One suggestion however could be he has lost some velocity and perhaps he has not adjusted his technique for not being able to blow everything by most hitters.
also from what i saw tonight, timmy was leaving the ball up a lot. didn't see any velocity troubles but scouts have said with his throwing style it would not be a surprise.
Looks like they see Ajay Meyer as a reliever long term. After starting last year for Bluefield and putting up good numbers, he's closing for Lansing this year. I like it.
They could be watching his innings as he pitched around 65 last year and in full season ball Lansing, he would get shut down late in the year. I don't think it makes much sense to move a guy to the pen if he is dong well as a starter even if he is an eventual reliever. You want to at least build up the arm and get him to work on his pitches as much as possible and the only way to do that, is throwing as many pitches as you can and improving your command.
But he is also kinda really old for Lansing so he's a "meh" prospect.
Quote:
Originally Posted by donkeyy0
Why does Lincecum suck?
His velocity keeps declining and I think he will have to re-adjust his pitching style a little bit if he can't blow it by guys anymore.
Safe to say he won't get back to that ridicolously dominant CY young self he once was, blowing guys with a mid 90's heater with a nasty change-up and curveball. Every year his usage of fastball has gone down every year and use of change-up has gone up every year to maintain that arm of his.
I expect him to turn it around because he is still a good pitcher but will never be what he used to be which is a shame because he was once the most dominant and one of the youngest pitcher in the game.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kb21
if anyone gets a chance they should watch the replay of hernadez's rbi, its the 1min long video.
also from what i saw tonight, timmy was leaving the ball up a lot. didn't see any velocity troubles but scouts have said with his throwing style it would not be a surprise.
Yeah weird/bad mechanics + small size isn't a good recipe for a pitcher.
Quote:
Originally Posted by metafour
Fastball average was at 90.73 today and 90.01 in his first start; and his slider has been bad in both starts.
Didn't he scrape his slider? I remember hearing Lincecum saying he was scraping his slider because he was concerned about his elbow.
Didn't he scrape his slider? I remember hearing Lincecum saying he was scraping his slider because he was concerned about his elbow.
I heard that too; but Pitch F/X still has him throwing a slider in both games...although they can be inaccurate with pitch types. Either way; whatever pitch they have been classifying as a 'slider' has not been effective at all.
The ASG has turned into a mere popularity contest among big markets. The voting system is a joke. A .230 hitter shouldn't even sniff an all star game, let alone play in it. It's the delusional Yankee fanbase that mindlessly gets in undeserving players to get invited or even start (In Jeter's case, not necessarily undeserving of the ASG itself, just the start).
What the hell are you talking about? His peers and coaches voted him into the ASG, fans had nothing to do with it. Only the winners at each position get voted in by fans.
Aside from his rookie season (2006), Martin has played in 5 MLB seasons. One season he missed half the year with an injury (2010). In 3 of his 4 full seasons, he's been named to the All-Star Team 3 times (2007, 2008, 2011). Sounds like an All-Star to me.
Average doesn't matter if you get on base. If a guy had a .150 average, but had a .375 OBP, I wouldn't give a ****. If he gets on base, that's the important part. For example, this year, Martin is hitting just .167 but his OBP is .444. Who cares? He gets on base.
Yeah weird/bad mechanics + small size isn't a good recipe for a pitcher.
That's why teams tend to shy away from pitchers 6'0 and smaller. Thats why Lincecum slid to 10th overall. Thats why Gerrit Cole was chosen before Trevor Bauer despite Bauer's UCLA numbers being much superior. When their careers are done Bauer may have a higher peak but smart money is on Cole having a longer and more successfull career.
One suggestion however could be he has lost some velocity and perhaps he has not adjusted his technique for not being able to blow everything by most hitters.
Well the guy has pitched his arm off the past 3-4 years. He's hardly ever been injured, they had a long playoff run two years ago, he's consistently at the top of the league leaders in innings pitched year in and year out. It's not surprising that his arm is breaking down a bit. He will have to make some adjustments with that violent arm action or he's to going to end up having an injury at some point. To me he seems to have a "dead arm".
Off topic, but dying say this: Ozzie Guillen getting suspended for his comments is proof positive that no where on earth is truly free including the U.S.
