Remember when I told you that Matt Harrison had changed something in his side work with Mike Maddux? Whatever it was, it worked.
almost 3 years ago
Adam J. Morris
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well
what was it?
"if my kid said 'uhh' that much, i would say, Hey! ... stop saying 'uhh' that much..." - dennis miller
he's moving quicker
he’s eliminated a lot of the slow movements early in his delivery. something i wished they did with Hurley.
Man, I love winning! You know? It's like better than losing!
No kidding
What an informative sentence. Matt Harrison did something and now he’s better. Good to know.
Remember Red, hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies.
he met with Yoda... err Maddux
The conversation went like this:
Maddux: You must throw more fastballs.
Harrison: All right, I’ll give it a try.
Maddux: No. Try not. Do… or do not. There is no try.
[Using the Force, Maddux effortlessly throws one past Kinsler]
Harrison: I don’t, I don’t believe it.
Maddux: That is why you fail.
Also we have found a new minor leaguer.
by lamron on May 11, 2009 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
i didn't know chewbacca was a lefty
DFA Eddie G and sign him
If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base. ~Dave Barry
The guy who played Chewbacca in the movies actually lives in Granbury. That gives the Rangers the inside track to sign him right?
Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!
by DerekSTheRed on May 12, 2009 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions
I still believe
part of it was having a fire lit under his you know what by seeing the shadow of Holland lurking behind him in the bullpen
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on May 11, 2009 2:03 PM CDT reply actions
If this Harrison
is for real it certainly does change my outlook for the team next year. Harrison is looking like he could be a very good no. 4 guy.
by Michael Cave on May 11, 2009 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions
not to highjack, but what are your thoughts on Feldman?
Think he can be a dependable #4/5?
Doctor please. Some more of these.
give me
Feldman over McCarthy. BMac is a two-pitch pitcher. He has no movement on his 89mph fastball—his height makes is a bit more decpetive, but I’m not buying it long term. And no, I’m not buying into the idea that his velocity is going to return with time. JD has more of his reputation invested in BMac, but at some point I think he loses his spot.
ummm...
he’s already reached a bit higher than 89 this year…
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 11, 2009 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions
i see
When he pushes to 91 he can’t control it. He usually floats around 88-89 and hits the corners nicely when doing so. If my memory is just absolute crap and the guy throwing harder than that, help me out…
90.1 afbv
The 40 Trumps All!!!
You want the mustache on or off? ... ... ... Too bad.
by thedirkatron on May 11, 2009 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions
when comparing BMac and Feldman
I think it would be a huge mistake to base any decisions on pedigree.
Feldman has much better stuff, better command, and a rubber arm as opposed to a glass one.
Doctor please. Some more of these.
If Feldman has better command and stuff
why does he insist on throwing more pitches outside the strike zone?
because batters swing at them?
I don’t know.
Are you contending that McCarthy has better command than Feldman? Better stuff?
Doctor please. Some more of these.
$
I don’t know about stuff at this point. McCarthy doesn’t have the changeup right now, so he doesn’t have much in his arsenal. Feldman throws a bunch of pitches, but nothing other than the fastball and cutter are any good. Without the changeup, Feldman has better stuff than McCarthy.
I do contend that McCarthy has better command, but that’s not so much a credit to McCarthy than a blemish for Feldman. Feldman’s main problem last couple of years has been that he never threw enough strikes, and it’s no different this year. He is throwing both more pitches outside the zone than McCarthy, and also have more pitches that resulted in a ball. He doesn’t have as many episodes of SLoCS (Sudden Loss of Control Syndrome) as McCarthy has, but it doesn’t change the fact that he consistently throws fewer strikes. There is no evidence that he is simply trying to throw pitches outside the zone to get hitters to chase. The only concrete evidence that we have is that Feldman is throwing more balls, and the only conclusion that I can make from that is he is not commanding his pitches. You can’t assume that he has better command first, and then try to find a reason why he is not throwing strikes.
for the record
Feldman throws more balls outside the zone than McCarthy, but he issues less walks.
Doctor please. Some more of these.
and
hitters have also swung at more pitches outside the zone for Feldman than for McCarthy. This looks like evidence for the argument that Feldman is trying to get hitters to fish, but Feldman is only middle of the pack in the league for getting hitters to chase outside pitches, and he is at the bottom for % of pitches in the zone. I am not seeing anything here.
feldman
has a lot of movement on everything he throws, and bmac gets squeezed by the umps. not really sure why. may be the trajectory of his pitches and also b/c he misses the target but will still be in the strike zone, just not getting the call.
Man, I love winning! You know? It's like better than losing!
The Zone% on Fangraphs
measures the percent of pitches thrown in the strike zone, regardless of whether it was a called a strike or not – that’s why I gave both statistics. If this data is trustworthy, then it means he is at the bottom of the league right now for throwing pitches that are in the strike zone.
