Mike Leake Not Satisfied

Mike Leake appeared to be the odd man out when the Reds started spring training in 2013.

Leake fought through another experiment for turning Aroldis Chapman into a starting pitcher.  Leake with an admitted chip on his shoulder turned in his best season since breaking in to the majors in 2010 without throwing a pitch in the minor leagues.

http://www.wiedemannbeer.com/

The 26-year old set career bests with 14 wins, 3.37 earned run average, 31 starts, 192.1 innings and 122 strikeouts.  He reduced the number of walks allowed per game from 3.2 to 2.2.

His pitching coach and now manager had lunch with his only pitching coach in professional baseball and now his manager, Bryan Price.

"We both agreed that last year was a good year, but we both feel like there's still more in the tank," Leake said.

Price wants his young pitcher to keep making progress.

"Forget expectations," Price said. "Strive for greatness.  There are no limitations."

Leake put on 13 pounds of muscle since the start of last season, trying to get a little stronger and gain stamina.

For the first time in his career, he is expected to be in the rotation, rather than feeling the need to earn a place.

"He has never been a guy who has backed off the effort level.  He's always been fully committed," Price said.  "He is a guy who looks forward to more responsibility. I think he's going to embrace this.  That being said, there are worse things than a guy who has had success in the big leagues to have the impetus to come in and feel that he has to earn a spot.  Mike isn't the guy that needed that.  There are probably better examples of guys that need the motivation."

Leake was caught up in the numbers game during the Reds' dilemma over the use of Chapman.

"I was always the guy to say we have to start Chapman to see if he could do it," Price said.  "The immediate thought was that Leake would be the odd man out.  It would have made a heck of an environment to make all those guys fit for sure."

Leake feels he can be better prepared without those distractions.

"I have the same mentality, but it is nice not to have that question mark," Leake said.  "Personally I think I pitch a little bit better when I don't have all that pressure.  I can work on things and get ready."