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Silva has high hopes for Husker pitching staff
By KEN HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 10:00 pm
Changeups. Fastball control. Strikes.
Ted Silva has a simple philosophy about pitching. Do all of the above and the new Husker baseball pitching coach will be happy.
Silva, who coached at UC Irvine and Loyola Marymount before joining Darin Erstad's staff last summer, finds himself doing more tinkering than remaking the NU pitching staff.
"We have a bit of a different approach," Silva said. "Slight adjustments and constant checking on ‘How does that feel?' is what I'm doing right now."
Erstad said at a recent news conference that he'd probably give a high-five to any pitcher who gives up 12 straight hits, even 12 straight home runs.
"That means he's throwing strikes and it's hard to give up that many hits in a row," Erstad said.
Silva agreed, to an extent.
"You're going to have bad days and I've been in those shoes, but if you want the ball on the mound, no matter what's going on, I might give you a high-five, too," Silva said.
The Husker pitching staff returns Jon Keller, Tom Lemke and Tyler Niederklein as key starters from last year and a foursome of veterans -- Zach Hirsch, Tyler King, Brandon Pierce and Dylan Vogt. Add three freshmen, including Kyle Kubat from Creighton Prep, and a junior college transfer and the race is on starting Friday in Peoria, Ariz., for a three-game series against Gonzaga.
Hirsch, Keller and Kubat will start the three-game series this weekend.
"We have studied the whole approach to pitching: situational pitching, what pitch to throw in the count, what pitch with runners on, and getting pitchers ready to pitch," Silva said.
"As Coach Erstad has said, we have a lean team, some might even say skinny, but we have a team that has remade itself through the weight room and nutrition and individual work," Silva said. "I believe we have people who can pitch and be ready the next day because they are in great shape."
Silva also said a number of pitchers have "made it hard to keep off the mound," including Ryan Hander, juco transfer Travis Huber, Keller, King, Pierce, Vogt and Niederklein.
The top returning starter, Niederklein, has been moved to closer. The junior from Millard West has the best arm, the best glove and throws hard, Silva said.
"Starting as a closer boils down to finding a rhythm and taking charge as soon as they hand you the ball," Niederklein said. "I love the role. It's exciting. Look at guys in the majors, like Brian Wilson of the Giants. Everybody stops and looks when he's on the mound."
Niederklein said the biggest change with Silva as pitching coach is that every pitcher will be working to throw a changeup at any time, any count.
"How you throw the changeup, how you sell it -- make it look like you're throwing a fastball with your body movement, is what it's all about," he said. "Whatever is comfortable for your grip works. The idea is that it will look the same as a fastball when you throw it and catch the batter with the off-speed."
Niederklein, who pitched in the Northwoods League in Minnesota last summer, said he's impressed with the Husker pitching staff.
"We're all excited to play somebody with a different color uniform and different face after fall ball when we see each other all the time.
"I think the whole attitude around here is excitement about getting out there and playing and see what we've got and where we're at for the start of the season. We could surprise a lot of people."
By KEN HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 10:00 pm
Changeups. Fastball control. Strikes.
Ted Silva has a simple philosophy about pitching. Do all of the above and the new Husker baseball pitching coach will be happy.
Silva, who coached at UC Irvine and Loyola Marymount before joining Darin Erstad's staff last summer, finds himself doing more tinkering than remaking the NU pitching staff.
"We have a bit of a different approach," Silva said. "Slight adjustments and constant checking on ‘How does that feel?' is what I'm doing right now."
Erstad said at a recent news conference that he'd probably give a high-five to any pitcher who gives up 12 straight hits, even 12 straight home runs.
"That means he's throwing strikes and it's hard to give up that many hits in a row," Erstad said.
Silva agreed, to an extent.
"You're going to have bad days and I've been in those shoes, but if you want the ball on the mound, no matter what's going on, I might give you a high-five, too," Silva said.
The Husker pitching staff returns Jon Keller, Tom Lemke and Tyler Niederklein as key starters from last year and a foursome of veterans -- Zach Hirsch, Tyler King, Brandon Pierce and Dylan Vogt. Add three freshmen, including Kyle Kubat from Creighton Prep, and a junior college transfer and the race is on starting Friday in Peoria, Ariz., for a three-game series against Gonzaga.
Hirsch, Keller and Kubat will start the three-game series this weekend.
"We have studied the whole approach to pitching: situational pitching, what pitch to throw in the count, what pitch with runners on, and getting pitchers ready to pitch," Silva said.
"As Coach Erstad has said, we have a lean team, some might even say skinny, but we have a team that has remade itself through the weight room and nutrition and individual work," Silva said. "I believe we have people who can pitch and be ready the next day because they are in great shape."
Silva also said a number of pitchers have "made it hard to keep off the mound," including Ryan Hander, juco transfer Travis Huber, Keller, King, Pierce, Vogt and Niederklein.
The top returning starter, Niederklein, has been moved to closer. The junior from Millard West has the best arm, the best glove and throws hard, Silva said.
"Starting as a closer boils down to finding a rhythm and taking charge as soon as they hand you the ball," Niederklein said. "I love the role. It's exciting. Look at guys in the majors, like Brian Wilson of the Giants. Everybody stops and looks when he's on the mound."
Niederklein said the biggest change with Silva as pitching coach is that every pitcher will be working to throw a changeup at any time, any count.
"How you throw the changeup, how you sell it -- make it look like you're throwing a fastball with your body movement, is what it's all about," he said. "Whatever is comfortable for your grip works. The idea is that it will look the same as a fastball when you throw it and catch the batter with the off-speed."
Niederklein, who pitched in the Northwoods League in Minnesota last summer, said he's impressed with the Husker pitching staff.
"We're all excited to play somebody with a different color uniform and different face after fall ball when we see each other all the time.
"I think the whole attitude around here is excitement about getting out there and playing and see what we've got and where we're at for the start of the season. We could surprise a lot of people."
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