Rodriguez loses velocity after altering delivery

MINNEAPOLIS – A sore left ankle, which has bothered him since late last season, prompted Francisco Rodriguez to quiet his violent delivery this spring, an adjustment that might have contributed to a loss of velocity in the closer’s first two appearances.

Rodriguez’s fastball, normally in the 94-mph range, hit 91 mph on the Metrodome speed gun in the ninth inning Wednesday night and remained at 91 mph, with the exception of one 92-mph pitch, during his 25-pitch ninth Thursday.

Rodriguez, who earned the save in both games, doesn’t believe his modifications, made to ease the stress on his landing foot, will affect his velocity because “it’s in my landing,” he said. “When I’ve landed, I’ve already released the ball.”

But it’s clear Rodriguez, who twisted the ankle when he stepped in a hole on the Angel Stadium mound last year and was bothered by the injury all winter and spring, is still getting used to the subtle changes he made in his motion.

“He was working on a lot of things as far as mechanics in the spring, trying to iron some things out, and sometimes it’s a work in progress,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He should be crisper the more he gets out there.”

Rodriguez puts so much torque on his body during his delivery that his follow-through often leaves him far to the first base side of the mound, with his back to the batter, after he releases the ball.

That probably won’t change too much – “You guys are still going to see me on the ground,” he said – but Rodriguez is trying to cut down on his leg swing and drive more toward the plate in an effort to streamline his delivery.

“I’m trying to not land so hard to take pressure off my ankle,” said Rodriguez, who is taping the ankle and is considering a switch to high-top spikes. “It’s been really painful after every outing because my delivery is so violent.”

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Center fielder Torii Hunter, recipient of numerous standing ovations during the four-game series against his former team, left the Metrodome with mixed emotions.

“It’s tough, I can’t lie, it’s been an emotional four days,” said Hunter, who went three for 16 in the series, with a seventh-inning home run Thursday. “I’m happy, but I’m kind of sad because I’m leaving a lot of people I love here.”

Hunter, hitless in his first 10 at-bats, admitted those emotions may have got the best of him at times this week.

“It wasn’t that I was pressing,” he said, “but 75% of this game is mental, and when you’ve got stuff going on, you can’t perform. I tried to be tough, I tried to be hard, but I was soft.”

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Saxophonist Kenny G will perform the national anthem, and former general manager Bill Stoneman, who is now a consultant to owner Arte Moreno, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Angels’ home opener against Texas tonight.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com