PWSox87 Posted March 31, 2004 Share Posted March 31, 2004 26479.1 Wunsch pulls no punch: I'm in 'dead arm' period Tuesday, March 30, 2004 By Joe Cowley: staff writer for The Daily Southtown ©© ©© ©©©©© © ©© ©© ©©©©© © ©© ©© ©©©©© © ©© ©© ©©©©© © TUCSON, Ariz. — The last thing the White Sox bullpen needed was another concern, but Kelly Wunsch has become just that. Several scouts watching the left-handed reliever pitch Sunday said his fastball was clocked at 80-81 mph at best. One scout said Wunsch didn't look like the same pitcher he was last year and that he was throwing as if he were injured. Wunsch conceded Monday that something's not right, but he's holding on to the hope it's nothing serious. "I'm going through a crummy tightness or 'dead arm' period right now," Wunsch said. "It happens every spring. "Like I've said, I've got some issues right now. Nothing is seriously hurt. There's some muscle spasms in the back that are floating around, and the dead arm thing, or whatever it is." Wunsch is regarded as a specialist against left-handed hitters, but was hard to hit from either side last season. Left-handed hitters batted .127 against him, while right-handed hitters batted just .153. Wunsch's ERA in Cactus League play is 4.76. Most of the damage has come over the past week. "I'm throwing real well against left-handers," Wunsch said. "Right-handers ... it's still getting there. "It will come, it will come. I haven't been trying to throw it hard so that I can give it a chance to get better. It's irritated and it might take awhile to calm down. It's not preventing me to pitch, it's just preventing from throwing hard." Despite the injury, Wunsch is still scheduled to throw in Wednesday's game against San Diego. Over the past week, closer Billy Koch also has struggled, and right-hander Shingo Takatsu has struggled most of the spring. If Wunsch is hurt or can't regain his velocity, it would be another blow to a bullpen that's very fragile in the first place. Wunsch is confident he can still make the 25-man roster and be effective even if he's well short of 100 percent. "Yeah, I feel good about where I stand as far as making the team goes," Wunsch said. "Regardless of my velocity, I'm still plenty effective against left-handers. Velocity affects me against right-handers. I'm fastball-changeup against right-handers, and you need to have a fastball in order to throw the changeup." Do you think this is anything to worry about? This bullpen could be in trouble if Wunsch struggles and if Kock plays like last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted March 31, 2004 Share Posted March 31, 2004 Uh Oh, just what we don't need, another injury plagues season from Wunsch. Well if he can't make the 25 man roster, than I think it's a shoo in that Cotts will be part of the bullpen cos we'll need another lefty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PWSox87 Posted March 31, 2004 Author Share Posted March 31, 2004 Yeah, I think that Cotts already is a shoe in, along with Jon Adkins to solidify the bullpen. I even think that Cotts wll start at some point. This article mentions that Koch struggles, is it just me or does his spring training yield some optimism overall. Does he have his velocity and old dominance back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan4life_2007 Posted March 31, 2004 Share Posted March 31, 2004 80-81 mph at best? That's not good at all. How do u have "deadarm" before the season even starts? I hope this isn't something big. I looked at Damaso and Kelly as are only 2 sure things in the pen this year...I am liking Cliff Pollite more and more though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted March 31, 2004 Share Posted March 31, 2004 Luckily we have plenty of pitching from the left side, including some good minor leaguers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aboz56 Posted March 31, 2004 Share Posted March 31, 2004 Maybe Munoz will finally get his shot at some point this season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted March 31, 2004 Share Posted March 31, 2004 Maybe Munoz will finally get his shot at some point this season. According to Bull, it looks like they are tryin to convert Munoz into a starter down at Birmingham. David Sanders would prob be next on the list for a call - up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightni Posted March 31, 2004 Share Posted March 31, 2004 Can any of these guys get extended Spring Training to work out their problems? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxAce Posted March 31, 2004 Share Posted March 31, 2004 Maybe Munoz will finally get his shot at some point this season. Or Bullard!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickman Posted March 31, 2004 Share Posted March 31, 2004 I saw wunch pitch today. He did fine. I don't think we need to worry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PWSox87 Posted March 31, 2004 Author Share Posted March 31, 2004 That is good, lets hope it is nothing serious because he can be a dynamite specialist if healthy Also, i haven't seen spring training...is Koch throwing hard again, and does it lok like he'll be effective as a closer? o Lets hope so Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan4life_2007 Posted March 31, 2004 Share Posted March 31, 2004 That is good, lets hope it is nothing serious because he can be a dynamite specialist if healthy Also, i haven't seen spring training...is Koch throwing hard again, and does it lok like he'll be effective as a closer? o Lets hope so I haven't seen many games. But Koch isn't throwin as hard as he did 2 years ago. I think he's toppin out at 91 or 92 mph...He was pitching very well before his last couple of outings. I'm just gonna be positive and hope that he can get guys out no matter how hard he throws... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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