Duke working to get back to form
FORT MYERS, Fla.— Zach Duke couldn't keep pitching the way he did last season, and he knew it. That's one reason why his 2007 season started, at least in his mind, almost the day after the 2006 season ended.
Because Pittsburgh is a cold-weather city, most Pirates players go elsewhere during the offseason. Duke didn't, staying in the city all winter to work with the Pirates' staff and throw regular sessions off PNC Park's indoor mounds.
Having a fiancee in the city affected his decision to stay. That 10-15 record, 4.47 ERA and NL-worst 255 hits allowed in 2006 also were big reasons.
"I was a little more determined to be me again," Duke said Wednesday. "Any time you lose more than you win, it's never satisfying."
Especially when a pitcher enjoyed the breakout season Duke did as a rookie two years ago, when he was 8-2 with a 1.81 ERA in 14 starts. He had a 22-innings scoreless streak shortly after being called up July 2 and was the first Pirates pitcher in 36 years to win his first four decisions. He also was one of only four pitchers since 1920 to have an ERA below 1.00 in his first six career starts.
Duke, who turns 24 next month, knew it couldn't possibly remain that easy, and it wasn't. Scouts and team personnel, especially those in the NL Central, had plenty of offseason time to review video tape of Duke, his pitch selection and tendencies, and that allowed hitters to adjust to him last season.
The left-hander especially had trouble throwing pitches early in the count for strikes, and that often meant he struggled early in games. The inability to set up his breaking ball and changeup by throwing his fastball for strikes troubled him all season, and the results showed — especially on the road, where he was 1-11 with 10 consecutive losses.
Some other numbers weren't good, either. He became one of only six Pirates pitchers in the last 50 years, and the first since 1985, to allow 250 or more hits in a season (Bob Friend did so eight times). And only two pitchers in the last 21 years allowed more hits per nine innings than his 10.66 average.
"They started figuring out what I like to do, and I think that's one of the reasons I had so many runs early in the game, first-inning runs," Duke said. "This year should be a little bit different."
