pitch,’’ Gee said of the importance of getting on mound before winter. “I didn’t want to wait and then find out there was something wrong (in spring training). If that were the case it would have been too late to get it fixed.’’
About the Author: John Delcos
I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.
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Can’t fault Gee for being a little rusty yet. Other than ST this year, he hasn’t been on a mound in a game since early July.
As far as 5th type starters go, Gee is very serviceable. Hopefully he’ll put up similar 2011 type numbers this season and make 30-32 starts.
This is why I am not putting a lot of stock in hot players right now…
Some guys are not really working to get guys out they are only working on getting themselves and thier pitches under control (Niese amd Gee in particular) shaking off the rust and just taking it easy to avoid overdoing it and getting injured.
While a guy like Valdespin played all winter long so is NOT rusty, Playing with a purpose (to make the team) as if his career depended on it.
Cowgill fits into the latter…
I don’t put much stock in what happens in early ST it’s what happens in the last two weeks that determines who makes it, who is ready and who makes the roster….
The Early bird may get the worm but the Late bird usually is the one that gets the Rostor spot!
Looks like Gee had a quick 5 pitch 1st inning with nothing leaving the infield.
Major League Baseball Players Association,What about the LINEDRIVE to the pitchers head?Anything new?I may have the Answer. EMAIL-mjmjward@aol.com. John
Gee looks good.
Also another 2 walks and a SB for Cowgill, at least he is making a case for a gig and the lead-off position. Doesn’t hurt that he’s hitting .429 either. Ah… Spring Training.
Man the Tigers radio guy sounds exactly like Alan Thicke.
Off Topic: I saw Rubin tweet they took d’Arnaud out of game after getting hit in hand.
This regarding d’Arnaud.
@AdamRubinESPN
Travis d’Arnaud said he was hit just below elbow, on meaty part of inside of forearm. Tightened so pulled 1 inning early. But thinks he’s OK
https://twitter.com/AdamRubinESPN/status/310117931616976896
VSpin breaks the tie with a HR.
There ya go. That’s all he can do is just continue to hit.
Tovar blows Edgin’s save
And yes I know it was just the 7th inning. It’s just Edgin is my guy for closer.