Mike MacDougal's developing a change-up.

[Fishercat]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/a...rtnered=rss_kc

A changeup for MacDougal: Mike MacDougal can dial up a high 90s mph fastball and has a solid slider, but he is working on adding a changeup.

He threw one changeup to Erubiel Durazo in a scoreless eighth Friday. MacDougal worked around an Angel Sanchez throwing error and did not allow a hit.

"I want to get that pitch. I don't want people to sit on my fastball and hard slider, so I'll throw a mixup in there."

Unless you are Mariano Rivera or Trevor Hoffman or Keith Foulke, where you have one breaking/moving pitcher that is a plus-plus type of pitch, it's hard to be a very good closer without something to take the attention off of a plus fastball (although none of them have the plus fastball, Mariano's close with that sick cut fastball). Still, it's good that he'll have something to fall back on as a closer that some teams might actually see this year.

[Dry1313]

MacDougal has really lost it since his Rookie Year. But this could be the jumpboard to a solid few years, after which he'll leave the Royals and go pitch somewhere else. Then we can really see how good he is.

[Fishercat]

Oddly enough, MacDougals had two very nice years in the last three. In 2003, he had a 4.08 ERA in a year where the average was over 5 runs, but he was pretty wild and got lucky to keep the runs that low. Last year, he cut down on both his ERA (3.33) and his WHIP (1.32) and posted his career bests on an abysmal club. Still, if he got on an actual team as a set-up man, he could do well for himself.

[Dry1313]

Wow I didn't realize he did that well. I know he has closer stuff, at least his Top 2 pitches, but I always thought he was wild and erratic. He'd be a nice piece on a team like the Rangers, or the A's as Huston Street's setup man.

[Fishercat]

He is quite wild. I remember seeing him against the Red Sox. The patience of Red Sox hitters absolutely decimated MacDougal a few years ago as he couldn't get them to chase his wild pitches, and he had to aim.

[Dry1313]

Yeah that's what I remembered of him. I try to avoid watching the Yankees-Royals, due to the fact that the Royals always seem to destroy them.

[love_that_reefer]

In 2003, he had a 4.08 ERA in a year where the average was over 5 runs

I'm sorry but there is no way that the average for a closer was over five runs.

[McKain]

I'm sorry but there is no way that the average for a closer was over five runs.

He meant the league average.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/macdomi01.shtml

*lgAVG, 2003, 5.07.

[BoSox34]

I think MacDougal is best suited for the setup role because of his tendancy to get wild with his pitches and as it was mentioned above that's what he will most likely be once his stay with the Royals are over. However, if he can pull a rabbit out of his hat and get some more control along with developing a tough changeup, he could very well become a solid closer. He has shown he has the talent, he just tends to lose concentration on his pitches allowing hitters to sit back and wait for their pitch because he usually gets behind in the count.

[Fishercat]

Oh, and Happy Birthday to Mike, he got a topic on his birthday.

[love_that_reefer]

He meant the league average.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/macdomi01.shtml

*lgAVG, 2003, 5.07.

Right on but I don't think you can compare the league average to a closer though. Just not enough innings. He might have had over a run less than the league average but when you closer has an ERA over 4, that's not good. He did have a better season last year and only blew four saves. The Royals will have more save opportunities for MacDougal and hopefully he will have an even better season.

[DirtyKash]

Mike MacDougal has a strained terres major muscle under his right shoulder and is expected to miss at least six weeks.

Ambiorix Burgos is going to replace him in the closer's role, according to manager Buddy Bell.

MacDougal, who was hurt Wednesday, won't be able to resume throwing for four weeks.

He might be ready to return to the closer's role around May 1, but if Burgos pitches up to his potential, it's possible MacDougal's job won't be awaiting his return.

Mar. 19 - 4:20 pm et

Not that the closer role is very important in KC . . .

[RockSports17]

Burgos? Does anybody have any info on this guy?

[love_that_reefer]

Now Redman and MacDougal are going to be out for the start of the season. Royals are going to play spoiler for some teams this year when healthy, just watch!