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Wow
Trip, Pedro Strop at #12?
I feel even more conviction about my defense of Main after reading Jason Parks, the BBTiA gang, and Brett all have Main right around where I have him (7th).
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I still think Main is a top five prospect
At least until Scheppers and Purke throw a professional pitch.
That's why they call them business sox
Scheppers has thrown many professional pitches.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 15, 2009 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions
nitpicking a little bit :)
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
Baseball has no such thing.
It’s called the “First-Year Player Draft” for a reason.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 15, 2009 4:58 PM CDT up reply actions
Strop over Madrigal confuses me.
I guess you have to see him on one of his “spectacularly good” days, which I’m guessing Trip has.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 15, 2009 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Even on his bad days, he's got way better stuff than Madrigal.
Lately, he’s been throwing 94-97 mph fastballs, 82-86 mph sliders, and 79-88 mph splitters. It’s nasty and impossible to ignore.
by NoNameOnCard on Jul 15, 2009 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions
I'll take your word for it. You've seen him in person and are the resident mechanics guru so I'll defer to you on his stuff and mechanics.
I’d argue it’s pretty unpossible to ignore his control issues as well, but, like I said, you’ve seen him and those pitch velocities you’re quoting are mighty impressive indeed.
Still, I think what Madrigal’s doing in AAA this season has gone a bit overlooked. IMO this guy is going to be a big addition to the ’pen sometime in the second half.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 15, 2009 5:56 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm just not a huge fan of Madrigal's stuff.
This is especially true when comparing him to someone like Strop. Madrigal is more polished and more ready, but in comparing their ceilings, it’s not even a contest, it’s a flat-out stomping. His stuff is absolutely crazy.
by NoNameOnCard on Jul 15, 2009 6:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Do you think
Strop is gaining any in the consistency category with that sexy stuff?
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It's hard to say.
He seems to freeze a lot of guys with his slider and splitter only to narrowly miss the strike zone. His stuff has improved since earlier this season. I think his stuff will play up now better than it did in April. Strop has definitely made several strides in the right direction, improving with each passing month.
He’s not going to give up a lot of hits, so the walks should be somewhat tolerable. His split is his least-consistent pitch, varying in command and velocity even within an outing.
by NoNameOnCard on Jul 15, 2009 6:25 PM CDT up reply actions
Since he hasn't always been a pitcher
it wouldn’t surprise me if he made a big leap in consistency this year as he gets more innings under his belt.
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That plate discipline is scary good.
If he can start driving the ball again and figure out a way to hit even .250-.260 he could be be a real plus at the plate.
And, yah, his 1.235 OPS w/6 dingers over the past 14 days has sent little pangs of hope shooting up my spine as well.
Surprising stats of the day: Whttleman’s BABIP during his recent 14 day world-raping is a comically low .158. Normally when a guy is setting the world on fire in a SSS situation you expect his BABIP to be off the charts in the other direction. With anywhere near normalized luck he’d be raping the world even harder right now.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 15, 2009 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions
And, yah, his 1.235 OPS w/6 dingers over the past 14 days has sent little pangs of hope shooting up my spine as well.
Up your spine?
"[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 Jul 15, 2009 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions
My man spine I meant.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 15, 2009 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions
If the rule 5 draft was tomorrow would you protect him?
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.
I'd have to look more at our 40 situation, but I really don't think so.
I haven’t heard many reports on his defense lately, but I’m assuming it’s still pretty bad.
A kid who struggled for so much of the season with the bat and doesn’t really have a defensive home at this point probably isn’t much of a threat to earn a spot on somebody’s 25-man roster all season long.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 15, 2009 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions
I can agree with all that
I think hes gonna be the hardest decision this winter. Mainly due to our lack of a true 3B in the upper levels in case of an injury befalling our current 3B.
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.
Trip is the guy driving the Whittleman bandwagon
Hopefully, he will be along soon to discuss.
The thing that I find intriguing about Whittleman’s hot streak is that he apparently began using a lighter bat very recently. Perhaps the hot streak is not a streak at all but merely the result of an equipment change that has and will continue to allow him to hit up to his potential.