Fun fact on McCarthy
His 6.39 K/9 is by far the best among our starters. The only other guy above 5 is Padilla at 5.18. B-Mac gets swings and misses at a 6.6% rate, again by far the highest among our starters while Feldman has gotten them at 5.3% as a starter .
McCarthy’s problem so far has been that his BB/9 is also by far the highest among our starters at 4.35. The only other guy above 4 his Kris “why the fuck do I have a roster spot” Benson.
So while McCarthy obviously has struggled with his command so far, I’d feel pretty comfortable saying he has better stuff than Feldman if ability to miss bats is any indication.
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph
great stats
but in this case I’m still more comfortable with the eyeball test. BMac has two pitches: a slurve he locates occasionally and a 90mph fastball with no movement.
I think Feldman’s stuff, durability, and competitiveness are all superior to McCarthy’s….and Feldman is still developing. Before last year the dude only threw 60 innings a year coming out of the pen. BMac has had many opportunities to show what he’s got and has not shown up.
my eyeball test gives the same results
I would add that McCarthy doesn’t command his FB either. Rarely do you ever see him hit the catchers target, which is probably why he gets squeezed some by the umps – they see the catcher constantly lunging across the plate to catch the ball.
Doctor please. Some more of these.
Feldman's curveball
It looks much better this season, and he’s throwing it more. If that pitch continues to develop, he could really take a couple more steps forward.
Doctor please. Some more of these.
I think Feldman's stuff looks better this year than last year
and I thought so even when he was sucking in the bullpen. But there is more than one way to skin a cat, and I don’t think I’d say Feldman’s stuff is better than McCarthy’s, just different.
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Personally,
I think he can. There is one issue though with all of this (not complaining) is that presently constructed the Rangers have Millwood, Padilla, Harrison, McCarthy, and Feldman. Millwood and Padilla are staying in the rotation barring injury. Harrison is just flat pitching lights out. He is a young guy so perhaps he has turned the corner. Feldman is solid and has shown he is a better SP than RP. So he stays. Yes I believe he is a good option for this team as a 4/5 guy. If everyone believes that then this brings to my next point.
Then you have McCarthy. The one starter that has struggled a bit in the past few weeks. He is also the one that you would figure the Rangers would stick with the longest due to who we traded to get him and his perceived youth (him and feldman are only 5 months apart) and possible upside. If McCarthy keeps struggling do the Rangers take him out of the rotation for Holland?
by Michael Cave on May 11, 2009 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't see why, other than a few bad starts to start out last year and this year
everybody finds it so hard to believe Harrison can be a GOOD pitcher, not just decent. His minor league track record wasn’t sparkling but it was very consistent, and very good. And all he had to do was get under control to duplicate that here.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 11, 2009 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions
That's pretty ridiculous, imo.
His last few starts have been sparkling beacons of hope, but there are plenty of valid reasons to believe this jump wouldn’t happen and/or that it’s a mirage.
I hope this “Post-second inning of the Baltimore start” Harrison is for real as much as anyone, but his profile isn’t nearly as indicative of future big league success as you seem to be positing here.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
You want the mustache on or off? ... ... ... Too bad.
by thedirkatron on May 11, 2009 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions
I deal in basics and don't dig TOO deep in the stats as many do here
but from the surface, name one pitching prospect we’ve had come through this system with as much consistency in ERA, K-to-BB ratio and low number of walks in general as Harrison had throughout his minor league career. My point is, he was successful pitching with such great control. And he’s displayed the tendency so far in the majors to have good if not great starts when he cuts down on his walks at the pro level.
To your point though, I don’t think I envisioned the fastball speed spike or change of pace in his delivery that seems to have added another element to his game. I’m not saying he is a sure thing # 2 or 3 starter, but on this team, if he can be a league average # 4 starter or better, that’s what I expect of him.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 11, 2009 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions
When Harrison has a sub 4.50 ERA in August
and has been reliably the Rangers 3rd best starter this year, I’m not going to pull the Harry Bandwagon to the side of the road to pick you up.
I have a little pet neuroscience theory about you and your fellow Harrison Haters. Sort of a PTSD effect where you see Harrison and have flashbacks to the inordinate number of soft tossing “maybe they’ll turn into Tom Glavine” failure lefties that this team has seen fail miserably after a half season of hit or miss starts. And I can’t really blame you – your amygdala is simply doing what it is supposed to do, yelling “danger! danger!” everytime it sees that lefty windup. But I think it’s wrong.
4.50 ERA in August, 3rd best starter
which 2 starters are going to be better than 4.50?
Doctor please. Some more of these.
I realized that after I hit submit
what the heck, I’m being optimistic unlike this AM when I was convinced the pitching was about to collapse.
