CLEVELAND -- Bryan Shaw can often be spotted with a football in his hands. It might zip through the clubhouse to a teammate or be carried out to the field for a round of catch. This is not purely an exercise in leisure for the Indians' setup man.
Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway noted that Shaw's throwing mechanics for his cutter are similar to how a quarterback flings a football. Tossing the pigskin around is a way for the right-hander to maintain a feel for his signature pitch, and perhaps one of the secrets behind Shaw's incredible durability.