Mickey Storey has a 5-4 record with a .330 ERA for Midland this season. (Photo provided by Midland RockHounds)
Storey without curves
With most leagues' regular seasons ending this weekend, we'll retire our Former Owl Friday segment for the year with a look at Midland's Mickey Storey.
Originally published on
9/3/2010
by
Chuck King
Mickey Storey’s up-and-down professional career has featured plenty of curveballs – too many if you ask the Oakland organization.
A’s officials told Storey they thought his advancement would be hastened if he threw fewer hooks.
“They had me back off throwing so many breaking balls,” said Storey, who says he’s fully recovered from an elbow injury that nearly required Tommy John surgery in 2008. “I was pretty much throwing fastball, curveball, fastball, curveball and not getting around to throwing my other stuff.”
Storey’s done what the A’s asked and as a result now has an improved change-up to go with a fastball that’s hit 95 MPH this season.
That up-tick in his fastball may have spurred some of this season’s inconsistency.
“I wasn’t throwing a lot of strikes - I was a little wild,” Storey said. “I was throwing a little harder. That might have contributed to it.”
Following a 2009 season that saw him deliver a 1.22 ERA across four leagues, Storey began 2010 with the Class AA Midland RockHounds. A 31st round pick in the 2008 draft, Storey moved up to Class AAA Sacramento in the opening weeks. The righthander struggled there, posting a 5.54 ERA in 11 outings, which included one save.
When Oakland sent a few underperforming major leaguers down to Sacramento, it made room by shuffling Storey back to Midland.
Aside from one rough stretch where Storey allowed half of his 26 earned runs at Midland in a six-game July span, Storey has performed the way the A’s had hoped. With Midland in the midst of a pennant chase (entering Friday’s game the RockHounds would be in the playoffs with a win and a San Antonio loss), Storey has posted a 1-1 record with a 1.29 ERA and two saves in his last 10 outings.
Even if Midland doesn’t make the playoffs, Storey will still experience a post-season. He expects to play winter ball in Mexico.
“You’d love your team to make playoffs and win championships, but your main goal is to move up,” Storey said.
Stepping up: Brandon Cooney hasn’t allowed a run against his Class AA Bowie Baysox in his last seven appearances, dating back to Aug. 17. …Travis Ozga has hit safely in four of his last five games for the Class A Savannah Sand Gnats, including a three hit night on Thursday.
Low and away: The Giants had hoped to give Daniel Cook a look at centerfield, but he’s been on the DL since Aug. 7 and time is running out. …Michael Crotta has lost his last four decisions for the Class AAA Indianapolis Indians. Crotta’s last win came on July 23.
Indy ins and outs: Danny Bomback continues to rake for the Pittsfield Colonials of the Can-Am League. Bomback followed his 4-for-5 performance on Tuesday with a 2-for-4 night. Bomback is hitting .323 for the season.