10 Observations: Bubba Chandler Brilliance, Termarr Johnson surging, Lonnie White Jr.
10 Observations: Bubba Chandler Brilliance, Termarr Johnson surging, Lonnie White Jr.
A look at the final week of play for Altoona and Greensboro, along with finding a fit for Nick Yorke
Murphy 9/10—I’m not sure there is more I can say about Bubba Chandler that hasn’t yet. The rise he’s made over the past year has been incredible. He’s on another level right now, even factoring in his previous game with the five walks (still struck out eight). There’s legitimately a possibility he has four pitches that could end up average or better. His fastball is perhaps the best in the minors right now.
When it comes to right-handed pitching prospects, two immediately come to mind that I could see being ranked higher, and he’s younger than both of them while seeing more time in Triple-A as well.
It's just incredible to see. I’ve mentioned it in various places, but we saw what Jared Jones did this year, and I truly believe Chandler is ahead of him development-wise at the same point.
Murphy 9/10—That was about as ugly a game as you can have for Greensboro (game one). They struck out 17 times, only registered one extra base, and the pitching staff walked more than they had struck out.
I wrote over on DK Pittsburgh Sports about how reliant they have been on the three true outcomes, which is a result of it sometimes.
Murphy 9/11—I wonder if what is holding a Nick Yorke promotion is trying to find a fit for him in the majors? I’m not sure he will be able to do the super-utility thing in Pittsburgh, limiting him to just second and maybe left field. Both have potential answers right now (Reynolds definitely, Nick Gonzales maybe).
Yorke can hit, but if he is truly limited defensively, it makes you wonder more and more about the trade.
Either way, with the way he’s hitting, there needs to be a spot opened for him in the majors.
Murphy 9/11—Thomas Harrington has been settling into the ‘back-of-the-rotation’ profile since getting promoted to Triple-A. Almost starting to feel what you probably wanted Quinn Priester to be if his control ever allowed him to throw consistent strikes.
The fastball shape has taken a step back (if it was ever there), and without the velocity, it’s hard to call it even an average pitch at times. He’s not getting many misses, but there’s so much weak contact and throwing a lot of strikes.
It’s generally a good combination for some success at the next level, maybe not much more than a 4/5.
WTM 9/12 — Folks might want to be a little cautious thinking Jared Triolo has successfully adjusted to major league pitching. He’s had a good run the last few weeks, but that’s mostly come in September. Last year he put up an OPS of 1.025 in September after struggling before that. September stats are notoriously unreliable. Many teams’ pitching staffs are a shambles. The Pirates’ rotation has held up remarkably well, but look at the bullpen and consider that many teams now are having as much trouble with their rotations as the Pirates are with their bullpen. The jury should still be out here.
Murphy 9/12—The Grasshoppers were obviously being careful with Wilber Dotel to close things out, but that’s about as good a wrap to a season as you’d want to see (if that was his last start).
The stuff is there for Dotel, it’s just a matter if he can take that next step (something I wrote about last Friday). Attacking with the fastball in the zone will be key going forward, which we saw on Thursday.
Murphy 9/12—It only resulted in a hit, but I thought those were some of the better at-bats I’ve seen Termarr Johnson take since being promoted, from what I’ve seen. Slapped a ball the other way, drove a ball to get a sacrifice fly.
A decent bounce-back from a four-strikeout game on Tuesday (was off on Wednesday). He won’t chase out the zone, so contact, contact, contact (in the zone).
Murphy 9/13—The final start for Anthony Solometo probably best describes his 2024 season. Even when it seemed like he may have been pitching well, maybe he wasn’t.
After allowing two runs in the first inning, he put together four shutout to close his start. Even so, he allowed nine hits and a walk in those five frames. So, even when it seemed like he was building momentum, there was something there.
It was a rough season, but based on his interview during a Pirates game, he seems to know what went wrong and how he will attack it.
Murphy 9/13—It won’t show up on the stat sheet, but that was a somewhat encouraging way to end his 2024 season for Lonnie White Jr.
He went 2-4 with two doubles but also struck out twice.
White is another player having a bad season, and there is no way to hide it. He’ll have to get the strikeouts under control, but we did see flashes. So, maybe another player who wrapped up the season gave a small dose of what their 2024 seasons were like.
Murphy 9/4—I alluded earlier in the week about finding a fit for Yorke in the majors. He’s played shortstop Friday and Saturday, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa is starting to regress hitting-wise.
Maybe something to watch Yorke’s usage over the next couple of days.
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WTM: In the previous topic I listed the OPS numbers since the All Star Break and Triolo's was .785. Yes, he started the season with a "unique" new stance, but for the record his numbers started to get better in July, then 100 point OPS increase in Aug and almost another 100 point OPS increase in Sep - not purely just September numbers -
Mar/Apr - .554
May - .561
Jun - .549
Jul - .622
Aug - .731
Sep - .827
I think his numbers started to increase as he changed his stance, and began to play more regularly. Pretty special numbers on Defense as well - .983 fld %age in 460 innings at 3B, and .995 fld %age in 374 innings at 2B. He's a ballplayer, and I think he is starting to feel his way with some additional power as well. Also like the twin 42's also - 42 RBI, 42 BB.
I agree with WTM observation on Triolo, while being optimistic on a very noticeable adjustment to his swing. Triolo had a standing load previously (hands went straight into his swing with no recoil). Now he's starting with his hands lower he pulls back before releasing his hands. This should in theory help with his timing and power output. Hopefully he can continue to progress but expecting a drastic improvement on a little over a month probably isn't wise. He has always hit better at the end of the season when healthy.