Speaking with Gonzo

I had a conversation with Mike Gonzalez on Saturday afternoon, about 24 hours after he was booed off the field when blowing a 9th inning lead in the Orioles home opener.  He's being temporarily pulled back as the bullpen closer while pitching coach Rick Kranitz works with Gonzalez on his pitching mechanics- they're looking to uncover the source of his uncharacteristic wildness and according to the pitcher he's already noticed a ffew flaws that he was unaware of prior in his career.  That's good news for Gonzalez, mechanical flaws are correctable.   The harder part may be managing his psyche.  Gonzalez told me (as he's told others) that it's simply a matter of him trying too hard, attempting to throw with greater velocity than he should- a manic mindset that's caused him to be unsettled and messed up his proper form.  Part of his challenge is the very role he serves- closer.  Gonzalez pointed out to me that on Friday, Toronto starter Brendan Morrow walked 3 batters in the first inning and appeared to be out of control.  Yet, because Morrow is a starter, he's able to come back the next inning and for subsequent innings was able to settle in and find the form needed to be effective.  Gonzalez laments that as a closer- he doesn't have that luxury:  it's do or die right now for the closer, there's no time to "figure it out."   Well, there is time- but it's time spent in bullpen sessions with the pitching coach before games and not in the 9th inning of a Major League game with the outcome riding on every pitch.  Mike Gonzalez is a stand-up guy who's genuinely upset that he's struggled for his new team.  He's determined to fix what's broken and make good on the potential that earned him a hefty 2-year contract with the Orioles.  It's an unexpected early season crisis that carries significant ramifications for Gonzalez and the Orioles.