Bucs' Canadian pitcher takes long road
By Rob Biertempfel
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
BRADENTON, Fla. - When he discovered he'd been added to the
Pirates' 40-man roster in the offseason, Dave Davidson felt like he'd
just won the lottery - which, in a way, he had.
Davidson grew up in Ontario, not exactly fertile ground for
producing major-league pitchers. The sport isn't offered in high
schools, so kids must pay to play in the United States, where they can
catch the attention of college and pro scouts.
"It's not a cheap sport, especially when you play in Canada,"
Davidson said Monday. "You see your parents spending $11,000 a summer
when you're 15 years old, hoping in three years they can get it back
through a college scholarship. It's like playing the lotto."
One summer, Davidson was away from home for 42 days in a row. His
team started out in Oklahoma, thn slowly barnstormed its way back
north.
"I guess all that travel kind of got me used to pro ball," he said.
The left-hander was drafted by the Pirates in the 10th round in
2002, but nagging shoulder pain kept him from getting a fast start.
Davidson's rise through the farm system was interrupted again in 2005
by elbow tendinitis.
"Nothing too serious, but enough to keep me from getting a rhythm and from getting my confidence up," Davidson said.
Davidson started last season with Single-A Hickory and finished it
with Double-A Altoona. He went 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA out of Hickory's
bullpen and went 1-1 with a 2.31 ERA in 10 outings for Altoona.
"We've always liked him. He just wasn't able to stay healthy,"
Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield said. "He's a lefty with a
good arm and a good breaking ball, and he can sink the fastball."
The turning point came early in the year in Hickory, when Davidson
altered his arm slot and rediscovered his drop-and-drive style. By
lowering his arm in his delivery, Davidson relieved the strain on his
shoulder and began dominating hitters.
The adjustment gave Davidson a touch more velocity on his fastball.
But, he said, the most important benefit is the consistency he gained.
"Before, one day it was in the 90s (mph) and the next it was 84," he said. "It's more consistent right now, which is good."
Last year, Davidson made his debut in the Arizona Fall League. In
nine appearances, including three starts, he went 2-2 with a 5.17 ERA.
He racked up 14 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings.
A few weeks after the AFL season ended, Davidson got a phone call
from Pirates director of player development Brian Graham. Davidson was
on the 40-man roster for the first time.
"It was a big shock," Davidson said. "After being hurt for the first
three years, I was expecting to get released. I knew that's what it
would come down to if I didn't start producing or at least stay
healthy."
After the fall league, Davidson kept in shape by working out in
Ontario with Scott Bullett, a former outfielder who played with the
Pirates in 1991 and '93.
Bullett runs a baseball training facility for players ages 8 to 18.
Davidson is happy to share his time and knowledge with the kids in
exchange for a spacious, well-equipped place to train.
"After my first year of pro ball, I had to throw in a mall's
upstairs storage area -- in an attic, pretty much -- because there was
nowhere else to throw," Davidson said. "That's how bad it was."
Those days, and the days of his parents forking over a small fortune so Davidson could play, are over.
"The only thing is, my parents got mad when I didn't wake them up at
3:30 in the morning when I found out I'd made the 40-man," Davidson
said. "Their investment paid off."
Bullett Proof Prospects have been very fortunate by having a guest coach with the club for the past week. Martin Ramon, the infield coach and first base coach for the Tabasco Olmecas of the Mexican Professional Baseball League, has been in camp for the past week. Martin will be with the Prospects for another next week as well as travel to Long Island with the team. Martin's expertise with the infielders has already paid dividends as the players have been exposed to pro training rituals and the results in infield play is already evident. Martin also runs a baseball school in Mexico where the top 16-18 year old players in the country are sent to learn the game. The many drills that he has given the coaching staff to work with will no doubt help our players to lift their game to the next level. This is the first of many professional players and coaches the staff at the Bullett Proof Prospects will be bringing into practice sessions over the next year in order that our players can benefit from their vast knowledge of the game. The players and coaching staff thank Martin for his help during practices and games to make our team stronger.
Bullett Proof Prospects wish to extend their congratulations to our own, Coach Dave Davidson. Dave was just added to the forty man roster of the 