Back from Triple-A, Donnie Hart returns with improved mechanics

Orioles lefty reliever Donnie Hart said he has felt his mechanics a bit out of sync for most of this season. He went from pitching to an ERA of 0.49 last year to an ERA that rose to 4.32 on June 6 this year. That was when he was sent to Triple-A Norfolk for the second time.

He was there for two weeks and returned to the Orioles on Tuesday. He put those 14 days to good use. Over 4 2/3 innings in four games with Norfolk, Hart cleaned up his mechanics issues and did not allow a run in those games with one walk and eight strikeouts.

Feeling more confident in his delivery and mechanics now, he pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings last night in the Orioles' 5-1 loss to the Indians. He didn't allow a hit as Cleveland batters went 0-for-7 against him in a 38-pitch outing.

"I had some mechanical flaws that I got into a bad habit with," Hart said this afternoon. "So being down there I was able to take a step back, catch your breath sort of thing. Worked really hard with Griff (Norfolk pitching coach Mike Griffin) every day and got back on track.

"It was the timing off my hands. My hands were really out of sync. So my upper half and my lower half were doing two different things. It is one of those situations where you have to get it all going back together."

He did and put in some quality time while on the farm.

"You can't go there and feel sorry for yourself," Hart said of being optioned for the second time.

Hart watched some video and said he figured out the adjustments he needed to make.

"It was something that I had to go back and really watch," he said. "I had felt it all season. Even in the beginning of the season, it was a little off, but I was able to work my way out of some situations. I think everyone goes through it at some point. The really good ones are able to figure it our right away."

Known mostly as a lefty specialist up to now, Hart had a career-long outing last night, getting seven outs.

With the Orioles bullpen struggling so much to get outs in middle relief, you have to wonder if Hart will pitch in longer outings now, at least in the short term.

"I don't know. I don't mind it," he said. "That was a real test for me last night. I was getting, not tired there at the end, but you are not used to being out there for that long. You have to remind yourself to do certain things.

"I was mostly able to keep them off balance. Especially the middle of that lineup. Some of those guys are real hot right now. But I don't mind it. It would take some getting used to, going from being a lefty specialist to that. But you have to do what you have to do help the team win."