Source: Denver Post

Rockies right-hander Jeremy Guthrie says he doesn't need a complete overhaul, just some basic adjustments to make him a reliable starter.

"I'm healthy, but I'm just not executing pitches as well as I need to," Guthrie said Friday. "My biggest problem is that I am not throwing strikes early, and when I get behind in counts I'm throwing meaty pitches."

The Diamondbacks hammered Guthrie for seven runs on 11 hits in 3 innings Tuesday night in Phoenix, inflating his ERA to 6.35. The 12 home runs he has given up are tied for second-most in the National League.

But manager Jim Tracy continues to say Guthrie is an important cog in the rotation, and Guthrie insists he can fix what's broken.

"I'm optimistic, because what I am doing wrong is so glaring, that when you do fix it, it puts the pitcher in a position to succeed," he said. "I'm not that far away. I just have to be better in the zone early in the count."

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