Minors 5/24: Kirkman and Font
by rooster on May 24, 2009 11:34 AM CDT
90 comments
The former fifth-round pick made his best start to date Tuesday, striking out 11 over seven scoreless innings as the Blaze defeated the Stockton Ports, 9-5.
"I had my location tonight with my fastball, and that always helps," said Kirkman, who improved to 4-1 while lowering his ERA to 2.06. "The slider was good and my curveball was actually very good, too. Of course, the defense had some good plays behind me to get me out of it."
To tame the sluggers in a league known for scores that often resemble football games, Kirkman came into the year with a simple plan: Just throw strikes.
"So far, I've pretty much done that," he said.
Font, we've all known about for quite some time. His game begins at 5:30p. How similar is Font's success in A-ball compared to Feliz's. Not very, other than the ability to utterly dominate hitters with their fastballs. Font's performance has suffered (but remember his ERA is 1.50) from his inability to keep the ball in the zone. BB/9 for Feliz last year and Font this year are 3.07 and 5.96, respectively. So, the similarity between Feliz's breakout last year and Font's fast start this year are superficial. The analogy basically ends with their awe-inspiring fastballs.
Font-Kirkman == Feliz-Holland? No. Feliz-Holland was an incredibly special one-two breakout. Still there is much to like about what Font-Kirkman have done this year (Font is actually a year younger than Feliz was at this time last year), and I'm looking forward to all of the eyewitness reports and analysis of stuff and velocity that will ensue this afternoon.
BTW, Hunter for the Hawks at 2p, and maybe T-Murph in Bakersfield tonight at 9:30.
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Font
Font is actually a year younger than Feliz was at this time last year
And to think he actually missed a year of development…
"[Font} doesn't turn 19 until the end of May and his heater can already hit 99 on the gun. That's baseball porn." - Jason Parks
by hightowersmith on May 24, 2009 11:47 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
OT
Have to put this somewhere. I bitch about LSB 2.0 as much as anybody, but I just updated from IE 7 to IE 8 and the user friendliness of LSB 2.0 skyrocketed for me. Like night and day.
Wow. Update to IE 8 if you haven’t already – that’s my main point here.
Oh – and T Murph starting for BAK is a pure guess so far.
by shroomer on May 24, 2009 12:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
can you expand on the diffference?
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 24, 2009 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
loads faster – pops pages faster, goodies like ‘z’ work tons better, doesn’t freeze up and balk when scrolling
GDT worked fluid and I could comment and ‘z’ without hangups, balkage and long unresponsive stretches eliminated
I was having to run without pictures just to keep from pulling my hair out. Now it’s just like any other website – very responsive and fluid – even with pics and avatars turned back on.
Yay.
by shroomer on May 24, 2009 10:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kirkman
Only downside to this emergence is it only adds to the 40 man crunch coming this winter
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.
by bigsteve on May 24, 2009 12:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
So
More pressure from the 40-man on a late season Smoak look-see call-up?
by shroomer on May 24, 2009 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Are you saying its less likely?
I would say probably so.
Right now I count 4 guys who will be added to the 40 this winter if not sooner. Feliz, Castillo, Kirkman, Pina. Hurley will have to be re-added from the 60 day. Then you have a few guys like Whittleman, Beau Jones, and Zach Phillips who could be interesting cases depending how the rest of the season goes.
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.
by bigsteve on May 24, 2009 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
man it's going to be weird
getting Hurley back
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 24, 2009 7:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
no comment
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 24, 2009 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He'll be the new Thomas Diamond.
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"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 on Matt Harrison
by lonestarJon on May 24, 2009 11:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Except for with actual
breaking pitches. That slider/change he threw last year was pretty sick, too bad he could never command that FB
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
by FirebatM3 on May 24, 2009 11:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
other than
that he has to show up and actually “show” something above AA this year (and dont give me the BS about his rangers starts — SSS and everyone knows it)
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 25, 2009 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not talking stats
just arsenal. That changeup/slider was very nice.
