After Fine-Tuning His Delivery, Busby Is in Control : Baseball: Former Times’ South Bay Player of Year has made a dramatic turnaround in his second season at Class-A Savannah.

Mike Busby made several changes in his delivery last winter at the suggestion of instructors in the St. Louis Cardinal organization.

Busby, a former standout pitcher at Banning High, had just completed a season for Savannah, Ga., the Cardinals’ affiliate in the Class-A South Atlantic League. He was 4-13 with a 3.67 earned-run average, had struck out 84 and walked 67 in 150 innings.

During the Instructional League in Florida, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-hander modified his windup. Instead of bringing his hands over his head, he brought them to his chest. Instead of leaning backward, he maintained a 90-degree posture as he pushed off the mound toward home plate.

The changes have had a dramatic effect on Busby’s performance in his second season at Savannah.

Busby, 20, is 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA. He has 101 strikeouts and has given up only 25 walks in 109 1/3 innings. Last month, he pitched one inning in relief during the South Atlantic League all-star game.

“I was kind of disappointed to have to come back to Savannah again this year, but I figured, ‘Why get mad? There’s nothing you can do about it, so just put up some good numbers,’ ” Busby said. “Then I pitched terrible my first two starts and was getting frustrated.

“After that, I told myself to get my butt in gear, that I was better than how I was pitching. That attitude, along with the changes I made in my mechanics, have really helped.”

Busby, a former Times’ South Bay Player of the Year, was selected by the Cardinals in the 14th round of the 1991 draft. He was 4-3 with a 3.51 ERA in 59 innings in the Arizona Rookie League.

Last season, Busby was hampered by tendinitis in his throwing arm late in the season. This year, he has maintained an exercise program and is feeling strong entering the second half.

Although Savannah does not employ a full-time pitching coach, Busby has benefited from the presence of Jeff Alkire, who played at the University of Miami and pitched for the United States at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Alkire, a left-hander, is 12-3 with a 2.17 ERA. He also serves as somewhat of a player-coach for the younger Savannah pitchers.

“He’s the one that helps me when I’m warming up or throwing in the bullpen,” Busby said. “He had good coaching in college and he played in the Olympics. He knows what baseball is all about.

“Last year, I might not have listened, but this year I’m more mature. I take in what people suggest and will try things if there’s a chance it will help me do well and get to a higher level.”

Although Busby, who is married and has a 2 1/2-year old daughter, would welcome a promotion to the Class-A Florida State League before the season ends, he would have to leave a team that clinched a playoff spot by winning the first half.

“I need to work on my changeup, getting it over for strikes,” Busby said. “I can get my fastball over any time I want and I have had good command of my curve this season.

“If I can keep improving and putting up the numbers, I’ll eventually get my chance at a higher level. But right now, I’m pleased. I’m very happy with the way my career is progressing.”