Tuesday, February 12, 2008
BASEBALL: Dorn won't be holding back in 2008
LINCOLN -- Nebraska pitcher Johnny Dorn won't be holding anything back this season -- and not just because it's his senior year.
Despite posting a 31-9 record with a 3.69 ERA in his first three seasons with the Cornhuskers, Dorn admitted he hasn't always given it all on the mound. It wasn't that the right-hander from Grand Island was necessarily dogging it or didn't care, but instead, he operated by the philosophy that he always wanted to leave a little extra left in the tank for crucial situations.
Under the direction of first-year pitching coach Eric Newman, Dorn’s approach has changed radically.
"I think I've always been a 90-percent guy and would save that 100 percent for when you need it to get somebody out," Dorn said Tuesday during Nebraska's preseason media day. "Coach Newman has brought a new philosophy, especially for me, that I need to get my (velocity) up and just to go after it on every pitch.
"It's more of an attack mode rather than trying to finesse guys, so I like it."
Newman said that there's something to be said for being able to reach back for a little extra to get out of a jam. However, his view is that it's difficult for a pitcher to fully realize his potential if they're not putting everything they've got into every pitch.
"If you want to be a sprinter, you've got to run hard," Newman said. "If you want to be a pitcher who throws hard, you've got to practice throwing hard. It's pretty simple."
Despite posting a 31-9 record with a 3.69 ERA in his first three seasons with the Cornhuskers, Dorn admitted he hasn't always given it all on the mound. It wasn't that the right-hander from Grand Island was necessarily dogging it or didn't care, but instead, he operated by the philosophy that he always wanted to leave a little extra left in the tank for crucial situations.
Under the direction of first-year pitching coach Eric Newman, Dorn’s approach has changed radically.
"I think I've always been a 90-percent guy and would save that 100 percent for when you need it to get somebody out," Dorn said Tuesday during Nebraska's preseason media day. "Coach Newman has brought a new philosophy, especially for me, that I need to get my (velocity) up and just to go after it on every pitch.
"It's more of an attack mode rather than trying to finesse guys, so I like it."
Newman said that there's something to be said for being able to reach back for a little extra to get out of a jam. However, his view is that it's difficult for a pitcher to fully realize his potential if they're not putting everything they've got into every pitch.
"If you want to be a sprinter, you've got to run hard," Newman said. "If you want to be a pitcher who throws hard, you've got to practice throwing hard. It's pretty simple."
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