March 04--Since Chris Bosio took over as the Chicago Cubs' pitching coach in 2012, the pitching staff has become increasingly stingy in allowing home runs.
Catcher Miguel Montero credits some of the success to Bosio's emphasis on keeping the ball down, as evidenced by a thin piece of string that pitchers must throw their pitches under when they throw bullpen sessions in spring training.
Bosio said he learned to employ the device while pitching for Jerry Weinstein, who won 16 conference titles in 23 seasons at Sacramento City College in California and was a coach in the Colorado Rockies' organization for nine seasons.
"(Weinstein) emphasized pitching on a downhill plane," Bosio said. "It's mechanically correct. It's the bottom of the strike zone. It's something that's very important and applies to everybody.
"Being able to get the low strike and being able to get the ball underneath to get the pitch efficiency is what we call it.
"It helps when you get one and two-pitch out. And that's what that line represents."
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