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Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Foltynewicz is angry, but that’s not a bad thing

By Josh Brown

Apr 7, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz (26) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning of the 2017 season opening home game at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz (26) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning of the 2017 season opening home game at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Folty seems to be getting a reputation as an emotional and angry pitcher and some fans seem to believe that this is a bad thing. But is it?

I’ll admit, Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz sometimes allows the umpire to get to him. But if he can harness this warranted anger appropriately, give me an angry guy on the mound any day.

Allow me to explain. Pitchers should be angry. They should almost always be angry. The only time when they should not be angry is when they are talking to their mother on the phone. Upon birth, pitchers should enter this world angry and ready to fight anything and anyone, with zero empathy for anyone who plays for the other team. They should trust no one.

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When a batter walks into the batters box, unless he’s Nick Markakis and has ice in his veins, he should be terrified. From the moment the batter walks from the on-deck circle to the plate, he should be starred down by the pitcher, questioning his manhood and existence. And should the batter get a hit against the pitcher, the pitcher should then be angry and make a promise to himself in that moment and say to himself something like, “that lowlife scallywag shall never get another hit against me, so help me God.”

When Mike Foltynewicz struck out Bryce Harper looking Tuesday night, he circled the mound in a calm, yet angry fury. His face and neck turned red and I wanted to run outside and declare war on the Washington Nationals from the top of a mountain. Hitters should fear Folty and Folty knows it. This is a lost art, it seems.

@bravesowner probably said it best. A pitcher having “composure issues” and showing emotion is not a bad thing. I blame guys like Clayton Kershaw and Jordan Spieth for this.

Being angry, showing emotion, talking trash, and belittling the competition isn’t cool anymore. These days, it’s cool to tell the media how humble you are and how much you like the other team.

I have no patience for such weak nonsense. I don’t want a pitcher who thanks the Lord and tells Ken Rosenthal how humbling it is to be pitching, I want Mike Foltynewicz.

My dad grew up watching guys like Bob Gibson put the fear of God into hitters. When Gibson was pitching, it was understood that if you were dumb enough to crowd the plate, you’d get a fastball in your ear. I’m not making some weird outlandish comparison between Folty and one of the greatest pitchers of all time.

Settle down. But I am saying that folks these days are softer than a Tempur-Pedic mattress we need more anger on the mound. It’s good for the soul.

Listen, if Folty allows umps to get under his skin, then we might have ourselves a problem. But if Folty allows umps and hitters to make him angry, and he turns that anger into competitiveness while pitching like he did Tuesday night against arguably the best lineup on the National League, I’ll take it.

There’s something about Mike Foltynewicz that the Atlanta Braves love.

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve noticed that the Braves aren’t particularly patient when it comes to pitching prospects these days and they’re not in the business of giving a lot of chances. Their system is so stacked with prospects (pitchers in particular) that they don’t have to be overly patient. But Folty seems different. While he has had some command issues and while his numbers aren’t elite yet, the Braves see a durable bulldog with great stuff, and so do I.

I’m back and forth on where Folty should end up. Will Folty be an elite starter? I hope so. Will Folty be a bullpen guy? I thought so last week, but now I don’t know again. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a scout and I’ve been completely fickle on where I think Folty should go. But for me, one thing is for certain – I’m a Mike Foltynewicz fan and I believe this world needs more angry pitchers.

Next: Bad umps are bad for baseball

I want a bulldog on the mound. (A controllable bulldog, mind you, but a bulldog.) Or can bulldogs even be controllable? Heck, I don’t know. I guess what I’m saying is – I want a pitcher, not a belly itcher.

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