When you’re the face of the program, a projected top 10 pick in the upcoming MLB Draft and and your velocity takes a bit of a dip, people are going to take notice.
This past weekend against Arkansas, Ole Miss ace Drew Pomeranz saw his velocity dip from sitting at 91 miles per hour to closer to 87 MPH.
Following the start it was learned that Pomeranz had tightness in his left pectoral muscle during his previous start at Mississippi State — or at least that’s when the left-hander told head coach Mike Bianco about the tweaked peck. Both Bianco and Pomeranz made the injury seem like a non-issue and maintained that stance during interviews before practice today.
“It was good. I didn’t feel my peck at all,” Pomeranz said after throwing a shortened bullpen session. “I think it’s mainly a mechanical thing.”
With regards to the velocity drop last weekend, Pomeranz said he just wasn’t trying to throw hard.
“I was more focused on being smooth,” he said. “I don’t know if you could tell, but my arm action was actually a little shorter in the back. I don’t know if it has to do with when I’m trying to be smooth I’m a little shorter in the back than when I reach back and try to throw hard. I was more worried about pitch location.”
It had been circulated through various media outlets over the last day or so that Pomeranz might miss his start this Friday because of said “nagging injury.” Bianco said that wasn’t the case today.
“He’s going Friday unless something happens between now and then — but it better not,” he said with a smirk.
DOIN’ WORK: Pomeranz wore the sacred “Tour de Defense” yellow shirt for Tuesday’s practice — which is awarded to the player who plays the best defense during previous practice/game. When asked about the new look Pomeranz joked, “I make plays.”
MATT SNYDER UPDATE: Matt Snyder, who not only re-aggravated his left shoulder against Arkansas on Friday but also came down with a 100-plus degree fever prior to Sunday’s start, will not make the trip to Jonesboro, Ark. tomorrow for No. 15 Ole Miss’ last non-conference game. Instead, Snyder, who Bianco said is doing better with the illness, will stay in Oxford and continue to receive treatment for his oft-separated shoulder.
FERGUSON OK, TOO: During Saturday’s win against Arkansas, Ole Miss center fielder Tim Ferguson dislocated his right pinkie finger diving back into first base. After a short evaluation by trainers and Bianco, Ferguson’s finger was taped to his ring finger and the fingers on his batting glove were cut off to allow him to hold a bat properly.
Today Bianco was asked — after being asked about Ole Miss’ offensive struggles against the reigning SEC Pitcher of the Week Mike Bolsinger — about Ferguson’s finger and if it played a role in his hitless day on Sunday.
Bianco had somewhat of a funny response:
“I’m sure it effected him a little bit on Sunday, but we had another eight guys that didn’t have a dislocated finger,” Bianco joked.
McKEAN STARTING AT ARKANSAS STATE: At the conclusion of today’s interviews it was announced that senior Rory McKean will be making his fourth start of the season.
The right-hander is 3-1 on the year with a 6.85 ERA. In 23.1 innings, McKean has struck out 20 batters and walked just five while opponents are also hitting .387 off of him.
For more information on the injury roundup and other tidbits, be sure to check tomorrow’s EAGLE. (May 11, 2010)
