MESA, Ariz. - A’s right-hander Frankie Montas, who tested positive for the coronavirus before the start of spring training, said Sunday he is “feeling good” and does not believe it will take long to return to pitching shape.
Montas, 27, was cleared to join the A’s at their spring facility on Thursday. On a video call with reporters Sunday, Montas said he experienced body aches, a light headache and congestion, but did not have other possible symptoms of the virus such as fever.
“I was quarantined at my house for like 14 days,” Montas said. “I feel like the worst part was just being in my own house and not being able to hold my daughter and my son. But we’re good now, I’m feeling good, trying to get my body back in shape from COVID and just trying to get ready to go.”
Montas said his wife also tested positive for the virus but did not have symptoms and neither of their children contracted the virus. He said he’s much improved.
“Every day I feel better,” Montas said. “I still like feel something in my chest, but besides that I’m fine, I’m doing my running and everything and feel good.”
Manager Bob Melvin said Montas will be on a normal throwing program this spring “just a little behind” other A’s starters. Montas said he was throwing live batting practice before his positive test and he believes: “It’s not going to take me that long to get back in pitching shape.”
Montas started on Opening Night for the A’s in 2020 when the delayed season began in July. He had a 1.57 ERA after four starts but finished the season with a 5.60 mark. An upper back and neck issue caused Montas to miss one start in August and the A’s suggested it lingered after his return. Montas said Sunday his issues last season were broader.
“Honestly I didn’t think that really affected me,” Montas said. “I felt like last year for me it was just, like, more mentally than anything. I wasn’t having fun out there. My mental game was not like how I expect it. That wasn’t, like, Frankie’s game last year. But this year, that’s something that I’m trying to improve from last year - try to go out there and keep the same mentality. No matter guys on base, guys not on base, just go out there and throw quality pitches.”
In 2019, Montas started 9-2 with a 2.70 ERA before an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance. A split-finger fastball that off-set his mid-90s four-seamer and sinker was an effective pitch for him that year - Montas threw it 18.2% of the time and hitters slugged .272 against it. Last year, he threw it 12.9% of the time and said he could have used it more.
“I feel like in ’19 that was one of the keys - I was using all my pitches,” Montas said. “Last year I was more fastball-slider than anything and kind of forgot about the splitter when that’s one of my best pitches.”
Pitching coach Scott Emerson noted that while Montas’ velocity stayed consistent last year, his command wavered. He allowed as many walks (23) and more home runs (10) in 53 innings than he did in 96 innings in 2019. Emerson said he suspected the upper back/neck issue: “For a guy that throws 98, Frankie has always thrown strikes, and it just didn’t seem like he was putting his baseball in the right position.”
Montas ended the regular season with a glimmer - 13 strikeouts in six innings against Seattle - but in his lone playoff start allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Astros. He said Sunday that memory leaves him “hungry” to return.
“When you don’t do good, that’s not fun,” Montas said, smiling. “When the game is not going how you want it, that’s not fun. It’s a lot of stuff that I had to deal with, but that’s in the past, that was last year. This is a new year so we can move forward and show what we’re capable of.”
Matt Kawahara covers the A’s for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: mkawahara@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @matthewkawahara
"Fun" - Google News
March 01, 2021 at 01:15AM
https://ift.tt/3sE3gme
Frankie Montas, in A’s camp after bout with coronavirus, eyes having fun again in 2021 - San Francisco Chronicle
"Fun" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2ZVoWNN
https://ift.tt/3c6iubT
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Frankie Montas, in A’s camp after bout with coronavirus, eyes having fun again in 2021 - San Francisco Chronicle"
Post a Comment