ChiSox14305635
05-10-2004, 12:58 PM
Link (http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/sports_story.asp?intid=3811771)
TORONTO - Even though he's 4-2 with a 4.34 ERA, Esteban Loaiza doesn't look anything like the dominant starting pitcher who went 21-9 (2.90 ERA) and finished second in Cy Young Award voting last season.
Loaiza's fastball has lost some zip, and that's allowed opposing hitters to sit on his best pitch, the cutter.
Over his last 3 starts, Loaiza has allowed 17 runs (13 earned) on 26 hits in 19¿ innings. Last year, the right-hander yielded only 196 hits in 226º innings.
Insisting he's completely healthy, Loaiza said he's going to begin working even harder at building arm strength. While he regularly reached 94 mph with his fastball in 2003, Loaiza is now clocking in at 87-88 mph.
"I need to concentrate on getting stronger and putting more on the ball,'' Loaiza said. "I need to come over the top more. I'm going to start working on my velocity and go from there.''
TORONTO - Even though he's 4-2 with a 4.34 ERA, Esteban Loaiza doesn't look anything like the dominant starting pitcher who went 21-9 (2.90 ERA) and finished second in Cy Young Award voting last season.
Loaiza's fastball has lost some zip, and that's allowed opposing hitters to sit on his best pitch, the cutter.
Over his last 3 starts, Loaiza has allowed 17 runs (13 earned) on 26 hits in 19¿ innings. Last year, the right-hander yielded only 196 hits in 226º innings.
Insisting he's completely healthy, Loaiza said he's going to begin working even harder at building arm strength. While he regularly reached 94 mph with his fastball in 2003, Loaiza is now clocking in at 87-88 mph.
"I need to concentrate on getting stronger and putting more on the ball,'' Loaiza said. "I need to come over the top more. I'm going to start working on my velocity and go from there.''