Lynn looks to prove himself in possible clinch game
ST. LOUIS, Mo.-- When Lance Lynn takes the ball for the St. Louis Cardinals Friday in the potential National League Championship Series, he plans to show that he is not the pitcher struggled through Game 1.
In his first ever postseason start, Lynn gave up four runs on five hits in only 3.2 innings pitched--not his best effort.
When asked what specifically he felt like needed to be improved on from his last game, Lynn laughed.
"Not give four straight two out hits up in one inning," he said.
In his defense, Lynn had come in from the bullpen in four of the previous six games. That means his normal between start routine has been in shambles until the period between his last start and Friday's.
"Everything was the same as it would have been during the season," he said. "You have your normal rest. You're able to do your normal things that you need to do in between with the bullpens and things like that. So, I'm looking forward to having that feeling going into this one."
Lynn has a good support network, however, to help him understand how to handle both the pressure of the postseason and the best way to be ready to go.
He said that Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright push him to be everything he is capable of and to always strive to improve.
"To have those guys to teach me how to work in between starts, teach me when it's good to throw a longer side or shorter side--you kind of--you learn how to work around those days off and when you can work harder or when you need to work smarter," he said. "Those guys, they know how to do it and they've done it successful for a while. So it's a good group to learn from."
The pitchers aren't his only backers.
Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina has played possibly the most vital role for Lynn in his mental prep both throughout the regular season and during the postseason.
"He does his homework on hitters," Lynn said. "He knows everything that they've done all year or what they've been doing in the last week or so in changing their approach to what we've been doing to them.
He has a great feel for what they're trying to do and he knows how we can be successful.
"You have the most faith that you can have with someone every time he puts down a finger you know that there's a good thought behind it," he said. "He's not just down there putting fingers down for the heck of it."
Lynn said he's ready for Friday's start and doesn't seem intimidated by the fact that it is a clinch situation.
He said he's just treating it like it's any other start and plans to go out, throw strikes and stay ahead in the count--the basics.
He stressed the importance of not trying to overdo.
"We're in the playoffs," Lynn said with a smile. "It doesn't matter when you pitch or where you'll pitch as long as they feel that you can get the job done and they call your name. It's enjoyable, no matter what the situation or the time of it."
One thing is for sure, when he takes the mound Friday evening, he'll leave everything he has on the field.
Comments
- -- Posted by Jolly Dump on Sat, Oct 20, 2012, at 10:20 AMCorey NolesI'm not sure. I think a lot of it is mental right now. In both games he was absolutely lights out until the fourth inning. Friday night he was hitless through three innings and then almost instantly fell apart. I don't think he ever got past the error last night to be honest.
Respond to this blog
Posting a comment requires free registration:
- If you already have an account, follow this link to login
- Otherwise, follow this link to register