Off topic, but dying say this: Ozzie Guillen getting suspended for his comments is proof positive that no where on earth is truly free including the U.S.
I don't get it. He basically said "Lots of people wanted Fidel Castro dead. But he somehow kept power. Gotta respect that".
Off topic, but dying say this: Ozzie Guillen getting suspended for his comments is proof positive that no where on earth is truly free including the U.S.
give me a break, the organization that he belonged to gave him a slap on the wrist because he said something that was offensive to about half the population of Miami. He is free to say whatever he wants, but his employer is also free to reprimand him for actions they felt were inappropriate. If it was the league or the government punishing him it would be a different story, but it was dealt with as an internal matter, as it should be.
I'm pretty sure this is the first "discussion" thread of the season. The GDT is on number 3 or 4 I think.
1st discussion thread still. 5th GDT (equivalent of 6 if you consider the overrun past 1000 posts on some of the earlier ones)
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I don't get it. He basically said "Lots of people wanted Fidel Castro dead. But he somehow kept power. Gotta respect that".
Did he say anything that was factually incorrect?
His initial comments were literally "I love Fidel Castro. I respect Fidel Castro..." And so forth. It's that first one that's the issue. What you quoted was his "clarification" after the fact. He's also in the past professed love and respect for Hugo Chavez (which he later similarly denied. He even said he'd never spoken to Chavez when he had in fact been on Chavez' radio show in Venezuela)
Quote:
Originally Posted by StarBurns
Off topic, but dying say this: Ozzie Guillen getting suspended for his comments is proof positive that no where on earth is truly free including the U.S.
This thread cannot turn into a political debate, but I need to respond to this:
#1) Freedom of speech laws were created for a specific purpose. Namely to prevent the government from quashing dissenters and throwing you in jail because you disagree or oppose said government. They were not meant to give people the right to say whatever they want without consequence.
#2) Free Speech laws do not and have never applied to privately run organizations. Ozzie Guillen is an employee and representative of the Miami Marlins. They are entirely within their right to tell him he can't say things that damage their reputation or ability to do business (things like, I don't know.... professing love and respect for a brutal dictator when a giant chunk of your potential fanbase are either people who escaped from said brutal dictator or the children of those people.)
But like I said, this isn't the place for a political debate. If you want to continue it, take it to the politics board.
His initial comments were literally "I love Fidel Castro. I respect Fidel Castro..." And so forth. It's that first one that's the issue. What you quoted was his "clarification" after the fact. He's also in the past professed love and respect for Hugo Chavez (which he later similarly denied. He even said he'd never spoken to Chavez when he had in fact been on Chavez' radio show in Venezuela)
You have to remember the place where he is managing too. Miami where alot of cubans escaped to, and probably don't like Castro all that much.
Maybe a somewhat negative article but it has good info and just illustrates what could go wrong for Jays top prospects in 2012 but there are glowing reports.
Quote:
Prospect #1: C Travis d'Arnaud
Background with Player: My eyes; industry sources
Who: A supplemental first-round selection in the 2007 draft, d’Arnaud has slowly moved up the prospect food chain and now finds himself wearing the label of alpha catcher in the minors. The 23-year-old brings a balanced skill set to the table, with what some scouts have suggested is a well above-average bat for the position, and improving defensive chops that grade out in the solid-average range. d’Arnaud crushed last season in Double-A, hitting for average and power, and propelling himself into the major league discussion for 2012, despite the fact that the Blue Jays already have a promising young catcher penciled into the lineup. Some scouts believe d’Arnaud has multiple All-Star Games in his future, and could emerge as one of the best all-around players at his position in the majors. Lofty praise
What Could Go Wrong in 2012: With lofty praise comes lofty expectations, and in the case of d’Arnaud, I’m afraid a really good player is being miscast as a really great player. I think d’Arnaud is going to hit in the high-minors, probably not to the level of 2011, but he’s going to hit. He has a good swing that is short to the ball, and he generates good bat speed. He shows legit pop and can lift a ball over the fence, although he’s a better contact oriented gap-to-gap hitter than a sellout-for-power type. At the highest level, I don’t see d’Arnaud as a .300 hitter with 25+ home run potential; rather, I see an above-average stick for the position, but more of a .270 hitter with 25+ doubles and 10+ home runs. I think the swing and the setup can be exploited by pitchers who have location ability and sequence, and since I’ve only seen d’Arnaud crush fringy stuff, I can’t speak to how he will handle top-shelf velocity. It’s a small nitpick, but it’s the difference between a solid major league regular and a perennial all-star. What could go wrong is built into the expectations placed on the player, with the high-end ceilings making letdown and failure almost inescapable. If you think d’Arnaud is a balanced, all-around high-five/low-six type of catcher, he’s probably going to make you happy by playing good defense, hitting for a respectable average, and showing good pop for the position. If you are expecting a Gold Glove-quality defensive player with batting champ credentials and 25+ home run pop, you might be in for disappointment. If d’Arnaud had that suggested potential, he would be considered a top tier prospect in the entire minors, someone who could stand next to the Trouts of the world as a future 7 player. The scouts who put him in that class are either onto something and ahead of the curve, or they are on something and should share with the rest of the class.
