March 08--Jason Hammel described catcher Kyle Schwarber's performance Monday as "great."
Hammel was less generous in assessing his first spring start against the Royals, in which he admitted to "spring training nerves" before settling down and pitching two scoreless innings.
The timing of Hammel's delivery, in which he rotates his hips with more effort, was off at times, but his fastball command improved during his stint.
"The results were good, but timing is what we're all searching for at this point of the season," Hammel said.
Hammel walked leadoff batter Reymond Fuentes on six pitches, and Fuentes stole second base with one out despite an accurate throw from Schwarber. But Hammel worked out of a jam by retiring Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez.
In the second, Hammel allowed a hit to Jose Martinez but jammed Clint Barmes on a 91-mph fastball to induce an inning-ending double play.
Manager Joe Maddon said before Hammel's start that he is more concerned with repetition of Hammel's altered delivery and fastball command than results.
"His delivery to me is fascinating," Maddon said. "When I had him with the Rays, his delivery was prone to getting off-line with his fastball because of the way his front leg landed. Now he's done something differently. And I love the way he's getting over his front side. I love the delivery in general.
"If he's able to nail down early where that fastball is going, he will take off quickly. And the thing would be to maintain that delivery all season and get into latter part of the year and still be highly successful."