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
by FirebatM3 on May 25, 2009 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Let's see
Working from Lucas’ 4/7 40-man table (so there may be a new twist since then that I’m forgetting), here are our candidates:
Castillo, Fabio
Feliz, Neftali
Jones, Beau
Kirkman, Michael
Murray, AJ (I added him, not sure if I’m missing something but I’d think he could come up this summer)
Nevarez, Matt
Osuna, Renny
Paisano, David
Phillips, Zach
Pina, Manuel
Santana, Cristian
Strop, Pedro
Tracy, Chad
Whittleman, John
Feliz will be on the team during this season, so let’s just add him to the big roster guys, which I would think gives them 27 no brainers to stay on the 40:
Julio Borbon
Tommy Hunter
Brandon Boggs
Max Ramirez
German Duran
Jose Vallejo
Eric Hurley
Elvis Andrus
Michael Young
Nelson Cruz
Chris Davis
Taylor Teagarden
Brandon McCarthy
Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Marlon Byrd
Josh Hamilton
Kevin Millwood
C.J. Wilson
Scott Feldman
Derek Holland
Ian Kinsler
Frank Francisco
Matt Harrison
Darren O’Day
Warner Madrigal
David Murphy
Neftali Feliz
That leaves 13 spots for these incumbants:
John Bannister
Thomas Diamond
Willie Eyre
Luis Mendoza
Guillermo Moscoso
Dustin Nippert
Joaquin Arias
Omar Poveda
Greg Golson
and I think these guys are the ones that would be real possibilities to be added:
Michael Kirkman
AJ Murray
Manuel Pina
Pedro Strop
Fabio Castillo
Matt Nevarez
After watching guys like Ivan Nova get picked and returned, I’m more confident that Castillo and Nevarez can be slid through unless they have really nice results in High A, particularly if the reports that Castillo still isn’t throwing that hard hold true.
I don’t think that Jones, Osuna, Paisano, Phillips, Santana, Tracy or Whittleman are significant/advanced enough to be much of a consideration. I suppose that Phillips could do great in the Frisco pen or Santana could really show promise, but there are more advanced versions of Phillips floating around every year, and Santana is so far away, he’d probably have to become a top prospect to be worth protecting. He’d be an absolute liability for whoever would try to keep him in the big leagues all season, and he’d turn into one of those Willy Mo Pena cases.
by Brett Perryman on May 24, 2009 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
And one name that I see
who was designated early in the season but could be a candidate again is Doug Mathis. There are probably more. I threw this together hastily.
by Brett Perryman on May 24, 2009 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
make this a fanpost zy
great stuff and needs a bigger place for talk about it imho
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 24, 2009 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know if it was its own fanpost or not
But we had some nice discussion before the season started right around when Lucas came out with his spreadsheet for 40 eligibility. Id enjoy another thread about it. Maybe every 6 weeks or so as guys performance changes.
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.
by bigsteve on May 24, 2009 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yea id agree with that
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 24, 2009 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Font.... Speaking of great names in sports, I just learned
there is an indy driver named Will Power.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 24, 2009 12:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I want
Jurickson Profar to sign with the Rangers so badly, and about 40% of it is his name.
by Brett Perryman on May 24, 2009 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Do you have a profile on this kid?
by Goyogringo on May 24, 2009 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
From BA
Curacao has one of the top prospects this year, righthander Jurickson Profar. If the name sounds familiar, you might remember Profar as the star of the 2004 Little League World Series champion team from Curacao. Profar threw six shutout innings with one hit allowed, 12 strikeouts and five walks in a 4-0 victory against Mexico in the international championship game, then went 2-for-3 with a home run in Curacao’s 5-2 victory against California in the LLWS championship game.
Profar also led Curacao to a runner-up finish in the LLWS in 2005, when Hawaii defeated Curacao 7-6 in the championship game, in which Profar played shortstop and went 2-for-4 at the plate. Profar did not pitch in the championship game that year, but he did pitch in the international championship game, allowing two hits in six scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts and six walks in a 2-0 victory against Japan.
