MILWAUKEE - Before Hector Neris' final outing in the Grapefruit League, Pete Mackanin pulled catcher J.P. Arencibia aside. The Phillies manager had instructions last month in Fort Myers, Fla.
"I want to see three out of four splits," Mackanin told Arencibia. "I want to force him to throw it."
This season, Neris has thrown his splitter more than any other pitch. There have not been many Phillies bullpen revelations in the first month of games, but Neris is one. He entered Friday still unscored upon with 15 strikeouts and two walks in 9 1/3 innings.
The split-fingered fastball is why.