CLEARWATER, Fla. - Greg Burke said he was just a typical righthander who threw 90 mph. After one season in the big leagues, he returned to the minors. Burke needed something, he said, to set himself apart from "all of the guys throwing 100 miles per hour."
During spring training with Baltimore in 2012, Burke found a way to be different. The South Jersey native started throwing sidearm and returned to the majors a season later with the Mets. Burke, who is competing for a spot in the wide-open Phillies bullpen, is one of two pitchers in camp who uses a sidearm delivery.