Good Neftali Feliz article
Thom Henninger has done a nice piece on Feliz for Baseball America. Here are a few excerpts:
"There are plenty of guys who can light up a radar gun," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "There are two things that stand out with Neftali and how he does it. One is the ease with which he throws the ball with very little effort. Some big flame-throwing guys have very unsound mechanics in order to generate all that force behind the ball. It almost looks like Neftali is playing catch and the ball just explodes out of his hand.
"Secondly, a lot of guys who throw with that velocity can't command it. The pitch might be 97, 98 on the radar gun, but it's a foot out of the strike zone. When you actually have to throw a strike, it's much more hittable at 91, 92. Neftali has shown to this point that he's able to throw a strike with that velocity."
Then it was off to Clinton this spring. Feliz said LumberKings pitching coach Danny Clark had been instrumental in making his curveball better.
"Danny likes to work hard," Feliz said. "He likes to push pitchers. He said I had an OK curveball when I came here, but we have worked hard on it and I can throw it whenever I want now."
Clark said it was easy for Feliz to dominate Midwest League hitters with his fastball, so it was necessary to get the young prospect to call on his offspeed stuff more as the season progressed. In his last few weeks with Clinton, Feliz had to throw his curveball enough to meet a certain percentage of his overall pitch count.
Daniels said Feliz's promotion had little to do with his velocity. He noted that the prospect's overall command and changeup have been markedly better in 2008, and he's shown a much-improved curveball in many of his starts, making the entire package more effective.
"He really needed a new challenge," Daniels said. "He wasn't being challenged in that league, and we felt he was ready for the next step."
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50 comments
Comments
So is this it?
The real, genuine, true top of the order pitcher?
Nothing pithy here. Please move long.
by WyoRanger on Jul 24, 2008 3:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
My fingers are crossed....
Please be an ace….please be an ace…..please be an ace…..please be an ace…...
by clinton33 on Jul 24, 2008 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I really think it could happen...
This kid is something special.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Jul 25, 2008 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"I’m sure you’ve seen Kiker before but I’ll just reiterate that the kid is mean on the mound. He is only 5’10’’ but he is an intimidator. He looks like he hates hitters. He has the juice for pressure situations."
-Jason Parks on Jul 22, 2008 10:08 PM
by Jayslick on Jul 24, 2008 3:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Let's hope he's reading from a script
written solely by his pitching scouts, because Daniel’s analysis and opinion of specific pitchers means less than nothing…based on history and facts.
I Stole The Red Finger !
by Clueless on Jul 24, 2008 3:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
and your opinion
of Daniels means even less.
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on Jul 24, 2008 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So all the bad moves are b.c. Daniels doesn't know what he's talking about
and the good moves are b.c. he finally listened to his scouts??
Did I pretty much get that?
"Here comes the version of Benoit that lets the other team put it out of reach. I hate that version."
-Athos
by SaltyDawg on Jul 24, 2008 4:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
well he has got rid of john danks, chris young, edinson volquez, and armando galarraga
so it is highly unlikey he isnt traded away
Feliz and Hurley. The 1-2 punch of the future
by Steal Home on Jul 24, 2008 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
People really complain about Volquez and Chris Young?...
The only thing we really lost in that trade was Adrian Gonzalez…
Extreme flyball pitchers don’t succeed in Arlington. Chris Young wouldn’t have been any different. He’s a direct factor of playing in San Diego… Is anybody really surprised he had fallen back to Earth fairly quickly this year? No surprise his home/road splits are as drastic as they are…
Bitching about the Danks deal is 100% hindsight. He was traded for a more highly regarded pitcher without any history of injury. So how could Jon Daniels have predicted his arm was going to fall off?
by N41D on Jul 24, 2008 5:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think there are degrees on the Danks deal
I was against it, so I don’t think that it’s a matter of hindsight to criticize it – to a certain extent. But I don’t think that anyone, including those who were really, really against it, can claim to not be surprised by how quickly Danks has gotten really good or how McCarthy has hardly pitched and I’m not sure if he’s thrown one fully healthy pitch.
I think that it was an unnecessary deal, though, which is where most any frustration that I have over it comes from. There was no need to accelerate things, given where the team was, and Danks is left-handed.
Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return
by Brett Perryman on Jul 24, 2008 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
then you should ask yourself....
what were the ChiSox thinking? Why would they trade a highly regarded, major league ready pitcher for one who was less thought of and a year away?
Not EVERYONE agrees with the assessment that BMac was, or would become, the better pitcher.
It's easy to lie with stats, its even easier to lie without them......
by red shoe ranger on Jul 24, 2008 6:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nick Massett?
no…?
"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."
by Walter Sobchak on Jul 24, 2008 7:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You'd think...
That, and they didn’t have room for McCarthy in their rotation at the time, anyways…
by N41D on Jul 24, 2008 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nevermind...
Don’t know why I always recall this as a mid-season deal…
by N41D on Jul 24, 2008 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Adrian Gonzalez
That was why I was mad about that trade orginally. And you know who should be the most mad? Adrian Gonzalez himself. Had he stayed in Texas rather than the hitting abyss of San Diego, he’d be a triple crown contender (and people would have long forgotten Teixeira). Sadly, it was not to be…
The Chris Young for Eaton thing is like the Danks for McCarthy trade that Z points out here. Why try to rush things? When you have a decent starting pitcher arriving or on the horizon, there is no point in trying to double-down.
by JBImaknee on Jul 24, 2008 7:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Complain about Young?
Sure.
He was PERCEIVED as pretty valuable throughout the league, and he had good stats to back up that perception.
