Atlanta Braves option Mike Foltynewicz to Gwinnett
By Fred Owens
This isn’t regression; he’s lost
Prior to the 2018 season, Foltynewicz was either very good or couldn’t locate his pitches. When he started well, his confidence grew, and he improved as the game went forward.
When he started poorly, his emotions took over. He broadcast his displeasure for all to see whenever an umpire would miss a call. The more his missed, the worse his mechanics became.
9. 90. 13. 17. Final
All of that vanished in 2018; he became a father over the winter and spoke of how that made him reevaluate everything. This year the bad body language and visible anger at himself is back, as manager Brian Snitker explained to Mark Bowman.
"“I thought he had turned the corner, but I’m seeing signs this year of him going right back to where he was two or three years ago. Nobody can take care of that other than him. He has to be the one who controls that.”"
Foltynewicz knows what he’s doing and that it looks bad, but as he told David O’Brien, he wants to win so badly that failure forces those emotions to the surface.
#Braves' Foltynewicz: "I’ve got a 7 ERA (6.37) on a 1st-place team. I’m battling every single night. It’s just tough. It’s just the person I am, I’m gonna wear that stuff on my sleeve out there. Especially when things aren’t going my way. It’s tough. It’s all my fault too...(1/2)
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) June 23, 2019
Foltynewicz cont. (2/2): "... I’m just missing my spots, walking people. So I’m going to get mad at myself when I know I can get people out easier than I have been. It just sucks. End of story."
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) June 23, 2019
It’s not his head, but his emotions don’t help
When things don’t go his way, the big righty can be his own worst enemy.
#Braves pitching coach Rick Kranitz on emotions affecting Foltynewicz on mound: "I think it affects anybody, when you get overemotional and you start to overthrow and you do get out of your mechanics. Every pitcher in the game needs to be able to keep emotions in check.”
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) June 23, 2019
Assuming someone can turn off strong emotions at will, underestimates the underlying power of those emotions. A pitcher who allows the batter to see his struggles gives an advantage to the hitter and affects his teammates. No simple fix exists, but the big redhead must find a way to manage them more efficiently.
Anyone know a mechanic?
Foltynewicz isn’t injured, his skipper made it a point to check that immediately.
More Snitker on #Braves' Folty: "He’s healthy. I asked him that, too. He’s healthy. Hopefully get him in a situation where he can get on a roll, get some confidence.”
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) June 23, 2019
Lack of an injury to point to brings us back to his mechanics. I discussed the radical change in the way Mike sets up last month.
"Mechanically Mike’s a different pitcher this season than last, that’s certainly the cause. We aren’t talking a different hand position (though it is) or moving on the rubber, once he begins his motion everything is different."
He acknowledged as much, and his next start showed signs of improvement. The old, successful mechanics didn’t appear, but he pitched well enough to indicate there had a ticket home. Now it seems those mechanics took a wrong turn at Albuquerque.