Papelbon adds slider to stay step ahead of batters

projo.com - Jonathan Papelbon was the game’s best closer last season, but he’s intent on improving. If he doesn’t, he fears, the hitters will gain on him.

Papelbon went into the offseason with the idea of adding a third pitch to his fastball and split-finger fastball and chose the slider.

Yesterday, in his second appearance of the spring, he used it to get two of the three outs he recorded in the fourth.

“That was a big step for me,” said Papelbon after the Sox beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5-3. “I’m getting depth on it. I feel like I can start the season as a three-pitch closer. I want to be able to throw it anytime, in any count, against any hitter. There were times last year I could have really used (a third pitch).”