How Madson and Doolittle have evolved into elite relievers

PHOENIX - The arrival this week of Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle to the Nationals clubhouse was met with considerable exuberance. And why not, given the significance of the addition of two relievers with experience delivering in big moments to a bullpen that had all but lost the confidence of the rest of the roster.

"It kind of sets your mind at ease," left fielder and unofficial clubhouse spokesman Jayson Werth said. "You've got some guys that have been there, been in the fire, been battle-tested. You can lean on those guys. And it takes the pressure off everyone else, too. Obviously, we had a need and we filled it."

They did. With one dramatic trade, general manager Mike Rizzo attempted to stabilize a bullpen that spent the previous 3 1/2 months in various states of turmoil.

But at the same time, the Nationals also recognize an important truth: It's not so important that the bullpen be stabilized right now as 2 1/2 months from now, when this team likely makes its fourth trip to the postseason in six years.

Madson and Doolittle can pitch exceptionally well through the remainder of July, then through August and September. But it won't matter a lick if they don't do their job come October, and in the process help hoist this franchise over a postseason hurdle that to date has been impossible to clear.

And so the key for both pitchers now isn't to perform well on a nightly basis but rather to make sure they're available to perform well on a nightly basis the first week of October.

Neither Madson nor Doolittle is a slam dunk to do that, but each has taken important steps recently to give himself the best chance of maintaining health and effectiveness for the long haul.

Madson, who turns 37 next month, has resurrected a career that not long ago was on the brink of collapse. He missed three full seasons while trying to return from Tommy John surgery and might not have made it back if not for his discovery of a training program called EVO UltraFit.

The program, created by a Phoenix trainer named Jay Schroeder, includes electric therapy and other training methods Madson insists saved his career.

"Jay Schroeder, who's the owner of it, he took me when I basically had one hand left on the rope and I was going to fall into the abyss," the pitcher said. "But he brought me all the way back."

Madson's return to health and ascension to another level of performance - his career ERA pre-Tommy John surgery was 3.59, his career ERA post-surgery is 2.67 - also has included an adaptation of his repertoire. Once a fastball-changeup pitcher, he now relies more on a sinker-curveball combo that simply wouldn't work for him before he started working with Schroeder.

"Because of what they provided for me physically, my ball is coming out different and has a lot more movement and sink to it," he said. "I've kind of gone over to a two-seamer or sinker, and without the pain in my elbow as I had before. That's why I stopped throwing my curveball. Now there's no pain in there, and I can throw the curveball as often as I want with no implications."

To wit: When Madson was Phillies closer in 2011 - his last season before injuring his elbow - 36 percent of his pitches were four-seam fastballs, 35 percent of them changeups. This season, 43 percent of his pitches have been two-seam fastballs (sinkers), 16 percent of them curveballs.

Doolittle's evolution hasn't been about pitch type but rather about perfecting mechanics to avoid the recurring shoulder troubles that have sent him to the disabled list four times in the last three years.

The left-hander believes he finally figured out how to get the results he wants without adding strain to the shoulder during a rehab assignment during his last DL stint in early June.

"While I was on my rehab assignment, actually, I changed some stuff mechanically, and it really took some stress and pressure off the front of my shoulder," he said. "After maybe my third or fourth rehab outing, I felt back. ... I've been really happy about how I've been feeling, how things have gone since I made that adjustment. Hopefully keep it going."

Doolittle insists he has felt strong enough lately to pitch back-to-back days - something the Athletics tried to avoid when possible - and in any role asked of him.

"Full-go," he said. "We're here to help the team win. ... I'm ready to do anything I can physically. I don't feel like I have any restrictions."

With an 11-game lead in their division, the Nationals probably won't need to test Madson and Doolittle's durability right now. They can afford to be cautious with both relievers, getting to know how they respond to different situations over the course of the next few months.

But come October, they - and everyone else - are going to find out whether all the work these two guys have put in will pay off and help this franchise get over that oh-so-elusive postseason hump.