Tomlin interview on FanGraphs

"Having conviction on every pitch can make somebody successful even if they don’t have good stuff."

10 months ago cleveland teamer 34 comments 0 recs |

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This philosophy can be applied in single bars, also.

Thanks, don’t forget to tip the waitress.

by Toxicadam on Aug 11, 2011 8:12 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs

Interesting that Brantley is who he goes to for strategy. And that he can’t rely on scouting reports since they really only apply to guys who throw faster than he does.

by cleveland teamer on Aug 11, 2011 8:24 AM EDT reply actions

Good article. I didn’t know that Tomlin’s “out” pitch was a cutter. Somewhat telling that as batters have learned his style, they’ve gone after fastballs early in the count. Wonder if a few of the rough starts he had were a result of a different approach at the plate or Tomlin just missing his spots/guessing wrong.

Watching Tomlin pitch the rest of this is something i’m really interested in, because I can’t predict with any kind of success whether he can maintain his current trajectory. He’s completely acceptable as a #4/#5, but walks such a tight rope to be able to maintain that success.

"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"

by Gradysmanldy on Aug 11, 2011 10:23 AM EDT reply actions

It’s so difficult to say with pitchers like Tomlin whether they can manage to sustain success, since any fall-off in command or velocity could mean the difference between success and AAA. But Josh seems to have everything you’d want in a pitcher besides stuff – defends his position very well, excellent command of his pitches, controls the running game, and seems to have a good idea of how to attack hitters. Mark Buerhle has made a nice career for himself with a similar skill set.

by Ryan on Aug 11, 2011 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

He basically has to walk no one to survive int he Majors.

by Roger Dorn on Aug 11, 2011 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions

And a decent sample size seems to indicate he can do that for the most part.

by ahowie on Aug 13, 2011 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Really interesting piece. Minimally, it offers some confidence that Tomlin is obviously very smart and working at his game constantly. Then again, he’s not an outlier in that way—Sowers, Bannister, a number of guys with fringe stuff have found that, eventually, the talent deficit eats them up. Tomlin’s got his control; let’s hope it’s enough.

by afh4 on Aug 11, 2011 10:40 AM EDT reply actions

Excellent interview by Tomlin; none of the typical athlete drivel and cliches. So nice to find a professional athlete who isn’t a bumbling idiot.

Fear the Fedora.

by MooneysRebellion on Aug 11, 2011 12:13 PM EDT reply actions

And can brawl in bars!

by JulioBernazard on Aug 12, 2011 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow, this is way longer than I expected—have to finish it later, but really like it so far.

"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady

by westbrook on Aug 11, 2011 1:19 PM EDT reply actions

TWSS?

by McWahoo on Aug 11, 2011 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions

eww. Actually, I was wrong. Most of what I thought was the article were comments.

"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady

by westbrook on Aug 12, 2011 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m not sure I would really appreciate being compared to Paul Byrd, (admitted) porno addict and (denied, but fairly well documented) HGH user.
But with mediocre stuff, and not breaking through as a full-time starter until age 28, Byrd did last 14 seasons in the bigs and accumulated 109 wins over 1700 IP. He was mediocre but abided (thanks to pharma.com?)
Now, should Tomlin develop a (really) good change, he could be in business. Very much so. I just hope he doesn’t try some hackneyed old-school double-pump windup.

by DocNo on Aug 11, 2011 1:53 PM EDT reply actions

Paul Byrd was considered one of the nicest guys in the game.
*Paul Byrd stood tall when needed in 2007.
***Not sure that I did not miss the mark conerning JT and his changeup.

by DocNo on Aug 11, 2011 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

…and that wasn’t a subject line.

by DocNo on Aug 11, 2011 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m a huge fan of Paul Byrd, the person. Not so much the pitcher.

"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"

by Gradysmanldy on Aug 11, 2011 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Not the pitcher? I thought he was entertaining as hell. In fact, I enjoyed watching Paul Byrd pitch more than CC Sabathia in 2007.

by Toxicadam on Aug 11, 2011 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh dear God, Paul Byrd watched porn?!?!?!

Lou Marson fan. Jason Donald advocate.

by Gradyforpresident on Aug 11, 2011 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Like you haven’t.

Our best players wear suits.

by mauichuck on Aug 11, 2011 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Jesus, my sarcasto-meter must be broke. Disregard.

Our best players wear suits.

by mauichuck on Aug 11, 2011 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

When we’re using the internet—like now—we’re only one click away from an infinite supply of porn. Carl Sagan would be awestruck at the immensity of it all. It reasons that Byrd must not be alone in that universe.

by jhon on Aug 11, 2011 6:39 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

Billions and billions of porn.

by Jay on Aug 11, 2011 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

The primordial… soup.

by jhon on Aug 11, 2011 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I loved the double-pump windup, much more than Matsui did.

by JulioBernazard on Aug 12, 2011 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Wait, is this about porn or pitching?

Formerly fwembt, now co-moderator of Banners on the Parkway

by Brad D on Aug 16, 2011 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions

on whether he relies on scouting reports:

JT: Actually, not a whole lot. There aren’t too many guys in the big leagues who are like me. If Justin Masterson pitched the day before and I saw that a certain guy couldn’t hit a fastball inside, well, his fastball was sinking at 97 mph. A guy not hitting an inside fastball off Justin Masterson gives me no report at all, because I don’t have 97 with sink. I kind of just watch swings against myself and see what guys are trying to do. For me, a lot of [pitch selection] is based on reading swings.

favorite part. love this guy.

by tr1betime on Aug 11, 2011 2:31 PM EDT reply actions

yeah…I appreciated that comment as well.

by DocNo on Aug 11, 2011 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions

A man’s gotta know his limitations.

by emd2k3 on Aug 13, 2011 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions

quantity => quality

by APV on Aug 11, 2011 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks for posting. I’m going to wish Tomlin even more success. So much to like about him- apparently humble, knows himself, understands how to pitch, never appears the least bit rattled, took advantage of the opportunity given him, fields his position well. He fits very well on this staff, especially after the addition of Ubaldo.
He does walk a fine line, but I wouldn’t bet against him not improving. He’s made it this far, why can’t he get better?

by DanMac on Aug 11, 2011 3:36 PM EDT reply actions

Be the pitch, Mitch

OCab is no longer my bête noire.

by stuart dean on Aug 11, 2011 6:12 PM EDT reply actions

I rarely, if ever, read or listen to pro athlete’s interviews. The thought is that the words of a 25 year old, let alone one whose view of the world has been slanted by adulation since age fifteen are not worth the morass of listen for the alltoo occasional gem.
Josh is that gem that I’m happy that I paused to pick up.

OCab is no longer my bête noire.

by stuart dean on Aug 11, 2011 6:43 PM EDT reply actions