So, while it’s fine to trade him, you should get a lot more than 1 year of a pitcher who everyone thought had the POTENTIAL to be an ace but never did any BETTER than the starter you’re trading away. And to add on a 24-yo hitter who had mashed AAA in his previous 2 seasons….
Well, I think it’s perfectly legitimate to complain about that trade.
R
by Requiem on Jul 24, 2008 7:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Young Trade
Yep. I like Daniels, and while he’s had his share of bad deals, I could understand the reasoning behind most of them at the time. But the Young/Gonzalez/Eaton deal was the one that even at the time, I was going, “WTF?”
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
by RCCook on Jul 24, 2008 9:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
very simple just dont every ever ever trade away young pitching or release them (gallaraga)
Feliz and Hurley. The 1-2 punch of the future
by Steal Home on Jul 24, 2008 10:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Another thing, Mr. Clueless
This is a funny comment considering Daniels traded FOR Feliz.
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on Jul 24, 2008 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nolan
told him to do it
Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return
by Brett Perryman on Jul 24, 2008 5:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep
Nolan went back in time after he was hired and told him to get that guy. And to buy some great tasting sausage.
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on Jul 24, 2008 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nolan's wisdom is such that
he foresaw events playing out like they did over the winter, spring and summer, and went to Hicks last July and advised that Daniels include Feliz so that they could get some pitchin in here.
Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return
by Brett Perryman on Jul 24, 2008 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
okay
what was the point of that?
Josh Hamilton is better than you.
by Longhorn on Jul 24, 2008 6:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just a joke
A surprising amount of people around here that I’ve interacted with think that Nolan’s common sense and wisdom (which I seriously do respect) make him almost infallible in decision making.
Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return
by Brett Perryman on Jul 24, 2008 6:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
good to hear they aren't letting him throw his fastball every pitch
hopefully he is here next year :)
Feliz and Hurley. The 1-2 punch of the future
by Steal Home on Jul 24, 2008 3:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I just got
a little wet…
"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
"If you ain't got no money, ain't nobody calls you honey," Bo Diddley
by Rodney on Jul 24, 2008 5:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
ewwwwww
It's easy to lie with stats, its even easier to lie without them......
by red shoe ranger on Jul 24, 2008 6:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorta OT -- Didn't see this posted anywhere
Milton Bradley answered some questions for some dude at yahoo
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Answer-Man-Milton-Bradley-talks-labels-torn-AC;_ylt=AtmYtZHd3oNwvP9rwPk.e3mFCLcF?urn=mlb,95797
I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles
by Dirk Diggler on Jul 24, 2008 6:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
OK I'll try this
I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles
by Dirk Diggler on Jul 24, 2008 6:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Neftali
did we ever find out why he didn’t pitch last night?
Josh Hamilton is better than you.
by Longhorn on Jul 24, 2008 6:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
i haven't seen anything yet
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on Jul 24, 2008 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That sounds like a hope...
Is that what you heard, JP? thx
"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
"If you ain't got no money, ain't nobody calls you honey," Bo Diddley
by Rodney on Jul 24, 2008 7:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
by who?
Josh Hamilton is better than you.
by Longhorn on Jul 24, 2008 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
John Mayberry Jr
I ran into him at the local GNC. I was buying vitamins and he was buying creatine. He told me that he can barely hit the ball out of the infield because he doesn’t have enough lean body rip. He looked like a slightly more athletic Shawn Bradley. I told him that I hated him and wished him a good day. :)
by jparks77 on Jul 24, 2008 7:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good news.
Thanks for the update, JP.
"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
"If you ain't got no money, ain't nobody calls you honey," Bo Diddley
by Rodney on Jul 24, 2008 7:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Radio announcer...
...led off last night’s game noting that Texas wanted to limit Feliz’s innings. No mention of when he would pitch again.
Love of God and compassion and empathy leads you to a very glorious place, and science leads you to killing people. -- Ben Stein
by Lucas on Jul 24, 2008 8:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Even if he's not
an ace, it sure sounds like at the least he could be a top-notch closer
"We live, we die, and the wheels on the bus go round and round." - Tony Romo
by kentbenfer on Jul 24, 2008 9:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
closers are overvalued, ace is what feliz is
Feliz and Hurley. The 1-2 punch of the future
by Steal Home on Jul 25, 2008 12:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I understand
and agree completely. This is why I think we should have tried harder to make CJ a starter. They have more value. My point was that if for some reason Feliz doesn’t turn into the ace of the rotation, his tools give him a good chance to develop into a strong closer in the mold of Rivera or K-Rod.
"We live, we die, and the wheels on the bus go round and round." - Tony Romo
by kentbenfer on Jul 25, 2008 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ya, CJ shows that closers are overvalued
he has an era of +5 and he is 23/26 in save oppurtunities. i dont think we should let anyone be developed into a reliever. make everyone try out starting and then if they are just not working out there then put ‘em in the pen. in my opinion anyone can be a decent closer and they are no more important than a 7th inning reliever.
i really realy hope feliz starts
Feliz and Hurley. The 1-2 punch of the future
by Steal Home on Jul 25, 2008 4:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Neftali Feliz Video at CW33
Local TV news did a brief feature on Feliz – click on the 7/23 video
I’m guessing that’s Julio Borbon doing the translating.
by shroomer on Jul 25, 2008 12:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
No matter how brief
the clip, shroomer will find it…thanks.
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on Jul 25, 2008 12:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah definitely Borbon
Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return
by Brett Perryman on Jul 25, 2008 12:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
championship!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Feliz and Hurley. The 1-2 punch of the future
by Steal Home on Jul 25, 2008 1:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
wow...cw33 did something worth watching!
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on Jul 25, 2008 8:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

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