I know it is still too early to claim any real success with the high school draftees, but given the failure rate (even of high $ high school draftees) I want to give some type of credit for smart drafting and development at this point. In all cases, squinting is not yet required to see a path to being real contributors. White's performance once healthy was the biggest surprise for me as I was starting to assume he would just be one of those who never made it. He still has to get to the levels that are the true test grounds, but to repeat myself.. .not squinting yet.
I can see a mid season call up if he improves his command with the pure nastiness of his stuff. Only pitcher that has a ceiling near Skenes in the organization. (It might be higher)
I'm not predicting a mid season call up, but him and Solometo might get a start or two at the end of the season.
That is true, which is in part why I'm "Bubba's ceiling is higher". If he continues trending as he did the second half of the season, he's got an arsenal or pure swing and miss stuff. Complete with a fastball has the velo AND shape qualities you like to see.
Davis just needs to find a spot in the field & the bat will come around.
Solometo & Chandler should be on the Jared Jones track of AA/AAA in ‘23, knocking on the door in ‘24.
White should play all year at Greensboro & hit 30+ bombs. Then either trade him while he still has value or hang onto him for dear life since we have no other OF prospects left.
I wish I understood why Davis had so much trouble offensively in the majors. Otherwise, Solometo, Chandler, and White make or break this draft. I don’t think Bishop is going to make it, and the rest of the draft is at best deep depth.
Personally, I have high hopes for Chandler and White.
If you go by outcomes, then he was by far the worst on pitch location down and away and pitch type sliders.
While pitch mixes didn't change much between his early period of success and the much larger later period of struggle, heat maps of pitch location do show a pretty clear trend of pitchers targeting his weaknesses.
He's got pretty rigid, pull-side swing mechanics and pitchers started throwing him low and away. Pretty simple explanation of big leaguers adjusting, if you ask me.
I think they put Davis in a position to fail. Throwing him out in right field on an everyday basis had to have put extra stress and concentration on fielding instead of hitting. I hope they make thier mind up on his focus, if it's catching or right field.
I really like the prep pitchers and White, time will tell.
I fully believe that his mental game was fucked trying to learn a whole new position on the fly in the MLB, especially for a guy that cares so damn much. They better have a reasonable position plan for him, and stick to it, if they want any results from him
That's what I think as well. If they want him to catch, give him plenty of reps in spring and probably start him out in Indy. If they want him to play right field, let him know now and get him as familiar as they can with it this off-season. He'll have a chance to be the primary right fielder on the big club to start the season.
They need to make a decision soon or they're going to set him back again.
I have no doubt he will be working hard through the winter on whatever plan they give him, and no matter the position i honestly expect him to be at least average by spring
I trust Davis working hard. Just worried they'll have him work all winter on catching, then with a week left before the regular season, have him move back out to right field.
sure looks like a lot of teams are looking for starting pitching...
might be we acquire nobody and open with Priester, Ortiz and Contreras as our bottom three
there is zero chance that we can afford a free agent as a result of this
I know it is still too early to claim any real success with the high school draftees, but given the failure rate (even of high $ high school draftees) I want to give some type of credit for smart drafting and development at this point. In all cases, squinting is not yet required to see a path to being real contributors. White's performance once healthy was the biggest surprise for me as I was starting to assume he would just be one of those who never made it. He still has to get to the levels that are the true test grounds, but to repeat myself.. .not squinting yet.
are we certain drafting Owen Sharts was not some form of inside joke.
Some sort of bet with another GM who could draft a weirder name
It was a shitty one if so
Ba dum tssssss
Bold prediction: Bubba Chandler is going to have most career WAR of any player drafted by Pirates in ‘21. Top 3 of entire draft class.
I dunno….. I still think Owen Sharts will explode out of nowhere with a new organization. He blast onto the scene again and be a tremendous star. :)
Nice use of words! Bonus points.
70 rated name. Unfortunately the arm couldn’t live up to it.
