In yesterday's B Game against the Tigers, Felipe Paulino dropped the hammer in the first inning:
In the first inning, he struck out all three batters he faced, throwing only 11 pitches. He was throwing strikes at the knees and consistently at 95-to-96 mph on the radar gun. He touched 97 mph in the second inning, but he lost his command and walked two batters.
When he was done, he had thrown 42 pitches (21 strikes) and allowed one run and one hit.
Wade:
"I thought he really threw well. I was certainly encouraged."
That command is going to have to be more consistent, but it's good to see him start off the Spring with that kind of velocity. It's way too early to make any judgments about pitchers, but I'm good with this.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