Profar, who turned 16 on February 20, isn’t too big, but he already has a fastball in the low-90s with a solid-average breaking ball that projects as a plus pitch in the future. Several scouts said they believe the Rangers are the frontrunners to sign Profar, a good athlete who some think could also be a prospect as a shortstop.
I fully agree with Z on this one. A dude named Jurickson Profar will inevitably reach the majors and put up Hall of Fame numbers.
by LiamP on May 24, 2009 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
interesting
he’s been eligible to sign a/o feb 20th. If TX is the front-runner, I wonder what the holdup is.
by Goyogringo on May 24, 2009 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Waiting to see what similar guys may get on July 2, maybe?
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 24, 2009 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think that he could sign
I think that the July 2 signing date is for those who have already turned 16 this year. Those who turn 16 after July 2 can sign on their birthdays. At least that’s my recollection.
by Brett Perryman on May 24, 2009 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Profar seems to be the type of player we should be going for
A winner. He seems to have been very successful at a very young age, and knows the pressures of each pitch and each situation. Speaking of Latin American signings, anyone fear that if we get a couple of quality guys in June draft that are high bonus guys, we might be losing out on Profar or Pimentel and do what they have been doing last few yrs with guys in 500K range and below.
by gamerabcd on May 24, 2009 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ProfarTurley seems to be the type of player we should be going for
A winner. He seems to have been very successful at a very young age, and knows the pressures of each pitch and each situation.
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 24, 2009 9:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can you throw
a few names out there from VZ, Colombia, Taiwan, SKorea, Australia or other non-Dominican prospects that might have been discussed by BA? Not a lot of non DR stuff out there (free stuff that is).
by Goyogringo on May 24, 2009 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I haven’t heard much on guys from the Pacific Rim. ESPN’s blog has quite a bit on non-DR LA guys, though I know that’s pay. I’ll just list a few of the names, in case you haven’t seen them.
OF Leonardo Fuentes – Col
P Jhonatan Escudero – Col
OF Jaider Rocha – Col
SS Mauro Lopez – Col
P Jose Osuna – Ven
P Rafael Diaz – Ven
C Julio Morillo – Ven
OF Delbis Arcila – Ven
3B Gabriel Tenia – Ven
P Daniel Sanchez – Ven
Paul Carlixte – Haiti (age question)
3B Cheslor Cuthbert – Nic
by Brett Perryman on May 24, 2009 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
sparse crowd in Frisco today
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
by RangerMad on May 24, 2009 2:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Uh oh
Kirkman with the bases loaded no outs in 1st inning
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.
by bigsteve on May 24, 2009 2:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
And he WPs in a run
Anyone watching it from the start can tell how the bases got loaded
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.
by bigsteve on May 24, 2009 2:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Two singles on fastballs
He’s just getting too much of the plate against good FB hitters. There are some good hitters on the SA team.
by Brett Perryman on May 24, 2009 2:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Whoa. Tough beginning for Kirkman.
Two singles and a walk load the bases. Radio guys say Kirkman is missing outside against the guy he walked.
Now a wild pitch.
Good grief. Someone needs to settle that kid down.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 24, 2009 2:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The guy scored off a WP
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.
by bigsteve on May 24, 2009 2:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought I corrected that before hitting 'post', but I guess not.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 24, 2009 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ugh
3-0 still in top of the 1st with only 1 out
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.
by bigsteve on May 24, 2009 2:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Out of the inning
He looks pretty good to me, ironically. Might wish that his FB looked a little harder to hit. They did say that it was registering 91, 94.
by Brett Perryman on May 24, 2009 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hopefully it was just nerves
To be honest I have been watching mostly the Rangers game only flipping over a couple times. I wish a good game on Mr Kirkman
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.
by bigsteve on May 24, 2009 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's starting to settle in now. Lazy FB and a K.