Watching him at the end of last season, don’t think it’s as bold as it was at the beginning of 2023
I can see a mid season call up if he improves his command with the pure nastiness of his stuff. Only pitcher that has a ceiling near Skenes in the organization. (It might be higher)
I'm not predicting a mid season call up, but him and Solometo might get a start or two at the end of the season.
I'm in the "ceiling is higher" club
*sshhhh
I always roll my eyes at the ceiling is higher category. What matters far more is the likelihood of reaching the ceiling.
Fans let their imaginations run wild with ceiling. Don’t do it! You’re only seeing yourself up for heartbreak!
That is true, which is in part why I'm "Bubba's ceiling is higher". If he continues trending as he did the second half of the season, he's got an arsenal or pure swing and miss stuff. Complete with a fastball has the velo AND shape qualities you like to see.
*It IS higher
Agreed
I could see a universe where he is #1 in the class
I, too, enjoy DMT.
Not gonna lie, had to look that one up.
PS - Don’t be a buzz kill!
Sir I am the one visiting other universes. Welcome to the party.
Davis just needs to find a spot in the field & the bat will come around.
Solometo & Chandler should be on the Jared Jones track of AA/AAA in ‘23, knocking on the door in ‘24.
White should play all year at Greensboro & hit 30+ bombs. Then either trade him while he still has value or hang onto him for dear life since we have no other OF prospects left.
I wish I understood why Davis had so much trouble offensively in the majors. Otherwise, Solometo, Chandler, and White make or break this draft. I don’t think Bishop is going to make it, and the rest of the draft is at best deep depth.
Personally, I have high hopes for Chandler and White.
If you go by outcomes, then he was by far the worst on pitch location down and away and pitch type sliders.
While pitch mixes didn't change much between his early period of success and the much larger later period of struggle, heat maps of pitch location do show a pretty clear trend of pitchers targeting his weaknesses.
https://www.fangraphs.com/players/henry-davis/29617/heat-maps?position=OF&ss=2023-06-19&se=2023-07-23&hand=all&count=all&pitch=&season=all&view=bat&type=&data=&grid=kde&blur=0
https://www.fangraphs.com/players/henry-davis/29617/heat-maps?position=OF&ss=2023-07-24&se=2023-10-01&hand=all&count=all&pitch=&season=all&view=bat&type=&data=&grid=kde&blur=0
He's got pretty rigid, pull-side swing mechanics and pitchers started throwing him low and away. Pretty simple explanation of big leaguers adjusting, if you ask me.
He seem to be guessing a lot, so I also questioned his pitch recognition, really hope he turns it around, we really need his power.
didnt someone recently report he had been playing with a hurt hand and that is why he wasnt catching? that would have an impact with the bat
Davis had an .832 OPS on July 23, which is around the time he hurt his hand.
Of course, there’s also the Prolonged Haines Exposure factor.
PHEF is an advanced stat only used for Pirates' hitters
I think they put Davis in a position to fail. Throwing him out in right field on an everyday basis had to have put extra stress and concentration on fielding instead of hitting. I hope they make thier mind up on his focus, if it's catching or right field.
I really like the prep pitchers and White, time will tell.
They have a long history now of setting up their prospects to fail.
I fully believe that his mental game was fucked trying to learn a whole new position on the fly in the MLB, especially for a guy that cares so damn much. They better have a reasonable position plan for him, and stick to it, if they want any results from him
That's what I think as well. If they want him to catch, give him plenty of reps in spring and probably start him out in Indy. If they want him to play right field, let him know now and get him as familiar as they can with it this off-season. He'll have a chance to be the primary right fielder on the big club to start the season.
They need to make a decision soon or they're going to set him back again.
I have no doubt he will be working hard through the winter on whatever plan they give him, and no matter the position i honestly expect him to be at least average by spring
I trust Davis working hard. Just worried they'll have him work all winter on catching, then with a week left before the regular season, have him move back out to right field.
This is exactly what I fear, just give the guy a clear plan so he can grind away and have a clear head ready to mash come next year
Always good to hear something positive coming from the farm, lol.