Two players with bright futures debuted in new roles for the Chicago White Sox this week. Carson Fulmer took the mound in his first start for the big-league club on Monday while Lucas Giolito ascended to the majors for the South Siders after a bumpy ride with the Washington Nationals late last summer.
Giolito was outstanding on Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins considering he threw over 70 percent fastballs – and not the kind that tail; he went with the straight four-seamer.
“I felt relaxed,” Giolito said after the game as reported by Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago. “I felt confident the whole time.”
Perhaps confidence was behind Giolito’s love affair with the fastball on Tuesday. Debuting in a new city in a new league, Omar Narvaez and Rick Renteria were wise in going to the well so many times.
“He made a lot of good pitches (with the fastball). Every time we worked behind he just came back with the fastball,” said Narvaez.
Giolito admitted he didn’t have a feel for his curveball and instead of letting counts dictate pitch selection, the pair challenged Twins hitters with stuff and location.
“I feel like my stuff plays. … I was able to command the fastball pretty well, but fastball-changeup was pretty much all I had,” offered Giolito.
There is little value in forcing youngsters to develop too quickly given the rate of the White Sox climb back to contention. Giolito’s reliance on straight stuff illustrates the strength behind the idea of locating pitches and allowing youngsters to continue developing in the big leagues.
Giolito closed his south-side debut with four strikeouts over six innings without a walk. He fired 65 percent of his pitches for strikes; a figure many would like to see higher, but outstanding for his debut.
Since the end of last season, the youngster has been rediscovering his mechanics after failed experiments by the Nationals’ coaching staff to smooth out his delivery. It is certainly possible that Giolito’s effectiveness is a product of his unorthodox throwing motion, but sooner or later he must address these mechanical flaws to avoid injury.
The Nationals undoubtedly wanted to avoid shoulder troubles with their mechanical submissions and their willingness to separate from the heralded prospect appears to suggest their concern. Giolito has a long separation in the back of his delivery and lands closed on his front foot. Thus, he must throw across his body to get to his release point – which is remarkably consistent considering the hurdles to such regularity.
Fortunately for Giolito, he was blessed with strong leverage points and length that may insulate him from tragedy. Many major-leaguers possess talent beyond skill that allows them to get away with faults that would otherwise hamper their results. Yet, the body withers over time and to avoid an abbreviated career, Giolito must address his mechanical flaws.
