Giants Q & A with Justin Fitzgerald
Joe Ritzo: Prior to the 2010 season, you had been a reliever full-time, including most of your tenure at UC Davis. How do you feel the transition went for you last year as you moved to the role of a starter?
Justin Fitzgerald: The transition went a lot smoother than one could anticipate being that I had never really thrown more than 60 innings in a year. When you know you're going to become a starter early on, like I did in the 2009 (fall) instructs, it was something I was able to prepare for the entire offseason. I had the privilege to workout at Fisher Sports and get my arm in shape and body ready for the season. I had the mindset of doing what I needed to do to stay healthy. Getting my arm stretched out everyday, working in the weight room and running. It was just an increase from my previous offseasons.
JR: Specifically, what did you have to do to make sure you could make it through a full season with that many innings?
JF: I have to really be conscience of my rotator cuff and my scapula with the exercising I do. There are small, little programs that the Giants have for us. They have them on the walls in our spring training complex for everyone to follow. You also have to take it to a new level when you're working out on your own. I have the resources, with living here in Scottsdale, to go to the training room, if I need to stretch that day or if I need a rub down because my shoulder is feeling a little tight from a throwing session. And then also the resources at Fisher Sports. Brett Fisher is the head athletic trainer for the Arizona Cardinals and he used to work with the Mets and Cubs. I go in there and might say, 'hey Fish, my elbow is barking a little today, can you help me out?' Having those resources and being around people with knowledge helps ensure that I can have a healthy season.
JR: Which one of your individual pitching performances still stands out for you from this past season?
JF: To start the way I did. My first start was rained out, so to come back in my first official start and threw six no-hit innings was cool. To know I still had it to go more than two innings. That I could go six or seven innings, let know go no-hit innings, was one that definitely is going to stand out. More importantly, even though it wasn't one of my best pitching performances of the year, it was the championship game where I was able to give my team five innings and keep us in the game. I left with a one-run lead and to have the bullpen shut it down was pretty memorable.
JR: What was it like pitching in Game 5 of the Championship Series? The entire season was on the line and you were also pitching on short rest.
JF: Going on three days rest is definitely no joke, so when you see guys like (CC) Sabathia, who did it a few years back for something like five starts, is just unbelievable. Your arm is used to working on a five-man rotation and having a set routine. So you're not used to going on short rest. Also, my butterflies were going. Game 5, obviously, was the deciding game. But I took the same attitude that I had all year and that was to go out there and throw strikes, let them put the ball in play and have the defense work. There were a few pitches that I wish I could have back. It didn't feel like I had everything behind my fastball, but you have to gut it through. You won't have your best stuff every time you go out there. The fact we won it made it that much better.
JR: How was the team able to turn things around after a difficult second half to then win the championship?
JF: It was one of those things where we lost two starting pitchers late in the year with (Eric) Surkamp and (Kyle) Nicholson. The injury bug hit us for about a month, but once we got rolling and healthy, we were able to finish the year strong that last week (of the regular season). It only takes four or five games to get on a hot streak and that's what we did and then rode it out until the end. You hear it every year when you watch ESPN that whatever team gets hot at the right time is the team that's usually going to take it home. That was the case with us. The previous year we won it with all those top prospects, everyone was saying that they were supposed to win. Then with us, we weren't quite as prospect-laden, but for us to get hot at the right time ... we were a solid ballclub from top-to-bottom. Every single guy on the team proved that they had talent and we had what it took to win a championship.
JR: Where was the toughest place to pitch in the California League?
JF: By far, Lancaster. Both of my starts there the wind was blowing out at 40 miles per hour.
JR: How about your favorite place to pitch in the league?
JF: Lake Elsinore was fun because of the surroundings. I loved pitching in our park because you get into a pretty good routine about where to pitch guys. You see the guys enough that you know certain things will work. The wind blows out to left field, so sometimes you have to be careful about who you can go inside to. Learning to pitch in your park can be a huge advantage.
JR: As a pitcher, do you change anything about your approach knowing that the Cal League is perhaps the best hitters league in all of baseball?
JF: You try not to because if you get away from what you do well and what's going to get you to the big leagues, then it's going to be tough adjusting the next year. Wherever I go this year, I would have to adjust again. If I guy hits a home run because it's the California League, then you tip your cap. He hit a good pitch or was partly because of the ballpark. You can't really change your style of pitching. You need to pitch inside. If you start living on the outside corner, guys will be able to adjust to that. They'll start going the other way or be able to get around on it. You have to keep guys off the plate, maybe throw a brush back pitch to get them off the plate a little bit. You have to utilize all parts of the plate no matter what league you're in. If you go to a Coors Field or anywhere with short porches, like Fenway, you watch guys and they're not scared of throwing inside pitches. They're going to make their pitches.
JR: You grew up in Northern California. Were you a Giants fan as a kid?
JF: I was a Giants fan as a kid, ever since I was born. My dad, uncles and cousins are all huge Giants fans. I remember going to games at Candlestick Park and the swirling winds. Being able to enjoy the World Series games in 2002 when I was in high school and then also being there for some of Bonds' iconic moments were pretty special. Getting the opportunity to play for the Giants has been awesome, especially when I got to go to the strength and conditioning camp at AT&T Park in 2008 and to be able to experience the behind-the-scenes at the park.
JR: So then what was your reaction on draft day when you were selected by the Giants?
JF: I actually wasn't really watching. I was making breakfast and my dad comes running in and says, "you were just drafted by the Giants!" And I said, "no way! You're kidding me, right?" It was surreal.
JR: Who were some of your favorite players growing up?
JF: I was a huge Matt Williams and Bonds fan. In the 90's, I really liked watching Bill Swift and John Burkett. The few years that Jason Schmidt had with the Giants were fun to watch too. More than anything, J.T. Snow and Robb Nen though.
JR: What have you been up to this offseason?
JF: After we won, I took about a month off and helped my wife plan for our wedding. We got married in November and then spent a week in Maui. When we came back, that was my cue to start working out here in Arizona for awhile. Had a chance to see some family over Thanksgiving and Christmas. I really started to work out hard in December and have been over at Fisher Sports. I'll be done there in a couple of weeks and then spring training will be here before you know it.
JR: Finally, what will you remember most about your season in San Jose?
JF: More than anything, I'm going to remember my teammates. These are the guys that I've played with for three years now. We lost the championship in Salem and then finished with the best record in our division in Augusta, but didn't get to go to the playoffs because we didn't win either half. Finally getting to test ourselves in a playoff format with all the guys I've played and grown close with is one thing you'll remember forever.