Price: Adjustments in side session ‘steps in right direction'

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BOSTON - After incorporating some adjustments to his delivery in a Monday side session, Red Sox lefty David Price "felt more normal, more natural'' on the mound.
     
It may have only been a bullpen in between starts, but Price, like pitching coach Carl Willis, noticed that his pitches had better finish to them.
     
"I definitely felt it,'' said Price. "I felt it, just playing catch, before I got into my bullpen.''
     
Teammate Dustin Pedroia noticed in some video Sunday that Price's mechanics were different from past seasons, with his leg lift not as high and his hands set lower.
     
Having reverted back to his old mechanics, Price could feel power to his delivery.
     
"I wasn't getting the drive with my left leg, like I usually do,'' Price noted. "That's where I always get my velo and my finish from, from my legs.”
     
Historically, Price added, his velocity improves as the season progresses. That, and his mechanical fix, should improve his fastball.
     
"Hopefully,'' Price said, "this will be a step in the right direction.
     
Even after just one session, Price said the muscle memory returned. After a while, he didn't have to think about making the correction.
     
"That's what feels natural,'' he said. "Whenever you do something and it feels normal, it's easy to go out there and do it time after time. It's something that I got away from. I feel good. (Monday) and today, I feel are definitely steps in the right direction.''
     
Price has been unhappy with most of his first seven starts this season and the results aren't acceptable to him. But he won't obsess over what's already taken place, either.
     
"It's not going to weigh on me,'' he vowed. "I know things are going to turn around. We're six games over .500 (as a team) and atop the American League (East); that's good. For me to come in and struggle the way that I have and still be 4-1, that's a testament to our offense and our bullpen and how we've come together as a team.
     
"I'm mentally strong. I'm not going to harp on these seven starts or my last start. I'm going to go out there on Thursday and be ready to get after the Astros.''

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