Tip to Redlegnation, the Times talks about a great young talent
“I like being titled with the old-school mentality,” said Leake, a San Diego native whose curly hair hangs below his hat, a style that goes with loose-fitting pants and the wisp of a beard.
“I think times were tougher back then, so it’s good to know they appreciate the way I play.”
Leake works fast, changes speeds and throws strikes. He pitches in a way that involves his teammates on defense, which creates the canvas for a game. Many pitchers who arrive in professional baseball are cautious of hitters making contact because they used metal bats in high school and college. But Leake does not often pitch outside the strike zone.
“I never let metal scare me,” said Leake, who has 39 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings. “Sometimes, I would pitch around guys because they had more power than others, but normally I would attack them.
“Some hitters you try and pitch differently than others. For the most part, you don’t try and worry about who’s up; you try and worry whether you hit the glove or not.”
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