Michael Fulmer was so frustrated after his third start of the spring on Tuesday, "frustrated as all get-out," that he went directly to the weight room after being yanked in the third inning to blow off some steam.
"Ultimately," said A.J. Hinch, "it wasn't a good day for him."
Nor has it been a good spring.
"Lackluster," said Fulmer, "to say the least."
This is regarding the results, which are all that really matter regarding what's at stake. Fulmer allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while throwing 63 pitches (32 strikes) over two-plus innings of work in Detroit's loss to the Yankees. Not the kind of outing that will boost his chances of landing in the Tigers' rotation.
"I want to earn my spot in the rotation and feel like I earned my job. And right now, it doesn’t feel that way," Fulmer said. "But I’m starting to get there and I really do think we’re getting closer and closer."
Hitting the weights must have helped. Between leaving the mound and meeting with reporters, Fulmer came around on his performance. He said he was much more pleased with his execution than last time out when he gave up seven runs, including three homers, in two innings against the Blue Jays.
"I just want to say that first off, I need to be better. For sure. But today was honestly encouraging," Fulmer said. "I thought execution was a lot better and the things that I could control were a lot better. Instead of trying to pitch up in the zone and elevating balls middle, I felt like I commanded the ball better, my misses were a little better, kept guys off balance. Wanted to go into today and use that mix a lot better."
Fulmer's new mix is necessitated by his new reality. Still missing the mid-to-upper 90's heat he possessed prior to Tommy John surgery in the spring of 2019, he's relying on a heavier dose of soft stuff at the advice of pitching coach Chris Fetter. Not only that, he's working on different combinations. Not only that, he's refining his delivery. Fulmer said Fetter has opened his eyes to analytics "I've never heard of or looked at or done before."
Fulmer threw 39 curveballs, sliders or changeups on Tuesday compared to 24 fastballs or sinkers. Sometimes he threw three breaking balls in a row. His fastball sat around 92 mph. That's not the pitcher who won AL Rookie of the Year in 2016. That pitcher might be gone for good.
"Let’s be honest, I’m a different pitcher than I was a few years ago. There’s no denying that," said Fulmer, now 28. "I’m trying to learn on the fly like I was last year, trying to learn new sequencing and different quadrants of the strike zone that I’m usually not working in. Trying to get a better mix in there with more curveballs and changeups. But today was really good and I’m encouraged going forward. There’s just a few more tweaks I need to make."
Fulmer entered camp penciled into the Tigers' rotation. Right now, he's probably destined for the bullpen. Matthew Boyd, Spencer Turnbull, Jose Urena, Tarik Skubal and Julio Teheran look like the five best starters, and Casey Mize would likely get the nod over Fulmer in a six-man rotation. Hinch is trying to win games this season. Fulmer won't be getting the ball in the first inning until he proves he's ready.
"And that’s the way I want it to be," Fulmer said. "Nothing’s given in this organization -- A.J. mentioned that his first day here."
As the season moves along and Fulmer continues to build up arm strength, maybe his velocity will return. Plenty of pitchers have recovered from Tommy John to throw harder than they did before. In the meantime, Fulmer is trying to make do with what he's got. He's got a few more starts this spring to bring it all together, to prove a new approach can produce the results of old.