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Spring Training Begins: Okajima Changing It Up

Even after a fantastic relieving year by anyones standards Okajima is hard at work. He addressed reporters after today and told Boston-area reporters he has been working on some new pitches to add to his arsenal.

“In my mind, the same pattern as last year won’t work. Still, my best pitch is my changeup. If it doesn’t work, I’ll try to throw new pitches to hitters. I just cannot do the same thing as last year, so I’ve tried to study new techniques and pitches,” Okajima said.

In 2007 Okajima pitched 69 innings with a 2.22 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP.

In the second half of the year Okajima had a 4.56 ERA. As compared to his first half 0.83 ERA, it would seem guys started adjusting. Okajima’s strength is locating his pitches and that knee popping change-up.

It’s nice to see the work ethic and desire to get stronger but he’s messing with a good thing. Like always its a debatable issue that adds some interest to the 2009 make-up.

Smell that… thats baseball.

Tags: Hideki Okajima