Lots of Instructs notes from Evan Grant
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 8, 2008 11:07 AM CDT
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PrintEvan Grant has a bunch of notes from Surprise up at the DMN blog...
Too many to try to summarize, so I advise you just to click on the link and check it out...
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Kiker
for those who have seen him pitch, does he seem like he could be a pretty stout closer?
I am not saying we should give up on him as a starter and I fully expect him to make some strides next year in Frisco. But the idea of him eventually settling into a late inning role has been around since he was drafted…
This isn't dirested at you personally clark
Its aimed at your comment
I find it really annoying people moan and groan and complain about lack of starters and left handed ones in particular and yet when we draft one in the first round who has had good numbers so far in the minors people want to move him to a bullpen role just because he is short.
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
Yeah
But it’s not as annoying as the GM trading them away.
"Over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states" - Barack Obama
by LSBUser on Oct 8, 2008 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Feliz, Felix, Ryan, etc.
I’m glad to see Jose Felix get such a positive mention. His defense has gotten good reviews all summer and we may have another very strong catcher, though one with a questionable bat.
I’m starting to get a little excited about Ryan spending time with these kids. If he can give a few tidbits to some guys, and instill some general principles/ethics through his group talks, that is an excellent, excellent use of this kind of organizational asset. Exactly the kind of thing he should be doing from time to time. Added to the feeling lately that it seems he’s really bought into the plan and may keep Hicks from kneejerking his way out of it…good stuff happening.
Prediction: Feliz will spend some time in the Ranger bullpen before the 2009 season is over. That doesn’t mean he’ll stay there, but I think he at least gets a look in an innings-friendly kind of way there late next summer, with an outside chance of being a 2002 F-Rod or 2007 Joba.
In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.
This is a great report on Ryan's influence, because
Jeff Wilson mentioned only that Feliz was working on commanding his fastball and Evan expands on that to say it is the fastball to the outside corner to righties that Nolan wants to command. According to early analysis of pitch F/X data, a fastball to the outside corner is one of the most effective strikeout pitches can be made. It’s really hard to hit, and it’s really hard for umpires to call correctly, thereby expanding the strike zone.
This is a clear plus, in my mind, of Nolan’s impact on the young arms. I’m not yet sure about pitching batting practice, but it appears Nolan knows at least one element that is needed for a power arm, at least a righty, to be a successful strikeout pitcher.
Go Rangers!
Feliz
Bullpen?
What’s to stop him making starts with the ML club? Innings-wise he’s ready to go.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Oct 8, 2008 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah. Like ankle and snap.
I never want to see another Ranger’s beat writer mention reliever ever again in the same article as Feliz. This year, he clearly showed the stamina needed to be a starter. I’ve read that he needs a more consistent arm angle on his curveball to have an effective curve, and, now, that he’s going to work on fastballs to the outside corner. I’m not sure he needs to master much more than that to be an effective starter. A show me change might be useful, but doesn’t seem necessary if he can move his fastball around and change speeds on it a bit.
Go Rangers!
Stamina
To be clear, I am not advocating making him a reliever.
I don’t follow the minors much so maybe this is a stupid question given his age but…
Is averaging less than 5 innings a start for the year really proving he has the stamina to be a starter?
"Over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states" - Barack Obama
by LSBUser on Oct 8, 2008 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions
Not saying you are advocating that idea.
He averaged a snip under 5 IP per appearance at Clinton and just under that at Frisco, where he was on a pitch count of about 70 pitches. It’s really good to get through just about 5 innings when only throwing 70-75 pitches.
I think 5 IP per appearance was a great big step toward being a starter for him, since he had averaged 2-3 IP per appearance the two years prior. It’s a clear progression and they will clearly ask him to step it up another notch next year and go for at least 6 IP per appearance. If he stays in the minors all season, it seems very likely he could lead the minors in Ks with the number if innings pitched that will be expected of him.
Go Rangers!
On the Greinke deal....
It’s possible that the package the Rangers offered for Greinke at the deadline made Moore really consider what direction the Royals were headed and aided him in solidifying his opinion that the Royals were not a rebuilding, young team. He probably had a really good package for rebuilding the Royals in the offer from the Rangers, maybe better than he could’ve gotten from any other organization. He turned it down and moved forward.
Go Rangers!
Hopefully with similar results
"Over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states" - Barack Obama
by LSBUser on Oct 8, 2008 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions
OH SHIT!!!!
NOLAN RYAN’S TALKING TO THE YOUNG PITCHERS!!!!! WE’RE SCREWED!!!! WE’RE ABSOLUTELY F-ing SCREWED!!!!!
by robert_d_wilfong on Oct 8, 2008 1:31 PM CDT reply actions
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