Prior emphasized the urgency for Buehler to refine his delivery and improve his command: 'We need to get better at your delivery. You need to be able to get better at throwing strike one and getting ahead.' His focus was entirely on mastering the basics to enhance performance, especially given Buehler's struggles in returning from Tommy John surgery.
Buehler's frustration grew as he experienced inconsistency with his pitching. He shared, 'There'd be times that I would [command the ball] three or four in a row and be fine or whatever. And then games - whole games - where I couldn't do it at all.' This reflects the mental toll his irregular performance took on him.
Compounded by nearly two years away from the game, Buehler's situation illustrated the challenge of regaining reliable command: 'Instead, he rarely had any reliable stuff to count on at all; grinding through most early-season starts simply hoping batters would get themselves out before they punished mistakes.'
Buehler's attempt to recalibrate his pitching mechanics was underscored by his lack of consistency, leading to frequent struggles on the mound: 'His fastballs were fired like a shotgun, possessing plenty of velocity but little repeatable command. His breaking pitches would be pulled off the plate or left hanging over the middle.'
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