Video summary
Fernando Cruz reflects on his less dominant performance during the series opener against the Yankees, attributing the slump to the natural ebb and flow of a long marathon season. He acknowledges that every player experiences ups and downs, but notes specifically that his splitter has not been as effective as in previous years. Cruz explains that he has made mechanical adjustments to his grip and delivery, which have altered the way his pitch behaves against major league hitters who are exceptionally skilled at countering such changes. Consequently, he believes the team must now adapt to these new realities rather than relying on the same dominance they displayed earlier in his tenure with the Yankees.
When asked about his physical condition, Cruz confirms that he feels healthy and ready to compete, despite the inevitable wear and tear that comes with a grueling 162-game schedule. He emphasizes that while all athletes face battles with their bodies, his focus remains on being available whenever the team needs him to step up. Regarding the specific mechanical challenges he is facing, Cruz points to issues with loading his back leg more effectively, highlighting the critical connection between a pitcher's lower half and upper body mechanics. He suggests that refining this synchronization is essential for maintaining effectiveness throughout the demanding season.
The conversation also touches on workload management, as Cruz has surpassed his pitch counts from the previous year without requesting extra rest days. Although he cannot control exactly when fatigue sets in, he maintains a mindset of simply going out and competing whenever called upon. This approach underscores his commitment to contributing to the team's success regardless of the physical toll. Ultimately, Cruz admits that he has shifted his strategy this season by changing the number of swinging strikes he induces in favor of pitching to contact. His new philosophy prioritizes getting outs through well-placed balls rather than relying on strikeouts, marking a significant evolution in how he approaches his craft at the major league level.
Read the full video transcript
And you haven't been quite as dominant
as we've seen you at times throughout
your course of your Yankees tenure. Just
why do you think that is?
>> I mean, it's just that that part of the
year that I mean, this is a marathon. Uh
there's up and downs like every player
has. Um it's being it's been a lot of a
lot of stuff uh regarding that. And uh I
mean that that we're on top of and just
got to just got to be better. It's going
to come with when I mean my splitter
hasn't been as effective. Uh a lot of
mechanical a little bit of of mechanical
change uh grip uh and it's and just
we're playing with the major league with
major league baseball players and
they're really really good at it. So I
think they made they made the change now
we have to to adjust.
>> Are you feeling okay? Do you feel
healthy?
>> Yeah, I'm feeling good. I mean, every
player has the battles with their bodies
and stuff, but I mean, we're we're we're
going to be great.
>> You mentioned mechanical. How much of it
is fatigue also and just wear and tear?
>> All those things comes with with our
long season that like we play and uh I
mean it just it just this is the grind
of uh 162.
Can you explain some of the mechanical
challenges that you were dealing with?
>> Um, just just loading the back leg a
little bit more. I think uh we're all
about pitchers are all about obviously
baseball players are are all about lower
half. Uh just the sinking of of lower
half with the upper half and
that's it.
>> You've surpassed your workload from last
year games pitch. Just do you feel like
there have been times where you need an
extra day or you need some rest?
I cannot say about I I cannot control
how many times I've been there. Um just
I'm just the guy that grabbed the ball
whenever it's needed and and and just
just go out there and compete.
>> You don't have the same swing and miss
as you did last year. I I know your
splitter's been playing a little bit
differently. What do you make of that
this season?
>> I think I changed a lot of uh I changed
a lot of swinging and misses for outs
this year.
>> So you're pitching to contact. I mean,
I'm just have the mentality of getting
them more outs instead of swinging