http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-white-so...wo-futures-game

 

Struck out 2 in the futures game...projecting more as a reliever. With the Sox hurting for relief, maybe this is the time to bring him up? I honestly would hate to see them trade away talent for relief pitching from another team unless that relief is under control for a few years. Looks like Fulmer though isn't going to be a starter, according to his own words in this article anyway.

 

Thoughts? Should they keep him down there a little longer or bring him up now?

In no way should we give up on him as a starter, but yes, fine if he comes up as reliever this year.

 

This is worth developing:

"After he struggled early in the season, Fulmer has been in a groove. In his last seven starts, Fulmer has a 3.51 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 41 innings. He also has cut down his walk rate almost in half. In his first 46 innings, Fulmer averaged 6.65 walks per nine innings. He has reduced that to 3.73 per nine over the last 41 innings."

I disagree that he's projecting more as a reliever. I think he's a starter long-term.

 

But I agree that a bullpen look THIS year probably makes sense. He struggled at first in AA, made a few adjustments, now he's dialed in. I think you send him to AAA now, and if he still looks good, you put him in the Chicago pen by August. Then he can go to the rotation in 2017.

 

Sox need the bullpen help right now and he could use the experience.

http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-white-so...wo-futures-game

 

Struck out 2 in the futures game...projecting more as a reliever. With the Sox hurting for relief, maybe this is the time to bring him up? I honestly would hate to see them trade away talent for relief pitching from another team unless that relief is under control for a few years. Looks like Fulmer though isn't going to be a starter, according to his own words in this article anyway.

 

Thoughts? Should they keep him down there a little longer or bring him up now?

I don't think his quotes indicate he's being moved to the bullpen.

 

Interviewer: "could you pitch in a bullpen?"

 

Fulmer: "yea, sure."

 

Interviewer: "would you pitch in the bullpen to help the white sox this year?"

 

Fulmer: "yea, sure."

 

If the line of questioning went another way, you would have seen:

 

Interviewer: "Do you believe you can start in the majors at a high level?"

 

Fulmer: "yea, sure."

He belongs in the pen this season to get his feet wet. Then next season he'll start.

I disagree that he's projecting more as a reliever. I think he's a starter long-term.

 

But I agree that a bullpen look THIS year probably makes sense. He struggled at first in AA, made a few adjustments, now he's dialed in. I think you send him to AAA now, and if he still looks good, you put him in the Chicago pen by August. Then he can go to the rotation in 2017.

 

Did you see the Keith Law tweet last night to the effect of "it's good to see Fulmer back to his Vanderbilt delivery"

 

Did he stop doing the delivery changes he was trying out and is that why he's back to his dominance?

Yeah I agree with you guys. Eventually he will be a starter, and the way things are going I think he will be up in the pen by August sometime especially his his numbers keep improving, and whether the Sox are winning or not. If they are winning...great. They will need the pen help and I would rather have Fulmer in there than Ynoa or Beck or Kahnle...etc. If they are losing and out of the race...the experience couldn't hurt even if he gets knocked around a bit or has control issues. If he does indeed make it as a starter, a rotation of Sale, Q, Rodon Shields and Fulmer (by mid 2017?) doesn't look too shabby. There are a lot of "ifs" in that projected rotation, such as Rodon's continued development and Shields' questionable stability, and obviously Fulmer's development, but what rotation doesn't have some questions?

I disagree that he's projecting more as a reliever. I think he's a starter long-term.

 

But I agree that a bullpen look THIS year probably makes sense. He struggled at first in AA, made a few adjustments, now he's dialed in. I think you send him to AAA now, and if he still looks good, you put him in the Chicago pen by August. Then he can go to the rotation in 2017.

 

+1

I bet he makes the next start for Rodon,n then moves to the bullpen.

I bet he makes the next start for Rodon,n then moves to the bullpen.

That would be exciting.

That would be exciting.

 

A Sale, Quintana, Shields, Rodon, Fulmer rotation has me all happy inside. The potential there is insane, just a matter of reaching it all together.

Did you see the Keith Law tweet last night to the effect of "it's good to see Fulmer back to his Vanderbilt delivery"

 

Did he stop doing the delivery changes he was trying out and is that why he's back to his dominance?

From my layman eyes, he's got the same delivery he always had (I never saw the "Changed" delivery, if it ever changed). it's rushed and has that hitch.

Hope it doesn't cause any issues.

I bet he makes the next start for Rodon,n then moves to the bullpen.

 

This pleases me.

 

As long as he doesn't get hung out to try like Stanek at the end of the Futures Game, then even a period of failure/adjustment at the big league level SHOULD be helpful to his eventual development.

 

Just not convinced that rushing Fulmer and Burdi into our bullpen isn't eventually going to come back to bite them. So far, they were right on Tim Anderson (except for the patience to accept walks)...but the results are far from conclusive on Carlos Rodon 14-15 months later in terms of his developing the secondary pitches he needed to at BIRM/CHAR to experience sustained success as a starter.