Clueless

Carson Fulmer of the White Sox pitched again Wednesday, which means balls were flying out of the park again.  In 1-2/3 innings against the Brewers, Fulmer gave up seven runs on five hits, two of which stayed in the park, as Hawk Harrelson would say.  After allowing a grand slam to Ryan Braun (the second of Braun’s two homers in two innings), Fulmer grooved one to the next batter.  Wow, you’d think a pitcher would want to avoid back-to-backs after a grand slam.

But was Fulmer worried, you ask?  Was Alfred E. Newman?  “Just a bad outing, Fulmer told reporters after the game.  “I don’t think it’s mechanical.  I’m just catching some of the zone that I’m trying not to do.”  Huh?  What?  If it’s not mechanical, it’s must be head-ical, yes?  When you’re putting pitches where you know you shouldn’t, that’s textbook dumb.

Here’s more from a first-round draft pick sporting a 18.90 ERA with 18 hits and seven homers in 6-2/3 innings this spring:  “It’s a game of inches.  You throw a pitch on the plate a couple more inches that [than?] you wanted, guys are going to barrel it.  It’s frustrating, but I’m definitely in a good place right now.”  Carson, the only place you’re going to be soon is Triple-A Charlotte, if not worse.

For what it’s worth, I’m the same way as a fan as I was a parent.  I insisted my daughter own up to stinking when she did; honesty, especially directed at one’s self, builds character.  Clare learned that, and Avisail Garcia seems to as well.  Garcia failed to run out a ground ball in the first inning of Wednesday’s game, and Sox manager Ricky Renteria promptly benched him.  First, God bless Renteria for expecting all his players to hustle.  Second, listen to Garcia, as opposed to Fulmer.

“Everybody makes mistakes.  You have to be honest with yourself.  You can’t lie to yourself.  I didn’t run, they take me out.  That’s it.”  Garcia didn’t question his manager’s decision.  “No, no.  Learn from it, and that’s it.”  Let me note here that the 6’4”, 240-pound Garcia does not exactly have a sprinter’s build, yet he’s one of, if not the, hardest runners to first on the team.  The slipup was out of character for Garcia, but not the way he accepted the consequences.

Are you listening, Carson?