If he does that then the bandwagon can run over my dog and bone down on my Mom for all I care.
It’s not that I don’t want him to turn out, I want that in the worst way.
I just see a slew of reasons of indicators that make me skeptical at this time.
I want to see more of the good stuff.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
You want the mustache on or off? ... ... ... Too bad.
by thedirkatron on May 11, 2009 6:49 PM CDT up reply actions
He's generally been pretty young for the league he's played in
plus he’s been promoted pretty aggressively. He hasn’t spent a full season in a league since A ball. There’s a reason scouts were pretty high on him before.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Indeed. No one is denying there are points in his favor.
But the general tone in light of his recent Water Into Wine-routine seems to be that there weren’t/aren’t any negative indicators in there either, and that we were silly to ever have doubted him at all.
Frankly I feel differently.
Let’s hope this water walking bit he’s been doing of late isn’t merely an illusion.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
You want the mustache on or off? ... ... ... Too bad.
by thedirkatron on May 11, 2009 6:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Harrison
didn’t most people here or at least the most vocal want to see the youngsters pitch in the Bigs? Didn’t most want the youngsters to learn in the Bigs? Isn’t Harrison one of the youngsters? Let him learn.
I soloed in the Mile High Club!
You're two weeks late with that
Now he is awesome, keep up.
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Horsedooty & The Silly Pucks coming soon
to a venue near you!
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
and your problem is? Does your mom or dad know you are on the computer unassisted? Not a good idea for youngsters. You should be in school now anyway.
I soloed in the Mile High Club!
Your problem
dude, we are on the internet joking around, this is not serious stuff here.
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dude here
no, my problem. I was attacked and struck back (a habit I have had all my long life) You and your little boys are full of shit. Rude and hostile to anyone that does not conform to your liking. I am surprised that Adam allows this form of verbal harassment on a blog that is his responsibility. So, thank you for allowing me to see the true nature of the participants and now I know and I don’t and won’t have to waste my time with juveniles like these assholes.
I soloed in the Mile High Club!
FWIW
in my reply to you above about being two weeks late, I was making fun of the rest of us here, including myself, not you. Really, though, most of the comments here are in the tone of guys giving each other shit while at the bar or watching a game. We have to be polite and business like everywhere else, this is our virtual game room/bar/poker night or some such release. We probably go overboard on the snark most days, but it is what it is.
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x
If one cannot handle being made fun of when someone disagrees with their opinion, maybe this isn’t the best place to be – meaning the internet – because that happens online everywhere, all the time.
by FuturePants on May 12, 2009 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions
x
what it boils down to is no one explains that this is not necessarily a sports driven blog. The name tells me that it is a fan blog about the Texas Rangers Baseball Club. I came here to learn about the goings on with the Rangers. I didn’t expect snarky comments all the time. Looks to me like I was wrong in assuming this. This blog seems like a personality style blog much akin to what the Ticket is to is to sports. Sure, there is Ranger news and stats but it seems to me that it is more about who can try and make the funnest (to them and their followers) posts that generally don’t seem to be too relevant to the thread. The Game Day Threads are the worst in my opinion. I will admit that as an older person and maybe the oldest person on this blog, I probably don’t GET the humor. I just don’t expect to have to get up and dust myself off after post something when trying participate in the discussion. This may be why there are only the regulars here and hardly any new posters. That is too bad when that happens.
Since I now know the rules, I might be better able to protect myself from the jabs and fun everyone seems to be having. I certainly don’t expect anything to change after this post.
I soloed in the Mile High Club!
I do agree with you...
on the GDT’s and lack of new posters.
People here express their opinion and many like to have fun in doing so, myself included. I don’t think it effects the knowledge and substance when it comes to the team though. Everyone has their own personality and there are many inside jokes amongst regulars here, but I still see LSB as a very informative blog that people can get their Rangers info from. However you still have to remember this is the net, and not take things too seriously. If someone is poking fun at you just laugh it off and move on. At least that’s what I try to do.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
If new posters
means new Fanposts by first time posters, I’m fine without having them.
4/10/09 - Josh Hamilton's last walk.
"You know a pitching prospect isn't any good if John Daniels doesn't trade him away but keeps him insteaad." - http://crops.mlblogs.com/
"You probably can throw Neftali Feliz on that group of overblown Rangers pitching prospect failures." - http://crops.mlblogs.com/
I made a non-offensive joke
based around your user name, and the fact that you said you were on the road…relax dude. I didn’t tell you to fuck off or anything, jeez.
And seriously, a mom and dad joke? Really? I haven’t lived under their roof for over two decades.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
Strange take given your signature
There are hundreds and hundreds of posts made each day over here. There is only so much that can be said about the Rangers. If you want more dead horse beating, then you can check out the DMN blog and see how much fun that is.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
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