By Amalie Benjamin, Globe Staff | March 20, 2007
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It's not quite as dramatic as the Keith Foulke delivery -- the one in which Foulke looked as if he were almost pushing the ball toward home plate -- but Bryce Cox's modified delivery features a short arm action that calls to mind the former Red Sox closer.
And with some more development in the minor leagues, and a continued adjustment to the new motion, Cox could follow Foulke (and Jonathan Papelbon, and whoever is anointed closer this season) into that role on the Sox. Not that the reliever is getting too far ahead of himself. He's just trying to work on his pitches and figure out where he'll start the season.
"Just trying to get back on my feet, get back where I was last year at the end of the season," said Cox, who throws a fastball with some oomph, a slider that has been labeled nasty, and a changeup that's "coming along, not near ready."
Last year, Cox went 0-1 with a 1.59 ERA over 5 2/3 innings at Lowell, after being taken in the third round of the 2006 draft out of Rice. Then he really got going, compiling a 2-0 record with a 0.74 ERA in 13 games and 24 1/3 innings at Wilmington.
His delivery was altered, and after an adjustment period, he started to feel comfortable.
"It was definitely a change for the positive, a change for the better," said Cox, who yesterday threw 10 pitches (all fastballs) and got a called strikeout in one inning of the Triple A game at the minor league complex.
"I was struggling with command in the zone, changed my arm action up a little bit, and it's been a little bit easier for me to stay in the zone.
"More or less, it's just a short arm action. Shorter, more to the point, more direct."
And as for closing?
"I've obviously been in relief more, so I've figured out my pitching; definitely I'm comfortable relieving," Cox said. "If it's closing, that's awesome. If it's coming in in the middle of a game, that's awesome also."