This past weekend, I had the opportunity to speak with two of the pitchers with the Palm Beach Cardinals, the St. Louis Cardinals’ Florida State League affiliate. First up was Tyler Norrick. The Cardinals selected Norrick in the sixth round of the 2006 draft and the former Saluki is in his first full professional season after having spent time last year with State College in the New York/Penn League (one relief appearance) and the Midwest League (13 appearances, 12 starts, with a record of 2-2 with a 3.72 ERA).
After a solid start to the season, with four straight six inning starts, the first three of which were scoreless outings, Norrick has had two rough outings, one where he could not finish the fourth and his most recent where he surrendered five runs in his seven innings, and his record now stands at 3-1 with a 2.60 ERA.
Here is how our conversation went down.
What pitches do you have in your repertoire?
I throw two different kinds of fastballs. I throw a four-seam and a two-seam fastball. I throw a slider and a split finger fastball that I use primarily like a changeup.
What speed are you topping out at right now?
93 top out speed
What about consistent pitch speed?
About 91
How do you feel about our control right now?
It’s all right, I am happy with it. At first I was getting quite enough strikes, but last game I was in the strike zone a fair amount of times. I would say it’s okay right now, but it can always get better. That’s one thing everyone tries to do, not just get in the strike zone but to command different parts of the strike zone.
What is the best advice you have received so far in the minors, and who gave it to you?
Best advice for pitching pro ball is it isn’t how hard you throw because everyone can hit a hard fastball. It’s about keeping the ball down. I couldn’t say one individual person told me that, everyone will tell you that
What skills are you working on perfecting right now?
Always working on perfecting the command of the fastball. Keeping it down in the zone and getting life down in the zone. Also repeating the same delivery over and over again.
What have you heard about your future with the organization?
When I was first drafted I was told I would start out as a starter and then move to the bullpen. I talked to the pitching coordinator here and he said, ‘No you’ve got three pitches and 90 plus stuff.’ So as long as I can prove I deserve a spot in the rotation that’s where they will keep me. As far as the future I don’t know, just pitch.
NOTE: The other pitcher I had the opportunity to speak to was the Cardinals’ first round selection from last year’s draft. The right-hander is ranked seventh overall by Baseball America in the Cardinals organization, and the 30th overall pick out of Northeastern University like Norrick split last year between State College (2-2, 3.14 ERA in six starts) and Quad Cities (2-3, 3.44 ERA in eight starts), and he is in his first full professional season.
When we caught up with Ottavino, he was coming off of his sixth start of the season, and he is currently 2-3 with a 2.79 ERA. Over 29 innings, Ottavino has struck out 34 while walking 17, and opposing batters are hitting .255 against him.
Tell me a little about your repertoire.
I throw a fastball, curveball, slider, and change-up.
What type of velocity are you getting?
I usually sit at around 92, 93 with 96 being the highest I’ve been this year.
How do you feel about your control in your first full year with the organization?
I think my control is pretty terrible right now, it’s been better previously but I am struggling with it right now. That’s my main focus.
That takes me into my next question. What are you working on improving this season?
My original plan was to just get after it and try to have a good year all around, but I have been struggling out in the begging just with my control. My stuff is good enough to get guys out, but I’m not getting ahead of hitters. So command is the main thing I’m working on.
What’s the best advice you’ve gotten so far?
The best advice I’ve gotten so far is just to trust myself. I’ve got good enough stuff to get people out so coaches keep telling me I don’t need to do anything extra, I just need to get ahead of guys in the count. That’s the biggest adjustment I am going to have to make because in the past I have been able to come from behind to get guys out, but as you go up in levels you have to be able to get ahead of guys otherwise they’re going to hit you.
What have you heard about your future with the organization?
They told me they are looking for me to make five or six good starts then they start to move you up. Obviously everybody wants to move up, but right now I’m focused on my next start. Take it one day at a time.
NOTE: Other FSL Notes: Third baseman Allen Craig leads the Palm Beach Cardinals in runs, hits, homers, and batting average. His solid bat earned him FSL Player of the Week honors on April 30th. The only thing that may keep Craig from quickly moving up the minor league ranks is the other stat he leads the team in, errors. The third baseman has eight errors in 26 games, most of them coming from control issues on his throws to first base.
