"Most guys probably give up before they spend enough time to perfect their skills," Stottlemyre said.
Stottlemyre changed the grip on Small's sinker. Columbus pitching coach Gil Patterson also worked with Small, whom he knew from the Athletics and Diamondbacks organizations. He moved him from the third-base side of the pitching rubber to the first-base side, and they tinkered with a cut fastball.
"`He's going to make them rip that uniform off his back, he loves it so much," Patterson said. "You wonder why someone didn't give him a chance earlier. You know it's because he doesn't throw 94, 95 [mph].''
Even with a fastball topping out at 91mph, Small struck out Scott Podsednik and Juan Uribe of the Chicago White Sox three times each on Aug. 10. Yankees manager Joe Torre repeatedly has said New York would be sunk if not for Small and Shawn Chacon, another midseason pitching addition.
Small rarely shakes off Yankees catcher Jorge Posada. He keeps the ball down, which has been the key.
"He gives me a lot to work with," Posada said. "He does everything possible to keep them off balance. He obviously works both sides of the plate. His location is unbelievable -- when I want the ball up or the ball down, he hits my mitt pretty much consistent. And that's why he's doing what he's doing."
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