Kumar Rocker didn’t use his changeup much vs. Cubs, Skip Schumaker says he didn’t need to

SURPRISE, Ariz. – There are two ways to look at Kumar Rocker‘s outing Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs:

The first: He didn’t spend a lot of time on his big spring project, folding in his changeup.

The second: When his primary stuff is as good as it was, who cares about the changeup?

In four innings against the Cubs, following Jacob deGrom, Rocker threw first-pitch strikes to 12 of the 15 hitters he faced. He struck out five and didn’t walk anybody. He threw 76.6% of his 47 pitches for strikes. He retired the first seven batters he faced and the last four, too. His four-seam fastball averaged 96.2 mph and his sinker was even harder at 96.4 mph.

Rangers

“The best I’ve seen him in spring,” manager Skip Schumaker said. “It’s probably the best I’ve seen him live, quite honestly, regular season, spring training, whatever. There was intent behind every pitch. The mound presence was really good. His cutter was good. The sinker was 97-98 mph. So, just overall, the best day I’ve seen.”

But about that changeup, he threw only three. He’s thrown only five this spring in 115 pitches. If he’s going to navigate through lineups a second or third time as a starter, isn’t he going to need that …

Maybe it was just because Schumaker had a flight to catch to see his family on the off day, but he didn’t wait for the rest of the question to answer.

“He was throwing 98 miles an hour with good sink, good teeth, had the four-seamer at the top of the zone, good cutters and good sliders,” Schumaker interjected. “I mean, he had a very good pitch mix. He was on it. So, yeah, all the four other things were working today, and he got an out with the change up. So I thought it was really good.”

The answer was also a very good illustration of proper management style: Focus on what guys do well, not what they don’t.

The changeup is a project and may well be one during the year, but he had plenty to work with. Though he allowed two runs on a homer, a pair of singles and a sac fly in his third inning of work, it was the sharpest he’s looked this spring as he tries to keep his name in the competition for the final spot in the rotation.

Jacob Latz has been very good this spring, Rocker has been inconsistent. Rocker may have been running out of time, but he responded with the kind of outing that probably guarantees another look before any decisions are made.

“I feel like I’m in a good spot,” Rocker said after the outing. “It’s just about consistency for me and playing winning baseball. I think it was a good mix going into it.

“I think [the changeup] is in a good spot. I got some good results with it today [a ground out]. I’m gonna keep using it and mixing it, but I’m not going [to force] it. I think the game will kind of determine when to throw it and when not to.”

On Tuesday, the game determined that the rest of his repertoire was plenty.

There will be another start to show more of the changeup. Unless, of course, he’s able to repeat his command of Monday.

If so, who cares about anything else?

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