SAN FRANCISCO -- The "art of pitching" for many Major League hurlers involves changing speeds and locations of pitches to keep hitters off balance. But another weapon -- one being employed more by several Mariners this year -- is changing up the rhythm of their delivery to catch batters off guard or unsettled in their own routine.
It's a tactic employed liberally by Johnny Cueto, who the Mariners will face Wednesday when they take on the Giants in the second game of their upcoming Interleague series. And, indeed, Mariners reliever Casey Lawrence studied Cueto closely when Seattle played San Francisco in a Cactus League game this spring.