Pistorese plowing path for new year
Baseball season never looked so cold.
While the weather in Kalispell and the Flathead Valley continues to show why the area is a noted winter destination, you’d be hard pressed to tell that Major League Baseball teams report for spring training in less than a week.
With 30 inches of snow falling in the last week and more to come, Kalispell’s Joe Pistorese, a pitcher in the Seattle Mariners farm system, went down to Arizona early to get adapted before the season begins. His first assignment is to Mariners mini-camp on Feb. 20 in Peoria.
“I’ve been trying to build a consistent routine for my offseason,” Pistorese said.
“It’s my second one. The first offseason was kind of a scramble. I think I got enough experience now where I built a good routine.
“I got down here a little bit earlier. Obviously, Montana, with the weather, it can be difficult to get out and throw. I came down to Arizona about a month early and started my throwing program, which I think will help a ton. Which is different than last year, when I was still up there in the middle of February. With a consistent routine and a throwing program, I think I’m about ready for spring training.”
In his two abrupt seasons in the minors, Pistorese said he has learned the most important thing for his success has been to adapt. Adapt to different weather, to different stadiums and different styles of play between different teams.
That has been big as he’s moved a lot in his short time in the pros, being drafted as a starter from Washington State University to changing to the bullpen in Everett, Washington. After opening his season last year at the Clinton LumberKings in Iowa, he eventually moved to Bakersfield, California, to finish the year. This year, with the team in Bakersfield shuttered, he’s likely to end up in Modesto, California, to start this season and could end up anywhere from Washington to Arkansas.
“I’ve been trying to adapt this whole time,” Pistorese said. “It’s a little bit different with wood bats and better athletes coming out and different swing patterns and different approaches to the game if you move up a level. It’s all just being able to adapt. That’s the biggest thing.
“All of my pitching coaches (have helped). I’ve had great pitching coaches going through. All those guys helped me a ton. It’s different, when you see batters in low-A it’s a bit different than high-A. The approach changes even if it’s only slightly. Having those guys around to help me through has been huge.”
He’s hoping his routine helps him this season, even if his destination may vary.
His last few seasons have been fantastic, throwing 34 1/3 innings last season and throwing 47 strikeouts to only four walks and 42 1/3 innings the year before with 46 strikeouts and seven walks. He said his biggest goal this season is to pitch the full year after shortened seasons in each of his first two.
He’d also like to get in on some of the success the Mariners farm system has had in the postseason. After two of its teams won championships in 2015, the Mariners saw three more minor league teams make the finals of their leagues, with the Class AA Jackson Generals winning the Southern League. All five affiliates made the playoffs.
“I’m excited to get a full season under my belt,” Pistorese said. “Any numbers that I can put up are great. I really just want to win a ring. Going into the season with as much success as this organization had last year, it’d be really nice to walk away from this year with a ring.”
It’s possible, if his hard work and preparation keep turning into results on the mound.
For now, hard work and preparation is the goal until games get going and the season truly starts in April.
“People are coming in every day,” Pistorese said. “Seeing all the guys that come back from their offseason and getting into their throwing programs. Being around all this talent is huge. It really motivates you.”