Video summary
Elmer Rodríguez expressed significant confidence in his recent performance against Houston, describing it as one of his best starts since arriving in the major leagues. He emphasized that he felt much more comfortable attacking hitters this time around, a sentiment bolstered by the positive reception from the crowd during the seventh inning. The applause resonated deeply with him, reminding him of the supportive atmosphere he experienced while playing for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, which helped validate his growing comfort on the mound.
A key factor in his effectiveness was his renewed trust in his own abilities, a mindset he has been cultivating since his initial appearances. Rodríguez noted that he had been working diligently behind the scenes to refine his mechanics and gain strength, noting that these efforts are already yielding positive results. He explained that while the first few starts involved some nervousness typical of a new environment, his experience has made the process easier, allowing him to focus on executing his pitches rather than worrying about external factors like velocity numbers.
The pitcher also highlighted specific mechanical adjustments, particularly regarding his curveball, which he has thrown more frequently in the minors since last fall. He reported that this change has led to better results overall, keeping him deeper in the strike zone and generating a higher number of whiffs from batters. Furthermore, he acknowledged that throwing harder feels natural as a byproduct of his hard work on building weight and refining his stuff, rather than being a primary focus of his strategy.
Ultimately, Rodríguez's approach is centered on trusting his preparation and competing at the highest level regardless of the circumstances. He believes that if his pitches move well, the velocity will naturally follow, so he does not overthink the speed but instead focuses on execution. His goal is to continue improving with each outing, ensuring he can provide as many innings as possible and finish the season strong by being the best version of himself.
Read the full video transcript
Elmer Aaron just made the comment that
he felt like he looked more settled out
there this time around. Did you feel
more comfortable this time around?
>> Yeah, yeah. I mean,
up to now like I feel this is one of my
best starts ever since the start. I feel
good. I was attacking hitters and
you know, I felt comfortable and you
know, yeah, I feel like I had a good
outing.
>> You mentioned attacking hitters, but
what else was it about your stuff that
made you so effective in trying to
navigate through that lineup?
>> I mean, just trusting myself, you know,
something I've been, you know, building
up since, you know, my first couple
starts and feel like each time I feel
better and, you know,
I've been working down some couple stuff
down there and I feel like it's been
working so far.
>> What did it mean to you to get the
applause from the crowd as you were
walking off the mound there in that
seventh inning?
>> Uh it mean a lot. It mean a lot. Like
compare like to um when I played in the,
you know, in WBC back home like having,
you know, that that fan base from Puerto
Rico and felt kind of similar, you know,
felt good.
>> Did you have any idea of just to know
how many guys are down right now on the
pitching staff or hurt or
>> [music]
>> did you know how important it was for
you to go deep in the game?
>> I mean, uh uh each game like depending
on how you just try to go out there and
bring the best out of me and, you know,
go as long as I can and, you know,
provide as many innings as I as I can.
>> It seems like you're throwing harder
than the last time we saw you. Where is
that coming from?
>> I mean, just working hard, you know,
some stuff like I've been working behind
like, you know,
behind the the scenes, you know, trying
to get on get some weight and just
working on just continue, you know,
finish this year the year strong and,
you know, been feeling better.
>> Does it feel a lot different than the
last time you were here?
>> I mean, kind of the same, but you know,
at the same time like, you know, just
trying to trust myself and I know like I
can go out there and compete. I know I
have the stuff to do that. So, just go
out there and try to be the best I can.
>> Is that hard to do trust yourself when
you first come up here? Did you know you
had that in you?
>> I mean, the first it's obviously in the
first couple time, you know, maybe a
little bit nervous and you know, first
time being around, you know, trying to
control that, but I feel like the more
I've been the been here the the better
and the
the the easier it's been, so.
>> And
>> Sorry, do you see your stuff playing
much differently when, you know, the
sinker's 98 rather than 96 or something?
>> Obviously, you know, if the velo is
higher, it's it will play a lot better.
So, yeah, I mean, I I don't I just don't
try and think of it like as a velo, just
go out there and attack. I know when my
stuff moves well and just apparently
like what the velo is, I just try to go
out there and just execute my pitches
and, you know, try to compete.
>> How long have you been throwing the
curveball
in the minors since the last fall? Just
what prompted that change?
>> I mean, it's felt like it's just been
giving me a better results overall. I've
been more in zone with it. I'm having a
lot of more whiffs with it, and so I'm
just trusting it and just throwing it
more.