TEMPE, Ariz. — Garrett Richards has admitted that when he was in college, and even early in his minor league career, he had a pretty simple approach.
Throw the ball as hard as possible.
Now, with the wisdom of experience and the necessity of a freshly repaired ligament in his elbow, the Angels’ right-hander is new and improved.
He calls it the “85 percent mindset.”
After Richards tossed six innings on 69 pitches in a minor-league game on Sunday, he said he’s happy the way he’s been more efficient, and more in control, now that he isn’t airing it out quite like he used to.