New Approach, Same Old Beck

For a relief ace nicknamed “Shooter,” Rod Beck was firing too many blanks.

No one in the San Francisco Giants’ clubhouse was suggesting Beck, the team’s all-time leader in saves, was washed up. But by the end of the 1996 season, more and more hitters were running him through the wringer.

After nailing down every opportunity presented him and recording 28 saves in 1994, Beck had a major league-leading 10 blown saves in 1995 and seven more last season.

Adjustments were clearly in order and Beck, a 1986 graduate of Grant High, began to see that savvy and subterfuge might have a place in his repertoire.

“It took me a year or so to realize, but I’m not throwing 95, 96 miles per hour anymore,” Beck said. “My fastball’s still up around 90, 91 miles per hour and that’s plenty good enough to get out big league hitters. But I’m not gonna throw it by anybody anymore so it’s time to pitch a little bit. And fortunately I know how to do that.”

As the season reaches the final two months, Beck has used his knowledge and a retooled approach to lead the major leagues with 32 saves in his seventh big league season.

Beck, named to the National League All-Star team for the third time, is on a pace to match his career high of 48 saves, set in 1993. The Giants have undergone a similar resurgence and have led the National League West for most of the season.

“Shooter was a good pitcher before, he’s just better now,” Giants Manager Dusty Baker said. “The secret to staying around this game a long time is to adjust and readjust and maybe readjust again. That’s what he’s done.”

San Francisco catcher Rick Wilkins said Beck had become somewhat predictable by the end of last season.

“In the past he’d go right at you with a first-pitch fastball,” Wilkins said. “He’d say, ‘Here it is, hit it,’ and guys were. Now he’s starting them off with curveballs and then maybe a fastball out of the strike zone. He’s making big pitches when he needs to.”

Beck, who will turn 29 on Sunday, said he has little explanation for his drop in velocity “except probably old age and wear and tear.”

Nevertheless, when spring training arrived five months ago, Beck and Giant pitching coach Dick Pole set out to refine his approach.

Beck made only one mechanical change, a decision to pitch solely from the stretch in an attempt to avoid giving batters a tipoff on the type of pitch headed their way.

But mentally, he changed his strategy in attacking hitters with a game on the line.

“When you throw in the 95 miles per hour range you can get away with a lot more mistakes over the middle of the plate,” Beck said. “Guys will be behind the ball and you’ll get a lot more foul tips. But if you throw between 85 and 90 miles per hour you’ve got to hit spots with your fastball. You have to be able to throw different pitches in different counts to keep the hitters off-balance.”

Batters opposing Beck have resembled drunk sailors for most of the season, staggering away from the plate as he slams the door on another San Francisco treat.

“My philosophy against him is to try and get a first-pitch fastball,” Dodger third baseman Todd Zeile said. “Because if you don’t, you’re gonna get that forkball and that slider and those are awful tough pitches.”

As Beck has mowed down hitters, the Giants’ faithful have stood and screamed for the closer with the Fu Manchu mustache and the surly game face.

That wasn’t the scene last season and Baker hasn’t forgotten.

“I remember one time I was walking out to the mound last year and the fans were like, ‘No Dusty, don’t bring in Beck!’ ” Baker said. “I felt like saying, ‘Well, who then? He’s the best I’ve got!’ ”

This season, Beck has benefited from a newly assembled setup crew featuring Doug Henry, Jim Poole, Rich Rodriguez and Julian Tavarez. Only Poole was with the team in 1996. On Thursday, the Giants acquired Chicago White Sox closer Roberto Hernandez to further shore up their staff.

“Those guys have come out of the bullpen and done such a good job that Bake’s not even tempted to get me up in the eighth inning anymore,” Beck said.

Baker sees Beck’s changes for the better as the retelling of an age-old baseball truth: No player ever truly masters the game.

“It goes to show you that sometimes this game will humble you into going back to school,” Baker said. “But Rod knows not to get too caught up in his success. As a reliever you can be the hero on Monday, the goat on Tuesday and back to being the hero on Wednesday.”