Mike Adams: 'I Attack Hitters Non-Stop'
By Spike Eskin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Phillies spent most of 2012 searching for a reliable bullpen option for the eighth inning, and never found it.
It was a problem they addressed in the off-season with the signing of Mike Adams. Adams had shoulder surgery in October, but has looked good during Spring Training, and seems on track to regain the form he had in 2008-2011, where he was dominant, regularly striking out more than a better per inning, with an ERA below 2.00, and a strikeout to walk ratio of over 5-1.
"I attack hitters non-stop. I don't go so much of off scouting report, I make the guys make sure they have a scouting report on myself," Adams told 94WIP's Anthony Gargano and Glen Macnow on Thursday. "You have to throw inside. Anytime you can locate inside and control both sides of the plate, you improve your chances on being successful. I live inside. That's a huge part of my game."
Adams throws five pitches, but one of favorites is a pitch he shares with Roy Halladay.
"I'll throw a four-seam and two-seam fastball. I'll throw the cutter obviously," Adams said. " I'm trying to throw the change-up a lot more, just to keep guys from sitting hard. Then I'll mix in a little breaking ball, kind of like a slurve-type pitch. Mainly everything is fastball-cutter and I'm really trying to work in that change-up this year, but majority of the time it's going to be a cutter."
LISTEN: Anthon Gargano and Glen Macnow interview Mike Adams
The Phillies signed Adams to a relatively low-risk, high-reward contract of two years at $6 million per year. Adams says it wasn't the contract that was the main reason for coming to Philadelphia.
"I thought if everybody came back healthy and played to their ability, I think this team has as good a chance as anybody to get back to the World Series. That was probably the biggest reason I chose Philly," Adams said. "They're [the fans] passionate, I know that. I know that every time I have come into Philly they have a packed house, they root for their team. I've heard about them as far as the support they give, not only their baseball club, but all of their sports is phenomenal. It's fun to play in front of a full house, fans that cheer you on and they'll let you know when you're not getting the job done. That part doesn't bother me. I'm a pretty head-strong person. As long as I go out there and get the job done, and be respectful to everybody out there, hopefully I get the same in return."