I hope so
Because like I said on the minors thread last night, I’m rooting for a kid who continues to maintain ridiculously good discipline at the plate even though his average hovers near the Mendoza for weeks and months at a time.
I know the world, and baseball, ain’t a fair place, but Johnny’s eye deserves to be rewarded with a decent AVG. If he could just get his average into a tolerable range, his OBP would be outstanding.
"andruw jones hits 3 HRS at LA of Anaheim last nite after hitting zero at LA of LA as Dodger in all of '08. thats nuts." SI_JonHeyman
Yah, what a crazy boon it would be for the team if Whittleman could figure out how to hit .260-.270 with semi-decent pop.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 15, 2009 5:01 PM CDT up reply actions
18 errors on the season though
he’s been Gamel-esque as a defender
I’m a white boy who doesn’t think a black man is good enough to manage my baseball team. - LSJ
"I really think that" - LSJ, on being asked by AirJordan
Ugh, I was afraid of this.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 15, 2009 5:56 PM CDT up reply actions
lighter bat
Meh, I’ve seen quite a few reports over the years of guys switching to heavier or lighter bats and I’m very skeptical that it has much, if any, effect. Whittleman is just streaky. Mere correlation.
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Hmmmmm, I might have to rethink that...
Practicing with a heavier bat significantly slows down the velocity of the bat head—depriving the batter of slugging power, exercise researchers at California State University, Fullerton, say. Swinging light or normal weight lumber just before stepping up to the plate helps players become accustomed to swinging fast, repetition that is key to athletic training, the researchers say.
A study says batters should not use the weighted bat for practice swings, it slows down their swing even after they drop the weight. Maybe it did help Whittleman.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=baseball-bat-speed-all-star
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Neuromuscular sequencing.
Weighted bats (or bat weights) will make you stronger and improve overall fitness for the swing muscles, but they will not help you swing faster. <— Overload Training
Since lighter objects allow you to move faster, your body and brain get better practice at sequencing the joint actions responsible for swinging the bat. <— Underload Training
by NoNameOnCard on Jul 15, 2009 6:59 PM CDT up reply actions
Makes sense
You can build strength with weight training; you’re after bat speed when swinging. The lighter bat with no weighted practice swings seems smart.
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For about 6 weeks now, he's been hitting like he's playing RBI Baseball '92 for Sega Genesis.
His batting eye has been crazy over the past two months, reaching at .393 in June and .435 in July despite batting averages of .227 and .257 for the same two months. His BABIP, like thedirkatron said, has been comically low during this time. A slight regression to the mean makes his stats look even better over this period.
Even when he makes outs, he’s absolutely crushing the ball. You guys have seen 14 days of results, I’ve seen 6 weeks of great at bats (well, only during home games. but the span is 6 weeks).
Some people will still argue that this is a small sample size, but we’re talking about scouting and not stats here. SSS doesn’t apply. Something is clicking for Whittleman, and he’s always had the tools to be a very serious hitter. The skills are finally developing, and I expect a few more of these line drives will start finding gaps.
His defense will eventually push him to LF, I think. He struggles too much with his footwork. The tools are there, but it looks like he loses concentration and/or rushes too much at times.
by NoNameOnCard on Jul 15, 2009 6:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Good stuff, Trip
You get bonus points in my book for the RBI Baseball reference. RBI Baseball 3 on NES remains one of my all time favorite video games.
Those OBPs are almost otherworldly considering the AVG and BABIP associated with them. I’m glad to hear the scouting view is that things are finally starting to click. What kind of power do you see him likely developing? Do you see this as a sign of good power eventually developing or is he likely to just to have below average pop for a corner guy?
I would take below average power but above average plate discipline from a guy that I could conceivably hit in front of big boppers like Ham/CD/Smoak/Cruz/Kins.
"andruw jones hits 3 HRS at LA of Anaheim last nite after hitting zero at LA of LA as Dodger in all of '08. thats nuts." SI_JonHeyman
by WestTxAg06 on Jul 15, 2009 6:22 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I have no idea if he can even play the OF.
