Chan-Ho `Changed Pitching Form`

Park Chan-Ho had changed much over the past 40 days.

As if he wanted to make a brand new start over injury, he shaved the face and even his pitching seems different. Whoever has seen his return on the 13th would say that he has certainly changed.

After putting his name on the injury list, Park spent a great deal of time and effort on fixing his pitching form with pitching coach Oscar Acosta. They sought the pitching method that would minimize pressure on the body and make effective pitching.

There are 3 factors they concentrated on.

First of all, he reduced the left leg’s stride, and stiffened the right leg. His previous form had wide stride and low right leg, which put heavy pressure on the lower half of the body. He is now able to reduce load on thigh by straightening his right leg.

Also, the arm angle has changed. During the Dodgers days, his right arm was much drooped and he sometimes pitched on three-quarter style (half way between over-throw and side-arms). Acosta advised him that the ball would become more powerful when it is thrown on right angle from top to bottom. “It felt like cutting down, and curves look better,” said Park satisfactorily after the day’s game.

Lastly, it is the left leg’s direction. Tip of his left leg used to tend to tilt towards the 3rd base, but it is now directed towards the home plate, helping ball control.

However, not all analysts say that such change is all beneficial. His new form may lose his peculiar speed. He perhaps was careful since it was the first pitching after injury, but the maximum speed only reached up to 150 kilometers per hour during the game.

Although the previous dynamic pitching form put heavy load on the body, it gave Park his best weapon `speed`. From now on, he will probably fight more with curves and mind, rather than power of the ball.

Park maintained no loss point until the 4th inning in the day’s match, but allowed Detroit’s Jackson to make a hit in the 5th inning, giving out the only loss point. He stepped down from the mound immediately after throwing the 78th ball in the 5th inning. “After a long layoff like that, it shows what kind of pitcher he is. He was outstanding,” complemented Rangers manager Jerry Narron, who intends to make Park to manage pitching between 75 and 80 balls per game.

Park, whose season record is 1 win, 1 loss, and 6.30 ERA, is to face Detroit Tigers once again on the 19th.

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com