Landon Tomkins seems to have a good FB too(when healthy). He was used at the backend of Bradenton’s bullpen but was injured off and on throughout the season.
He’s old for that level too but when healthy the stuff looked good. He is also a big dude and there might even be more in the tank even with his age.
Also Tyler Kennedy FB is a good one but it’s just all over the place. But those are the type of arms you take a chance on during Day 3 of the draft. He might not make it past High A but the stuff(especially the FB) is plus.
Nice one, but did anyone else question the route taken by Mookie Betts to 1B on that play? He was on the infield grass - probably 3 feet to the left of the foul line while the lane to avoid collisions is on the right side of the foul line.
Bad play by the Yankees, but that seemed strange. I think Cole thought the ball was hit so slow that the 1B would come up and field it at the bag. It looked like Rizzo started in but then had to go to the right due to the spin on the ball - it's baseball - you can go years and never see a play like that again.
No explaining Cole’s decision to stand and point at Rizzo. If Billy Martin was his Manager there’s a not zero percent chance Cole would’ve talked to the media while sporting a shiner.
I expected to see Burrows and Kennedy……understandably Burrow might not be there yet, but he had one of the better FB pre TJ (he’s gonna be a Weaver like closer before we know it! On Kennedy, is his FB success based on his sequencing and location or does he have good metric as well?
The Burrows/Weaver comp you made there. I LOVE IT.
Kinda feel like Burrows would just be better in the bullpen at this point. Don't think he's made it through a season healthy. Would love to see if the stuff plays up a little more in shorter outings.
Burrows and Kennedy were on my original list, but ended up getting left off. Kennedy has the metrics too, but ultimately the rest had the metrics AND the velocity. If he ticks back up this coming year, he's absolutely on the list.
Burrows fastball didn't appear as sharp this year, but that wasn't surprising coming off TJ. I'd expect it to look better in 2025. Was the same thing with Barco. The fastball looked like a 40 when he threw in Bradenton, but was probably a 55 this past year.
Put Ashcraft and Burrows in the pen to start the year. Hope Bednar rebounds, and flip him at midseason if he does and then move those two into back end roles if they’re performing.
I don’t think their depth takes too much of a hit if you shuffle those two to the pen. As guys move up the ladder with big stuff, but with factors that dampen their chances of success (health, third pitch, command), the FO absolutely should put them in the pen with the big club. It puts those arms in the best spot to succeed and…it may help them win games!! Win-win!!
I didn't see him pitch much (edit Kennedy) but did watch a couple of his better games. He locates his fastball well, plays it off his secondary pitches and was rarely in the middle of the plate.
I've also watched a game he walked more batters when his location was a bit off. The good thing he wasn't missing by much and still got a fair amount of swings out of the zone.
The Gavin Adams mention👍
Landon Tomkins seems to have a good FB too(when healthy). He was used at the backend of Bradenton’s bullpen but was injured off and on throughout the season.
He’s old for that level too but when healthy the stuff looked good. He is also a big dude and there might even be more in the tank even with his age.
Also Tyler Kennedy FB is a good one but it’s just all over the place. But those are the type of arms you take a chance on during Day 3 of the draft. He might not make it past High A but the stuff(especially the FB) is plus.
Yea Tyler Kennedy has the stuff, but I just couldn't bring myself to put him on any of these due to the wildness.
Danny Carrion also has a sneaky good fastball thanks to his insane extension (7.5).
Does having an elite fastball help you run to 1B on ground balls to the right side of the IF? Asking for a Yankees friend.
Nice one, but did anyone else question the route taken by Mookie Betts to 1B on that play? He was on the infield grass - probably 3 feet to the left of the foul line while the lane to avoid collisions is on the right side of the foul line.
Bad play by the Yankees, but that seemed strange. I think Cole thought the ball was hit so slow that the 1B would come up and field it at the bag. It looked like Rizzo started in but then had to go to the right due to the spin on the ball - it's baseball - you can go years and never see a play like that again.
No explaining Cole’s decision to stand and point at Rizzo. If Billy Martin was his Manager there’s a not zero percent chance Cole would’ve talked to the media while sporting a shiner.
HA!
An elite FB helps your CF'er choke under the brightest lights and drop a can of corn.
FUMBLE!!!!!!
The lead photo and even the video made me think of Cole, probably because I just watched him pitch. But there does seem to be some resemblance, no?
is it weird we havent declined Marco Gonzalez´s option yet?
I think it’s right on par for the Pirates to wait until the very last second for something that’s fairly obvious
I expected to see Burrows and Kennedy……understandably Burrow might not be there yet, but he had one of the better FB pre TJ (he’s gonna be a Weaver like closer before we know it! On Kennedy, is his FB success based on his sequencing and location or does he have good metric as well?
The Burrows/Weaver comp you made there. I LOVE IT.
Kinda feel like Burrows would just be better in the bullpen at this point. Don't think he's made it through a season healthy. Would love to see if the stuff plays up a little more in shorter outings.
Burrows and Kennedy were on my original list, but ended up getting left off. Kennedy has the metrics too, but ultimately the rest had the metrics AND the velocity. If he ticks back up this coming year, he's absolutely on the list.
Burrows fastball didn't appear as sharp this year, but that wasn't surprising coming off TJ. I'd expect it to look better in 2025. Was the same thing with Barco. The fastball looked like a 40 when he threw in Bradenton, but was probably a 55 this past year.
Put Ashcraft and Burrows in the pen to start the year. Hope Bednar rebounds, and flip him at midseason if he does and then move those two into back end roles if they’re performing.
I don’t think their depth takes too much of a hit if you shuffle those two to the pen. As guys move up the ladder with big stuff, but with factors that dampen their chances of success (health, third pitch, command), the FO absolutely should put them in the pen with the big club. It puts those arms in the best spot to succeed and…it may help them win games!! Win-win!!
I didn't see him pitch much (edit Kennedy) but did watch a couple of his better games. He locates his fastball well, plays it off his secondary pitches and was rarely in the middle of the plate.
I've also watched a game he walked more batters when his location was a bit off. The good thing he wasn't missing by much and still got a fair amount of swings out of the zone.