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Show ' By TOM HARALDSEN Clipper Sports Editor Kelly Downs hoping for August return . San Francisco Giants ace Kelly Downs, the Viewmont High graduate, is still in the process of recovering from his latest arm prob-lems.andcouldretum prob-lems.andcouldretum to the majors just in time fa-the pennant stretch stret-ch drive in August and Sq)tember. That's the word from Giants' officials here, where Downs is laboring labor-ing with me AAA Phoenk Firebirds ari learning a new delivery that could save his career. Downs, 28, had trouble with his right shoulder last year as well, despite a fine 13-9 record when he went on the disabled list in August By then, the pitching poor Giants were out of the National League West race any way. He- began this season with two impressive wins, but went on the DL again in early May and came to Phoenix for rehabilitation. He hada strong outing on May 17, but the following outing produced more pain and just 1-13 innings before he had to leave the game. -Downs hasn't pitched since. Now, under Firebird pitching coach Marty DeMerritt, Downs is reconstructing his delivery. Instead of throwing, across his body, which was putting tremendous pressure on his shoulder muscle, Downs has modified his delivery to use more of his legs and upper torso to slow down after a pitch. ,n Downs was quoted in the Arizona Republic, as saying, "It's real hard, like breaking a bad habit I've done so niany 'dry' drills where you just go through your windup without throwing the baseball It looks stupid, but what you're doing is re-educating your body and your muscles." . :; , - The change in style may lengthen his career, and Giants' officials feel it won't alter his effectiveness. Club president Al Rosen said he hopes Downs can be back by August, a critical time as the Giants try to hold off surprising Houston in the race for the division crown. Speaking of sports, I've had a few inquiries about some of the questions I asked in last week's column on walking for fun and fat " loss. In no particular order, the answers are: the sprinkler head -was broken, the leaves fell anyway, a banana peel, and yes. Tiffin did see me, but she jogged by my house on Saturday anyway. Oh, and no, I still haven't been invited back to walk by my friend in Sugarhouse.- Next week, we'll discuss either the softball team of coaches which has risen from the ashes, or the weight loss clinic where those on diets refuse to walk up one flight of stairs to the second floor. Stay tuned. |