FORT MYERS – A Swiss Army Knife.
You hear it a lot when it comes to sports, meaning the more you can do, the better your chances of hanging around and adding value.
In terms of a baseball pitcher, it’s not, the role of, say, Gerrit Cole. And it definitely is not going to get you Cole’s bank account.
But at 27, Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock is apparently OK with it.
In fact, he’s OK with everything right now.
“Whether AC [Alex Cora] gives me the ball in the first inning, the third inning, the eighth inning, the ninth inning, it doesn’t matter,” said Whitlock. “I’m at the point where … just give me the ball.”
Whitlock has intimated this view before. But it seems to have taken over his being in 2024, the second year of a four-year, $18.75 million deal giving up four years of arbitration.
He said he harkened back to a discussion he had when he was a Yankee in 2020 with journeyman pitcher Adam Warren.
“He told me that once you accept your role, especially a role like the one I have, it empowers you,” said Whitlock. “He was right. I’ve sort of always pitched with a chip on my shoulder. I honestly don’t care when I get the ball.”
Another focal point this season going forward is for Whitlock to do a better job of not being so hard on himself after a tough outing. And not get too high after a good one.
“This year is 366 days, a leap year. The season is 186 days. That’s a long season,” said Whitlock. “Have a good day, flush it. Have a bad day, flush it. Consistency, for me, is the key.”
So is, of course, health.
“Best I’ve felt in a long time,” said Whitlock, who has battled right elbow soreness for big chunks of 2023, realizing he was 4½ years removed Tommy John surgery. “I’m healthy. And I’m ready to do whatever this team needs.”
Well, “this” particular team appears to need a lot, all across the board, including elite pitching, in all of the departments – starting, long relief, set-up men and closing.
Whitlock’s role is unspecified at the time. He could be any one of those roles – remember, Red Sox have apparently dangled closer Kenley Jensen.
Thursday’s outing may have possibly changed things as the rotation and bullpen begins to come to fruition as to who is doing what, where and when.
Whitlock was, well, electric. He started the game and the first eight batters went down like Humpty Dumpty, five by way of strikeout. Two bloop hits and a line drive to right scored a run before he got his sixth strikeout.
“I felt really good, worked all of my pitches,” said Whitlock of the start. “The strikeouts was surprising. I’m not a strikeout pitcher.”
Which brings us back to Whitlock’s “role” in 2024.
In fact, after his outing on Thursday he was asked by a reporter does this put him in “starter” discussion.
He laughed about it afterward.
“Nobody believes me, but I don’t care,” said Whitlock. “Personally, I’m looking at the game through a kid’s eye, rather than a job. Every kid wants to be doing what we’re doing.”
Whitlock, like all of his teammates, have heard the rumblings of the Red Sox being predicted to finish last in the American League East for a third straight year.
“You know what? The Yankees, Orioles, Rays and Blue Jays all have something in common with us. We’re all 0-0 right now.”
Whitlock’s focus is to have fun and, of course, surprise a lot of people.
“My job is to entertain, make fans happy,” said Whitlock. “The best way that can happen, in Boston, is winning games.”
You can email Bill Burt at bburt@eagletribune.com