There is also reports on Nicolino (really good stuff on him) and Marisnick, subscriber free but the rest of the article needs subscription so if someone has that, maybe they can post the rest.
His initial comments were literally "I love Fidel Castro. I respect Fidel Castro..." And so forth. It's that first one that's the issue. What you quoted was his "clarification" after the fact. He's also in the past professed love and respect for Hugo Chavez (which he later similarly denied. He even said he'd never spoken to Chavez when he had in fact been on Chavez' radio show in Venezuela)
IMO, should he have suspended? No, he never attacked anyone directly. Did the Marlins have any choice but to suspend him? Absolutely not, considering FL has the highest population of Cubans, and that they hate Castro's guts.
Not a particular big fan of the Strombo show. Personally I think it's pretty dry, but some of you were talking about AA's comments on the old uniforms, here's the full interview.
Maybe a somewhat negative article but it has good info and just illustrates what could go wrong for Jays top prospects in 2012 but there are glowing reports.
There is also reports on Nicolino (really good stuff on him) and Marisnick, subscriber free but the rest of the article needs subscription so if someone has that, maybe they can post the rest.
EDIT: Gose and Syndergaard are the other two prospects.
Was coming in to post this same article. I don't subscribe to BP, but I read the available content and gotta say if those are the "what could go wrong" for TDA and Marisnick, I'm not too concerned. I've always figured TDA would be around .275/15HRs which is pretty much what he's saying a realistic expectation is. And If one person not liking Marisnick's bat speed is his biggest concern...I'll take that.
IMO, should he have suspended? No, he never attacked anyone directly. Did the Marlins have any choice but to suspend him? Absolutely not, considering FL has the highest population of Cubans, and that they hate Castro's guts.
I agree with the suspension. He may not have attacked anyone directly, but his comments were not only tasteless, but profoundly unwise when a significant portion of their consumer base are going to be offended by them and could conceivably cost the team a good chunk of change. If you're in a situation where you represent your employer to either the media, directly to consumers, to other businesses, or even just to the public in general, you have got to make damn sure that whatever you're doing doesn't look badly on them, let along yourself. Don't bite the hand that feeds.
That was a backpedal/flip flop after he got in trouble.
Quote:
After managing the Chicago White Sox to a World Series title in 2005, Guillen took photographs holding the Venezuelan flag while appearing to yell, "Viva Chavez."
During a 2006 interview with Playboy (via Palm Beach Post), a few months after he became a U.S. citizen, Guillen defended his take on Chavez.
"I like Chavez the man," he said. "I don't say I like him politically, because I don't agree with a lot of the stuff he does and says. But I have a right to like somebody, and I like the man. When I read about how hard he worked since he was 6-years-old to be president of Venezuela, I felt proud."
He also later said that he hates Chavez and seemed to moreso attribute that to the fact that his wife hates Chavez and he doesn't want to anger her. Furthermore, he also apparently appeared on a radio show that Chavez hosts in Venezuela in 2005. But if you ask him now, he'll say he's never spoken to Chavez. Granted in the above he said he doesn't agree with all of his politics, but still...
And really, I feel like I'm getting uncomfortably close to political discussion here. So I'm going to drop the issue (largely because I hate the politics board and have no interest in going there to carry on the debate)
I found the Gose and Syndergaard stuff from a fan comment on mlb forums.
