Soria might adopt new training technique

DETROIT -- If Joakim Soria is worked similar to a starting pitcher in Spring Training next year, don't be confused. There's absolutely no plan to make him a starter, it'd be just a new training technique.

It's just a possibility being discussed by pitching coach Bob McClure and the Royals' closer.

Soria has struggled more this season than in any previous year with seven blown saves. McClure recalled that, as a Rule 5 rookie in 2007, all of Soria's pitches and his command were very sharp.

"That was the best I had seen him. The reason is, he had been a starter that winter in the Mexican League and he came into Spring Training as a starter where he used all of his pitches," McClure said.

"I just thought that perhaps it might be better for him to go along with the starters -- to a point, maybe four innings -- and then go backwards, so that he's got the feel of all his pitches coming out of Spring Training."

As of now, it's just a thought.

"We're having discussions on that," Soria said. "to find a way that we can throw all my pitches in Spring Training, so we can start with all my pitches sharp. I think it's a good idea. I don't know about the four or five innings, for me that's too much, but we need to find a way."

Soria throws a fastball, curveball, slider, changeup and cutter off his fastball, a large repertoire for a closer.

Manager Ned Yost isn't too concerned with Spring Training just yet but, lest anyone think the old idea about changing Soria into a starter is in the plans, he has a one-word answer: "No."