SFGate.com · Feb 27, 2018
A’s Kendall Graveman uses first spring start to work on breaking pitch
GLENDALE, Ariz. — This is the time of year for a top-of-the-rotation starter like Kendall Graveman to mess around with a few things he might not try during the regular season.
On Monday, in his first spring outing, Graveman threw a couple of his slurvy sliders in counts he generally wouldn’t.
Both of the harder-hit balls off Graveman in his two innings of work against the White Sox came on the slider.
“I threw it 3-2 for a strike to see where it was right now, and obviously that’s not something I’m going to do a lot during the season,” Graveman said of the pitch Tyler Saladino smacked for a hit in the first inning. He gave up one other hit in the second on the pitch.