GLENDALE, Ariz. (670 The Score) -- White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito's spring numbers haven't been much different than his 2018 totals.
Giolito has posted a 6.75 ERA in three starts in Cactus League play. His latest performance came Sunday afternoon, when he went 4 2/3 innings against the Athletics and allowed three earned runs on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts.
Giolito has been utilizing a new arm slot in his delivery, a change designed by pitching coach Don Cooper with a more efficient route from the stretch to home plate in mind after Giolito had a 6.13 ERA that was the worst of any qualifying starter in MLB in 2018.
"His velocity was upticked in the second half of last year," Cooper said. "We want to maintain that in the stretch and full windup. So we are doing a lot of work with him in the stretch. We must cut down on walks for him. That means we want the hitter swinging earlier in the count.
"This is not really a new delivery we have him working on. We shortened his arm arc."
The White Sox are looking to keep it simple for Giolito, who made 32 starts last season and is looking to stay that healthy again.
"I am looking for him to be comfortable with his new delivery," manager Rick Renteria said. "We feel he is more comfortable now, and we look for him to command his pitches. So far this spring, his pitches have been working very well. The fastball velocity is consistently up (93-95 mph). For me, he just needs to execute his pitches from the get-go. He said to me a couple of starts ago that in the past when something went array early, he would fall apart. He is not allowing that to happen now. He is a little bit more focused and trusting of himself."
The psychological aspect of the game has changed for players over the years. Every team has a mental skills department with the goal of helping players handle the pressures of the game.
"He seems to understand that component of the game," Renteria said of Giolito. "You don't know the pressures of the game at this level until you experience it. He now appears to trust his process of whatever it is he must get through in tough situations. He has grown and is developing the edge he needs to stay in games and win ball games."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
