I don't think Ned has changed at all. He's just managing to the situation a bit more because the team is in contention. Dave Bush was unable to get through the 7th inning the other day, but he had to use the bullpen that extra frame. As for going to the mound, it doesn't take a pitching coach to say throw strikes. Carlos is probably spent until Friday now because it took him so many pitches to get through 2 innings. Claudio aims for the black almost every pitch...there's nothing wrong with a corner, or dare I say, the outside third of the plate. Rickie has simply been Barnwellishly bad the past couple weeks. I think he's still hurt, they say his mechanics got messed up when he was hurt, whatever. Maybe a few days in the cage will help, or maybe he'll admit he's still in pain if he has to take 200 swings a day in practice. That's why we have Tony and Craig.