4. Had a chance to sit down with Savannah Sand
Gnats SP Michael Fulmer yesterday. Michael is a
very confident young man that just came off his best professional outing (.083
OBA). Everything he throws revolves around his 4-seamer, which sits in the low
90s and hits 95 on a hot day. His game is control and it’s remarkable how much
he already has. I asked him what pitch he uses to set up the fast ball and he
said that “it depends upon the batter”. He told me that he had spent a
considerable amount of time with his pitching coach, Frank Viola, and the many
coaches in extended camp during spring training. He loosened up some of his
mechanics while he also worked on keeping his foot directed to the plate. “My
job is to pound the zone’, said Michael. And I’m most comfortable throwing
another 4-seamer as my go-two pitch, right after the first one. It’s all about
confidence, said Fulmer, who turned 19 four months ago. If you ask me his repertoire
is 4-seam, 4-seam, change-up, curve. He’s much more comfortable with his
change-up now and we saw it earlier this week being used with that ‘C’ word
again, confidence. “You know, said Michael, “I used to throw a 10-6 in high
school and it’s not even part of my repertoire.” Observation: I felt like I was talking with a recent
college junior that is playing his second pro season. His pitching is very
impressive, but the man beats the pitcher. Damn, I forgot to show him a picture
of my granddaughter.
5. I also spend a few
minutes with new Gnats SS Matt Reynolds. This
looks like a great pick and he’s already settled in as the everyday shortstop (6-1,
200 pound junior out of Arkansas). I asked him the obvious 3B/SS question and
he reminded me that he played short in high school and started at short in his
freshman year for the Razorbacks. I really liked him in the field and he seemed
to play a little deeper, hugging towards third to help out Aderlin Rodriguez.
6. Lastly, talked with 1B Brian Harrison through the fence. He had been moved
from third base to first the last time we talked and he was stuck in a season
beginning slump. That seemed to end the day after I talked to him (yeah right).
Seriously, Brian said he just loosened up and concentrated on hitting once he
moved to the other side of the infield. We both laughed and I left telling him
to just have fun out there. He did, having two key hits in the first game of
the doubleheaders. Observation: It looks to me that he owns first base
right now in Savannah, but you have to know he checks the box scores every day
to see how Jayce Boyd did in Brooklyn. There is nobody in the way of Harrison
and I hope he gets some time in Lucy before the season ends.
7. I’m thrilled to tell
you that Wally Murphy has returned to Mack’s
Mets. Wally has attended every Gnats games for nine years and, in the
past, he posted his recap for each of the home games. It’s an early morning
post and it’s all Wally. Please welcome back an original Mack’s Mets writer.
10. 56 Twitter followers (down one)
(#JohnMackinAde). Welcome Channel Rick.
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