Jason Frasor on resurrecting his career with the Change - up!  Rather than worrying about the entire grip and motion, Frasor was taught to concentrate only on the middle finger while throwing the pitch. Frasor applies more pressure with that finger while bringing his arm around and then he concentrates on how the ball feels spinning off the finger as he releases. Just like that, Frasor had his new weapon.

Hitters can't sit and wait for Frasor's fastball, especially now that the pitcher is beginning to gain even more control over the changeup as a strikeout pitch. As a result, Frasor's confidence is admittedly higher than it's been in his career. Frasor's transformation is one reason why Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said he believes the changeup is the best pitch in baseball.

"This kid gained a lot of confidence last year and he was successful," Gaston said. "You'd give him the ball and he did a great job for us. He really just got over the hump last year."

Gaston is considering Frasor, Scott Downs and Kevin Gregg for the primary closer's job this spring. Frasor said he will be comfortable in any role during the upcoming season, but he admitted that working in the ninth inning is something he would enjoy doing again.

"It's the best role," Frasor said. "If I had that role again, I'm honored to have that, because there's some pretty good pitchers on this team."

In past springs with Toronto, Frasor sometimes doubted he would even make the Opening Day roster. Here he is, six years later, ranked fifth in franchise history in games finished and sixth all-time in appearances. If Frasor pitches in 58 games this year, he will join Blue Jays greats Duane Ward, Tom Henke and Dave Stieb as the only pitchers to appear in at least 400 games for the club.

Frasor is amazed he has lasted this long.

"I can't believe I'm here," he said. "I was supposed to be released from the Blue Jays many, many times from what I hear, from what I've read. All of a sudden, I'm going on my seventh year with these guys and I love it here."

That said, Frasor knows he has a great opportunity ahead as a free agent after this year.

"It's exciting," he said. "I feel as good now and as confident as I've ever been in my stuff. I don't think I throw as hard as I did in '04 or '05, but that's all right. I have a changeup."

Excerpt from the Toronto Blue Jays.  bluejays.mlb.com