In this week's California League Notebook we read about Lancaster closer David Berner, and how the Astros took care of him in 2009 after a long college season for San Jose State:
"My arm was pretty dead. The Astros were really good getting me back into shape so nothing bad would happen to my arm. I just went out there for the experience more than anything..."
...Berner worked with a fastball, changeup and slider as a starter but has pared that repertoire down to the fastball and slider as a closer. He uses those two pitches to reinforce his strong ground-ball tendencies.
"I pitch to contact. I'm not looking for strikeouts," he said. "I'm looking to get the guy out early in the count."
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