Quote:
Prospect #4: OF Anthony Gose
<Background with Player: My eyes; industry sources
Who: 2nd round selection in the 2008 draft, Gose has the type of loud tools that make people take to the streets in complete hysterics after seeing them on display in game action. I’ve been one of these people. A fast-twitch athlete, Gose has one the most promising defensive profiles in the game, with 7+ speed and range, a well above-average glove, and an arm so strong that he will have a bright future on the mound should the bat fail to develop. Speaking of the bat, it’s not in the same league as his other tools, and many scouts worry that it will fail to achieve an average grade at full maturity. Gose started to tap into his power potential in 2011, hitting 16 bombs at Double-A New Hampshire, but his game featured a lot of swing and miss; Gose whiffed 154 times in only 137 games, a strikeout rate that continues to climb at each professional level. The future could find Gose patrolling centerfield in Toronto, using his speed, glove, and arm to play plus-plus defense and his bat to display solid-average pop at the plate. The developmental progress of the hit tool is the only thing that can retard this eventuality, as it could limit his role to a 4th/5th bench glove or it could allow him to blossom into the star his tools suggest is possible.
What Could Go Wrong in 2012: Simply put, the hit tool we’ve witnessed and evaluated in the past turns out to be the same hit tool we witness and evaluate in 2012, making Gose one of the biggest "what if" types in recent memory. The defensive skill set will make him a major leaguer, but the bat can put a ribbon on his star package, and it’s the bat that just doesn’t look the part. Gose’s swing has length, and he struggles to shorten up and make contact. His pitch recognition skills have been questioned, and he struggles to make adjustments with the bat. With his speed, a short, compact, hard contact swing would give him some batting average potential and allow his massive defensive skill set to play every day. As it stands now, Gose would struggle to hit .220 at the major league level, especially against pitchers who attacked him inside with velocity and/or quality breaking balls, which he struggles to adjust his bat plane/path against. Without the hit tool, the power will struggle; without that dimension to his offensive game, Gose becomes an all-glove/speed type and thus becomes a bench player. I have a tendency to fall in love with the dream that tools create, and with Gose, I keep holding on to the hope that the hit tool takes a step forward and the star can rise up. It’s not a likely outcome.
Prospect #5: RHP Noah Syndergaard
Experience with Player: Industry Sources
Who: Supplemental first-round selection in the 2010 draft, the projectable Texan continues to take developmental steps forward, and if the results match the stuff in 2012, Syndergaard could emerge as one of the highest rising prospects in 2012. The breadwinner of his arsenal is a lively fastball that can touch elite velocity and can work in the mid-90s. Syndergaard uses his length well, getting good extension and creating good angle to the plate, characteristics that enhance his already electric fastball. His curveball is thrown with velocity and the break has some depth and the pitch projects to be a plus offering. The hard curve plays nicely off the fastball thanks to Syndergaard’s ability to repeat his mechanics, stay consistent with his slot, and fill up the zone with strikes. His changeup will flash promise as well, with heavy action and fade to the arm side, and benefits from the repeatable mechanics and slot consistency. The 19-year-old has legit top of the rotation potential thanks to the plus-plus fastball and the potential of the secondary offerings. The command profile looks promising, despite the length, and the ability to throw strikes is already present. There is a lot to like here.
What Could Go Wrong in 2012: It took several calls to finally find someone with a legit complaint about the young Texan, and that complaint was about the nuance and touch of his game. Syndergaard throws hard and it works, but this scout found his overall feel for pitching to be a little clumsy. "His changeup is way too firm and will lose movement, his curve morphs into a hard slurve that lacks punch, and he doesn’t go up and down with his fastball like he could." This type of approach can still lead to promising results at the A-ball level, but eventually throwers need to evolve into pitchers. Some already see Syndergaard as a prospect that has started to make that transformation, but this is where struggles might occur during the 2012 season. In order to improve and gain feel for pitches like the changeup, you have to throw a lot of changeups, and when you throw a lot of fringy pitches, you can get exploited. It takes time to develop a "feel" pitch, and it’s not uncommon to see statistical setbacks along the way. I still think Syndergaard’s fastball is good enough to keep him on the rise, but in order to develop the secondary stuff sometimes you have to suffer for the cause. I think Syndergaard could develop into a monster, and the glowing reports I’ve received on him support such a projection.