Some well thrown change-ups seemed to help get him on track.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 24, 2009 2:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Ump squeezed the zone on walk
But he got the K on curve. Seems to mixing the pitches well, learning fast to not rely on fastball to get by double a hitters.
by gamerabcd on May 24, 2009 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He is calling pitches right down the middle balls
Other than his FB being a little too hittable, I’m not discouraged at all by Kirkman so far.
by Brett Perryman on May 24, 2009 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think it got *that* bad.
There were a lot of pitches easily in the zone that were called balls, though.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was watching on TV, so
I didn’t have a perfect angle, but there were two pitches around the time that I said that that appeared to be right down the middle on TV. I understand the skew, and there is still no way that they were balls.
by Brett Perryman on May 24, 2009 6:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
All three games this series have been like that.
This whole crew calls a really, really tight zone from top-to-bottom. Left-to-right seems pretty inconsistent.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 9:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No Smoak today
Don’t the Rangers understand the benefit of showcasing their prospects?
by gamerabcd on May 24, 2009 2:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
They clearly don't place a priority on it
There are obviously realities that fans are not aware of, but I find it to be kind of an annoying trait.
by Brett Perryman on May 24, 2009 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Add to it that both times Riders have been on tv
were against Rangers at same time on different channel. Glad to atleast see Kirkman this time and Kiker last time.
by gamerabcd on May 24, 2009 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Smoak was unavailable.
I heard someone say something about a rib cage thing.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Boy, the Frisco defense just doesn't compare the Rangers, it sounds.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 24, 2009 3:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Kirkman with a bases-loaded 2-out K. Way to hang in there, kid.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 24, 2009 3:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Radio announcers for San Antonio have repeatedly asserted it appears Kirkman at times
is aiming his pitches rather than throwing them, especially outside to righties.
Does anyone who has watched the game have the same perception?
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 24, 2009 3:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Hunter having an awesome game
6 innings of 4 hit ball with no runs and 5 Ks. Only at 80 pitches too. With his up and down season, will he get passed by guys like Kiker and Kirkman?
by gamerabcd on May 24, 2009 4:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Depends on what you mean by passed
Kiker’s always been a better prospect than Hunter.
If you’re talking about reaching the majors faster than Hunter (again), then probably not.
by LiamP on May 24, 2009 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pina finally gets a little luck on his side
With RBI single. After 2 line outs, when he hit the ball squarely. Does he have a little Pudge in him of being very aggressive at the plate? Also, with using all fields too, one of the lineouts was to right field.
by gamerabcd on May 24, 2009 4:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Jumbo Diaz
First time I’ve ever seen him. I’d heard he was big, but wow…
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
by RCCook on May 24, 2009 4:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
yeah
Jumbo doesn’t do him justice
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
by RangerMad on May 24, 2009 5:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I say we call him up next time we play the Angels and let him start.
His specific instructions:
1) Incite brawl.
2) Break many dudes.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
I think movies where it turns out the British guy did it are probably pretty accurate.
by thedirkatron on May 24, 2009 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
He probably has enough stamina to fight for about six seconds, though. Maybe he could clunk a few heads together in that time.
by Brett Perryman on May 24, 2009 6:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol
Literally… I giggled.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on May 24, 2009 7:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I get the impression
he’s a gentle giant. Kiker would be a little pit bull, don’t let the fair hair fool.
"I saw your act, just didn't make it for me. Just a lot of fluff."
by scoop16 on May 24, 2009 6:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What is the scouting report on him?
by austin p. on May 24, 2009 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Picture as big of a guy as you can, throwing mid-upper 90s. Control comes and goes.
by Brett Perryman on May 24, 2009 6:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Like Andre the Giant
throwing rocks in Princess Bride, but with slightly better mechanics.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 24, 2009 11:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ha. Greatness.
“I hope you dream of very large women.”
"I saw your act, just didn't make it for me. Just a lot of fluff."
by scoop16 on May 25, 2009 1:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What station is Kirkland on?
II Cor. 4:17-18
by TedFord on May 24, 2009 5:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Was on CH21.
