News
ChopTalk: Medlen open to any role
Braves pitcher looks back at whirlwind season
By Kris Medlen / Special to MLB.com
10/10/09 2:55 PM EST
This season has gone by really fast. The first month in Gwinnett, I was doing well, and whenever you're doing well, it seems like time flies. Then, all of a sudden, I was up here in Atlanta. Switching roles, too, made things go by fast.I started in Spring Training as a reliever, then went to Gwinnett and started and came up here starting, but, in the back of my mind, knowing it wouldn't last too long. I had an idea I would go to the 'pen when Tommy [Hanson] was called up, and we knew it would happen eventually.
The relieving thing has gotten in my blood. As a reliever, it's harder to use all your pitches. You have to establish your fastball and throw strikes.
It's hard to do that using all four pitches. Starting gave me a chance to use my changeup a lot, and it's become my go-to pitch.
The biggest difference between the big leagues and Minor Leagues is probably the work ethic. The skill level in the Major Leagues is high, but there are guys [in the Minors] who can hit the ball as far or further than some of the guys in the Majors. Down there, I think you can get by on talent. But up here, everyone is talented, and it's the work ethic that makes the difference.
If they ask you to pitch three days in a row, it doesn't matter. I want to be in there when the game matters, and I was put in that situation (Sept.1-3 at Florida). I thought, "Wow, three days in a row. I've never done this before. I'm going to find out if I can."
I felt good in the 'pen, but when I got in there, my pitches came out a little flat. [Brian] McCann said, "When you pitch in relief like that, your stuff is going to be a little different. You have to learn how to deal with it." It was my first time, and hopefully, there will be other times.
I honestly don't have a preference between starting and relieving. I like pitching. I'm a versatile guy, and I just want to be in a position to help my team. I want the guys to trust me with that job.
When I was first up, I doubted myself. The transition to the Atlanta Braves was mental, all mental. It was a shock, especially coming up as a starter. I always expected to be called up as a reliever, because it's what I've done.
My outing in Los Angeles was the biggest, best experience for me, because I grew up there going to Dodger games. I probably had 35 people there, family and buddies from high school. I got to pitch two days in a row, both pretty big situations, and I was on. I struck out Manny Ramirez and was like, "You've got to be kidding me, right?" It was just a cool experience, and I felt completely at home on the mound.
It was the opposite of my debut. Now that I see how starters get ready, I can see how I set myself up [for trouble]. Normally, starters are still throwing after the national anthem, but I was ready to go five to 10 minutes before the anthem. Roger McDowell looked at me and said, "Slow down."
That day went by like that. I was not feeling it at all. I threw two wild pitches, one of them in the other batter's box. That had never happened to me before. It was a type of nerves I've never felt.
I went through the whole first half questioning my ability. Then I got a spot start in Colorado, when Javy Vazquez hurt his abdominal muscle and David Ross was catching. I gave up a home run and then went 1-2-3, then gave up another home run and went 1-2-3. Ross yelled at me in the dugout and said, "You don't have to be such a baby! You don't have to give up a run to go out there and show you can get dirty!" I sat there and thought, "He's right."
The second half took off after that, and I had a "Hit it if you can" attitude. Ross getting in my face helped a lot.
Kris Medlen is a pitcher in the Atlanta Braves organization. This article appears in ChopTalk magazine. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
