Lakeland, Fla. — It was on the suggestion of pitching coach Rich Dubee that Justin Verlander altered the grip on his slider last season. The result: It completely turned his season around. Opponents hit .160 against his slider over the last three months of the season and Verlander got more first place votes for the Cy Young Award than winner Rick Porcello.
It was on Dubee’s suggestion last August that left-hander Matthew Boyd drop his arm and use more of a three-quarter delivery. The result: His average fastball velocity went from 91 mph to 93.5 and his slider went from being his worst secondary pitch to a trusted weapon.