FanPost

Lohse throws Twins' pitching coaches under bus

USA TODAY Sports

via Grantland:

"That was one of the first things Dave Duncan told me when I came over," Lohse said. "‘You’re gonna learn to command your two-seamer.’ That was something that I had been steered away from when I was in Minnesota. I started throwing almost exclusively four-seamers there. It’s one of those things where you kind of shake your head at now, like, ‘What was I doing?’ But I was just listening to the instruction I was getting. Then I got to St. Louis, and I realized, ‘How many guys can hit a sinker down and away?’ Not a whole lot. If you can locate a sinker down and away, the results you’re getting are usually pretty good."

This, of course, coincides with Lohse's transformation from back-of-the-rotation guy with potential to front-line starter who looks ace-like in the right light. Lohse was hardly the first or only guy to find career-changing improvement under Duncan's tutelage, but he is the first guy I've heard of complaining that Anderson didn't want any two-seamers.

I wonder about it, though. Anderson has preached the two-seamer so hard, to so many pitchers over the years, I wonder what the difference with Lohse was? Of course, Kyle was well known for the respectful attention he paid the Twins' coaching staff during his time in Minnesota, so we have to consider that too.

Could be he's just maintaining that downward plane, you know, and pitching down in the zone. Until the other guy just drops the barrel of the bat and punches one out there. But there's not much you can do about that.

In conclusion, &*($ the White Sox.