Fulmer, Tigers Not Overly Concerned With Increased Workload
By Will Burchfield @Burchie_kid
DETROIT (CBS DETROIT) - The cloud hanging over Michael Fulmer's brilliant rookie season is that the 23-year-old is working against the clock.
But time might not be ticking as quickly as some assumed.
Though the Tigers still intend to limit the rookie's workload, neither Fulmer nor Brad Ausmus feels like the end of the line is near. Fulmer says he has never felt better with this much mileage on his arm and Ausmus feels the team can ride him through the end of the season assuming they take the necessary precautions.
Last year, between High-A and Double-A, Fulmer threw 124.2 innings. He has thrown 112.2 this year between Triple-A Toledo and Detroit, with just about 100 of those coming with the Tigers. Before Tuesday night's game against the White Six, Fulmer said his arm is no worse for the wear.
"This is the best I've felt past 100 innings in my career," he said.
Ausmus took that comment with a grain of salt, saying it would be against Fulmer's nature to suggest otherwise, but he expressed the same kind of optimism in the rookie's availability moving forward.
"We looked at it today, we looked at his innings and the number of pitches he's thrown, and we feel like he's alright," Ausmus said.
"Quite frankly, in terms of pitches thrown, he's actually in really good shape," he added later.
The Tigers haven't yet decided on a hard cap for Fulmer, be it in the form of an innings limit or a pitches limit. The righty figures to make about about ten more starts this season, which would likely translate to about sixty more innings.
It remains to be seen if fatigue will be a factor, but Ausmus believes Fulmer has the physical makeup to handle the increased workload.
"There's a big difference between 125 innings and 200 innings, but I've said all along I do think he's got a frame, a body type that can probably handle a little bit more stress. He's not 6'4, 195 pounds, so we factor that in as well," Ausmus said.
Furthermore, the Tigers can buy him additional rest simply by taking advantage of the schedule. Whenever the team has an off day, Ausmus explained, they are likely to push back Fulmer's next start.
Between Fulmer's sturdy build and the team's careful management of his usage, Ausmus is confident the Tigers can keep him on the mound through the duration of the regular season.
"I'm not looking at some date on the calendar going there's no way he's going to get past that date. I think he can make it all the way through, quite frankly, as long as we're smart about it with off days," Ausmus said.
For Fulmer, restrictions on his workload aren't a concern. He knows the decision is ultimately beyond his control and is simply trying to make the most of the opportunities he's given.
"I just try to pitch when they tell me to," he said.
Fulmer pitched mostly in a six-man rotation prior to being traded to the Tigers at last year's trade deadline. But he finished out the season in a five-man rotation with the Double-A Sea Wolves, a change he credited with improving his stamina.
"It's actually helped a lot. I feel like I'm bouncing back better. My routine I've kind of refined a little bit, and just every fifth day as long as I'm on that rollercoaster going back up and peaking on that fifth day, everything feels great," he explained.
Fulmer said he has dialed things back in his bullpen sessions between each start, focusing more on getting in his work than pushing his arm. This has allowed him to find a steady groove whereby he is in top physical condition each time he takes the mound.
"I'm making sure I peak on my bullpen day and then get a couple days off and peak on my start again," said Fulmer.
Ultimately the Tigers may have to rein Fulmer in to keep him fresh down the line. Starts like the one he made last Wednesday in Boston, where he pitched deep into the eighth inning, are likely to be few and far between. Still, with two months to go in the regular season, there is plenty of sand in the hourglass for the burgeoning ace.
And that has Fulmer excited for what's to come.
"I love this team and I love this organization. I love the guys around me, they've helped me so much. I hope that I can keep getting wins for the team," he said.