Chase Burns is a kid who has all the tools; it's just knowing how to use those tools. His overall ERA for the 2023 season was a respectable 4.25 ERA in 72 IP, 114 K/22 BB. But, a look at his SEC stats and you see a 7.88 ERA in 32 IP, 53 K/11 BB, but 10 HR. Still the Velo and stuff to have 53K in only 32 innings pitched, but . . . . ! Maybe he can get it all together at the Wake.
I was and I wasn’t. It’s fun to see if a guy can do it. It’s also insanely difficult which is why we’ve seen one guy do it in the last 100 years. Fans easily lose site of that.
They may do the following but I doubt it. I wish for those with 2 way potential who are primarily pitchers that they would continue to have them take regular BP and face some live pitching (rehab pitchers?). It's basically keeping them at least minimally in touch with their hitting skills. With the DH this is much less important, but I believe there still could be times (extra inning games, injuries, don't want to burn the backup catcher) where having them get an at bat could pay off. Sometimes you are just hoping for contact or a competitive at bat. This of course really only works for starting pitchers as burning a reliever for this purpose would be ever rarer. I know this would be a very rare occurrence but who knows.. maybe it also let's them go to a 'happy' place (Batting Practice) when there are stressers elsewhere.
Batting reps are so much harder to replicate. If the team thinks it’s 40% chance or higher the player makes it as a hitter, then make him a hitter full time. He can fall back on pitching. I think Bubba was always less than 40% as a hitter.
Regular season Thatcher was a Turd. CWS Thatcher was a pitcher that could be Hurd earlier in first round (thank you, thank you. I'll be here all season).
His curve was real pretty in the college post season.
Hartle has very good command, he definitely has the highest floor but without a pitch that puts hitters away his ceiling isn't much higher than his floor. He seems like a Littlefield pick, if we had a top 5 pick.
If he has an uptick in velocity or his other pitches improve, he could really move up.
In the current environment, it feels like stuff is easier to develop than command. Which is why Brecht scares me. If he develops command to go with his stuff, then he’s probably going top 5 and out of their range. I tend to veer more towards the bats in this class (so far) but maybe some of these college arms take a big step.
I will say, watching some of the college videos I liked him a lot more then compared to what I saw in Bradenton. I'd be willing to say it was from him coming back from TJ, so if he gets back to what we saw him in college, he could be in line for a huge season
I think he does. He was just coming back from TJ. He's not a big velo guy, but generates a lot of swing and miss. Would be nice if he added a couple ticks, but he already has a great feel for his changeup which is a big pitch.
If his command and stuff are back, I think he'll be in Altoona in June. He might still be limited on innings with promotions similar to Ashcraft last year.
Watching all these newbie pitchers in the FCL and FSL the last several years, there've been a few, and only a few, who gave me the sense that they were actually pitching, not just throwing. Locating pitches, moving the ball around the plate, etc. Kennedy, for example. Barco's another one. Considering that he was just off TJ, I thought he was already ahead of the game, command-wise. Since the usual pattern is command comes back as a pitcher gets further out from TJ, there's probably very good reason for optimism.
Chase Burns is a kid who has all the tools; it's just knowing how to use those tools. His overall ERA for the 2023 season was a respectable 4.25 ERA in 72 IP, 114 K/22 BB. But, a look at his SEC stats and you see a 7.88 ERA in 32 IP, 53 K/11 BB, but 10 HR. Still the Velo and stuff to have 53K in only 32 innings pitched, but . . . . ! Maybe he can get it all together at the Wake.
Pirates sign MiL lefty Michael Plassmeyer.
Pish posh to all this nonsense, its tommy tanks or nothing!!!!
(Jk AM, great stuff as always)
Two straight years of drafting LSU guys? When did Nola take over the team? lol
Its a conspiracy that BnP is really pulling the strings
Too bad the Bucs didn’t sign Aaron Nola!
I can't wait to see who has the chops to draft and develop a full time two-way player. I was disappointed when we cut Bubba off so soon.
The Pirates have trouble developing players one-way, lol.
I was and I wasn’t. It’s fun to see if a guy can do it. It’s also insanely difficult which is why we’ve seen one guy do it in the last 100 years. Fans easily lose site of that.
They may do the following but I doubt it. I wish for those with 2 way potential who are primarily pitchers that they would continue to have them take regular BP and face some live pitching (rehab pitchers?). It's basically keeping them at least minimally in touch with their hitting skills. With the DH this is much less important, but I believe there still could be times (extra inning games, injuries, don't want to burn the backup catcher) where having them get an at bat could pay off. Sometimes you are just hoping for contact or a competitive at bat. This of course really only works for starting pitchers as burning a reliever for this purpose would be ever rarer. I know this would be a very rare occurrence but who knows.. maybe it also let's them go to a 'happy' place (Batting Practice) when there are stressers elsewhere.
Batting reps are so much harder to replicate. If the team thinks it’s 40% chance or higher the player makes it as a hitter, then make him a hitter full time. He can fall back on pitching. I think Bubba was always less than 40% as a hitter.
Totally agree with this idea.
Regular season Thatcher was a Turd. CWS Thatcher was a pitcher that could be Hurd earlier in first round (thank you, thank you. I'll be here all season).
His curve was real pretty in the college post season.
Hartle has very good command, he definitely has the highest floor but without a pitch that puts hitters away his ceiling isn't much higher than his floor. He seems like a Littlefield pick, if we had a top 5 pick.
If he has an uptick in velocity or his other pitches improve, he could really move up.
In the current environment, it feels like stuff is easier to develop than command. Which is why Brecht scares me. If he develops command to go with his stuff, then he’s probably going top 5 and out of their range. I tend to veer more towards the bats in this class (so far) but maybe some of these college arms take a big step.
Barco is probably a great comparison to Hartle
Good comparison, I'd give Hartle an edge on control and command with Barco an edge in stuff but not much separation between the two.
Both would really spike up with just a small uptick in velocity.
Do any of you think that Barco steps up this season? Without knowing what to expect from him last season I still ended up underwhelmed.
I will say, watching some of the college videos I liked him a lot more then compared to what I saw in Bradenton. I'd be willing to say it was from him coming back from TJ, so if he gets back to what we saw him in college, he could be in line for a huge season
Exactly what I was thinking!
I think he does. He was just coming back from TJ. He's not a big velo guy, but generates a lot of swing and miss. Would be nice if he added a couple ticks, but he already has a great feel for his changeup which is a big pitch.
"He's not a big velo guy"
So the development staff's work is already done . . . .
If his command and stuff are back, I think he'll be in Altoona in June. He might still be limited on innings with promotions similar to Ashcraft last year.
Watching all these newbie pitchers in the FCL and FSL the last several years, there've been a few, and only a few, who gave me the sense that they were actually pitching, not just throwing. Locating pitches, moving the ball around the plate, etc. Kennedy, for example. Barco's another one. Considering that he was just off TJ, I thought he was already ahead of the game, command-wise. Since the usual pattern is command comes back as a pitcher gets further out from TJ, there's probably very good reason for optimism.