Started at 2pm, prolly over now.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
by Rodney on May 24, 2009 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
good outing by Hunter today
8.1 7H 2ER 3BB 5K
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
by RangerMad on May 24, 2009 6:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Would have been better
if they hadn’t made him throw so many pitches to try to get his own shutout.
by Brett Perryman on May 24, 2009 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kirkman has been the Holland of 2009?
Come on now, he hasn’t quite been that good.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 24, 2009 11:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That would be Wilfredo Boscan
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
by FirebatM3 on May 24, 2009 11:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kinda has been
Holland last year
Clinton: 2.40 ERA, 8.7 K/9, 2.8 BB/9
Bakersfield: 3.19 ERA, 10.7 K/9, 1.5 BB/9
Kirkman this year
Bakersfield: 2.06 ERA, 10.1 K/9, 3.4 BB/9
The big difference is walks which is a big thing. Kirkman had almost 50 innings in Bakersfield while Holland only had 31. The difference will be in how they do at AA. Kirkman will have alot more time there than Dutch did last year and he is a year older than Holland was at these levels. But they have had similar numbers.
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.
by bigsteve on May 24, 2009 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
THe difference
is also a velocity jump for Holland, vs. what looks like a fluky HR/FB for Kirkman. His increased strikeout rate has been awesome, but on the hole, his walk rate has been higher while the reports of his stuff seem largely the same. He might make a good, Josh Outman like BOTR guy or be an effective reliever, but he’s not Derek Holland at thispoint.
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
by FirebatM3 on May 24, 2009 11:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
well, Kirkman has been throwing 94 according to the gun today and
Jason Coles, thats only a slight tick below Holland and is exactly where Holland was at the start of last year.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on May 25, 2009 12:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
the difference definitely has to be the walk rate though
makes Holland a much more believable and better prospect i guess. Still, this showing so far has to put Kirkman on the radar as another guy to keep at the top of our prospect minds
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on May 25, 2009 12:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's just pretty early
for that kind of talk. Let’s see what Kirkman is doing in a month or so, how he adjusts to AA. It’s very exciting but we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 25, 2009 1:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There's a difference
between hitting and consistantly working. Even beyond that, I think Kirkman’s numbers are contingent on a 2% HR/FB which will regress.
Like I said, I like him as a Josh Outman type of pitcher, but he’s no Derek Holland. That’s Wilfredo Boscan
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
by FirebatM3 on May 25, 2009 1:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Its not really about the #s at all
it is about expectations. Kirkman has only now realized, and possibly exceeded, the expectations that attended to him coming out of high school. He was a top prep arm coming out of a big talent state, CA. Until last year, people had pretty much given up on him. He had a good not great year last year but his velo was still in the 86-88 range while it was 88-92 coming out of HS. Basically, Kirkman is doing what he was supposed to do if he realized his potential.
Holland however far exceeded any expectations that the club had for him. He signed for around 4th round money. The club expected his velo to peak in the low 90s so that he could have profiled as a pen arm or back rotation starter. Now the guy can flash 97-98, works 92-96, with plus control. The difference between the two is pure alchemy I tell you, not numbers at all (unless they stem from numerology)…
by Goyogringo on May 24, 2009 11:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hasn't Kirkman been injured most of the last couple years
I agree Kirkman is no Dutch but his numbers at least do draw a comparison to Holland from last year.
What does that say? I don’t know. But I am more than willing to give Kirkman the rest of this year and then add him to the 40 and give him another year or two before saying he isn’t but just a back of rotation guy
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.
by bigsteve on May 24, 2009 11:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Moreland in RF today
has that been something he’s been doing recently? I havent gotten a chance to check the box scores this last week, but this was a move i’ve been wanting them to make with two guys his age at 1b already ahead of him. I know he was an OF in the past and was hoping the organization would give him a chance to be one again b/c his bat has been nothing but great in his time in full season ball… Id really like to see him in AA soon to see if he can actually legitimize himself as a good prospect by not playing below his age.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on May 25, 2009 12:13 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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