He might be a future DH, for all I know. He’s fast enough to get the job done, but he’d probably have some learning to do regarding fly balls and angles and all that.
He could easily develop 20 HR power, but he’s going to be more of a doubles hitter. I already compared Tim Smith to Rusty Greer for the all-around game they played, but the way Whittleman hits (especially with his batting eye), there might not be a better bat-to-bat comparison than Rusty Greer.
by NoNameOnCard on Jul 15, 2009 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions
His splits are bad this year
but I don’t recall that being true the last couple of years, so I’m guessing it’s just SSS.
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He throws left
I’m a white boy who doesn’t think a black man is good enough to manage my baseball team. - LSJ
"I really think that" - LSJ, on being asked by AirJordan
That's good to hear
So, say that Whittleman keeps putting up about the numbers he’s been putting up recently. Do you put him on the 40 man roster? Yes or no?
What if he gets significantly worse?
Just curious on the scouting aspect. (IOW, do you think someone would take a flyer on him for the Rule 5 draft in those scenarios?)
R
I don't think so
My limited knowledge of the Rule 5 draft leads me to believe that the most likely guys to be taken are guys who you can stash at the back end of your bullpen (e.g. Fabio Castro) or, to a lesser extent, utility infield/5th OF types who can be the last guy on the bench and serve as a pinch runner/defensive replacement type. A bad defensive 3B who projects as possibly a corner outfielder doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would be taken in the Rule 5 because you’re all but wasting a roster spot for a full year.
Unless Whittleman hits .300/.450/.700 the rest of the way and forces a Triple A callup before the season, I can’t see protecting him especially given the guys who are Rule 5 eligible this year. Guys like Beau Jones and Fabio Castillo profile as the exact type of player most at risk to be lost if unprotected.
"andruw jones hits 3 HRS at LA of Anaheim last nite after hitting zero at LA of LA as Dodger in all of '08. thats nuts." SI_JonHeyman
I don't think he's a serious candidate for Rule IV.
He’s only shown this ability to hit (scouting not stats) AA pitching for about 6 weeks. Assuming he can keep it up, his numbers should shoot way up. There are only 6 more weeks left, but it would give him a little more than half a season showing serious promise once again. This would be more than enough in most cases, but Whittleman’s “slump” lasted nearly a year.
If I were an opposing GM, I wouldn’t have room for a guy on my 40 that doesn’t really have a solid position on defense. Whittleman would need to play, and Rule V picks tend to sit more often than they play.
I think he needs to either continue the upward trend into total domination in order catch a spot on the 40 this winter. I don’t believe that’s very likely. If he wasn’t coming out of a horrendously long slump, there’s a decent chance that he would have been a serious 40 candidate.
I think the Rangers will leave him exposed. I think he not be selected.
by NoNameOnCard on Jul 15, 2009 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Some corrections....
Opposing GM reference should be to 25-man roster.
My last sentence should say, “I think he will not be selected.”
by NoNameOnCard on Jul 15, 2009 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Scheppers medical question
Are we not at the point right now where an MRI can spot a 50% tear?
The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano
Selective rumor mongering
of the counter-intelligence type.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
Labrums don't "light up" in an MRI.
Even with injections, there’s no guarantee that a tear will show. You have to scope it to be certain.
Sometimes they will show up, but a lot of the time, they won’t.
by NoNameOnCard on Jul 15, 2009 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions
Plus
you were right a couple weeks ago about labrums being torn and a pitcher possibly not knowing about it. Happened to a teammate in college. He was wondering why his arm felt dead moreso than usual. Came to find out he had a torn labrum. His stuff wasnt really suffering much, just having trouble with recovery.
by Michael Cave on Jul 15, 2009 5:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Thanks, I was trying to get a sense of "how sure" the Rangers could be that he's OK.
The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano
No, and probably won't until Aug17
They are likely to go olver slot for each, and will not incur the wrath of Selig yb doing so any earlier than everyone else.
The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano
I promise, I haven't started drinking.. I just can't type
The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano
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