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Sonnanstine Picks Up Speed

Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO

Andy Sonnanstine takes batting practice Friday, Oct. 24, 2008 in Philadelphia.

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By TONY FABRIZIO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 26, 2008

Updated: 10/26/2008 12:23 am

PHILADELPHIA - If it looks like Andy Sonnanstine has been throwing crisper pitches in the last month or so, that's because he has.

When the No. 4 pitcher in the Rays' postseason rotation takes the mound for Game 4 of the World Series tonight, he will be blending his trademark off-speed pitches with a fastball that has picked up a little juice.

"That all began post-All-Star break," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "We gave him a couple of extra days off because he was a little worn out. I think since that time, he has pitched really well."

Sonnanstine said that while there's no drastic change, he believes he has picked up 1 or 2 mph on his fastball. While that doesn't mean he can blow the ball past hitters - he still tops out in the upper 80s - he can use his other pitches more effectively.

"I think that gives me a little more of a gap between my fastball and my off-speed pitches, which is a good thing for me, just being deceptive," he said.

What's indisputable is that Sonnanstine has pitched well since early September, better at times than his spot in the rotation. He had two exceptional regular-season starts against Boston, holding the Red Sox to without an earned run in 13 innings, and he's won two road games with a 3.46 ERA in the postseason.

He'll be pitching on 12 days' rest tonight - since beating Boston 13-4 in Game 4 of the ALCS to give the Rays a 3-1 lead in that series.

"I think the time between starts helps me out," Sonnanstine said. "This is one of the longest seasons I've been part of. I showed up about a month early for spring training to get my body ready and my arm ready, and I didn't know we'd be playing this late in October."

Sonnanstine doesn't have the flaming fastball that fellow Rays starters Scott Kazmir and Matt Garza do, but he's effective and efficient, and he has a mental makeup that keeps him from laboring. He throws strikes (averaging only 1.72 walks per eight innings) and rarely beats himself.

It's an approach that got him to the major leagues when he was overlooked by many scouts.

"The guy is a winner," Maddon said Saturday. "For a guy like Andy to get drafted in the first place takes excellent scouting, as far as I'm concerned."

Sonnanstine works quicker than most of the Rays other starters. "I try to take care of business and get my fielders back in the dugout so they can start hitting again," he said.

But he's not averse to pausing during his delivery or changing up the tempo to throw a batter off. He also fields well and he's among the best in the American League at holding runners.

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