115 Comments

I really hope they start Termarr in Altoona. I don't think Greensboro has anything for him other than padding stats and potentially hurting his swing going for the shallow power alleys.

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I wasn't sure going into today, but after seeing him I definitely think toona is the place for him

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Also, based on the eye test hank looked good behind the plate both in game and in his pregame work in the pen

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Wehner and Brown were singing his praises on the radio, saying that you didn't notice him behind the plate which is what you want from your catcher.

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So, Sadzeck . . . in the running? No?

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Maybe for the altoona pen?

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Skenes absolutely went vroom mfing vroom today.

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No video and no savant. Thank goodness MLB does everything it can.

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There's at least video of Skenes ending up a couple feet short of getting rocked by Adley...

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On a positive note, Oliveras made a semi-nice play tracking it down. He didn't have a good day at the plate, though.

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Not that it was spectacular, but I was thinking that catch wouldn't have been if Henry was in right field.

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Ahem. That is known as "keeping it in the park," sir.

They didn't have anything up earlier when I looked, but it's there now.

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How did Skenes' FB shape look? lol

Shape doesn't matter if you sit 99-102. I can't wait to see him at PNC...place will be packed to see his debut.

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I hope he will built up to more than facing 3 betters by then. Early spring training pitch counts seem to get stricter and stricter.

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99 is still more interesting if the fastball has some bend.

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Shape doesn’t matter? Tell that to Arquimedes Caminero

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Yes! Stole my punch line!

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Ha! Stole it 2hrs earlier. See below where I got buried.

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Oh, shape sure does matter. Maybe not in college or the minors but major league hitters can and will turn around any fastball that flattens out in the strike zone. One hopes that Skenes and Pirate pitching coaches know it and that he learns when and where to use it properly and how best to use his other pitches. I think he will but pretending it doesn’t matter will turn out to be a major mistake.

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And when said hitter turns it around, all the flat fastball pitcher has done is impart more reaction force to a home run.

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That's what she said.

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10 pitches. 6 strikes. 1 called strike, 2 fouls, and 3 balls in play.

"NOTHING ELSE MATTERS!!!! FASTBALL GO VROOM VROOM!!!!!!!"

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Cool story.

That's really your take after one inning of ST baseball? WTF

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Nothing else matters. Just VROOM! VROOM!!!

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Noted. You having a shit day or is shape another trigger for you?

Statcast allegedly wrongly identifying sinkers and shape dominate your existence.

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My day is fine. Actually on my way out from work. I don't have an opinion on his day, cause it was 10 pitches. With only cell phone clips. Not much else to take from it than 102 go vroom vroom!!!

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Dude, you're absolutely triggered, but it's ok. Go have a beer and relax.

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Arquimedes Caminero begs to differ on the importance fastball shape relative to throwing 100 mph….

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Skenes *shape* is fine. Guy is a GD rockstar.

Skenes has more talent in his left nut than Caminero had in his right arm.

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So shape does matter😁Caminero threw hard but straight & flat. That is why I was countering what you originally said.

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Point is, Skenes fb isn’t flat. Caminero’s was straight as an arrow. Skenes may not have the best shape, but 102 with his secondary pitches will make the shape bs moot.

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Never said a thing about Skenes or his fastball. You said shape makes no difference if you threw 99-102. I was merely pointing out that Caminero threw 99-101 with no shape and if he had any more movement he might have had a nice career as a closer. My point is the shape does matter. Skenes does have enough shape to his that no one can sit on it. I was not degrading Skenes in the least. Just was countering you original post saying shape does not matter.

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Does that make his left nut heavier than his right? Cause that could cause problems.

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Yes

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Don't think Sad Sack is a closer.

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Kids pitched well: Skenes, Mlod, Harrington, and Solo

Falter and Selby, nooooooot so much

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Termarr hitting....

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Falter not making a strong case for that final rotation spot. Should be the first DFA option should another pitcher be acquired before opening day.

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I want our guys doing well but I also wouldn't mind if enough of them struggle to create a little more urgency to acquiring a starting pitcher. OTOH, mistakes are often made out of a sense of urgency, as we saw with the Archer deal.

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Yeah, but he's the guy they "really like"

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Selby making flight reservations for Indianapolis.

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Or locker assignment in Milb camp.

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I think we're better off with Chapman vs O's and Kimbrel. Something I'll follow this season on who got the better from a HOFer.

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For melkel, let this be the hayes from now on!

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Let this be Hayes from now on!

Thanks got tied up and couldn't post

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Yep yep.

Falter, otoh . . . .

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Sounds like Cruz may have strained an oblique...Brown said he keeps grabbing at his left side....

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Well, they let him bat, so probably not as bad as Brown made it sound.

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The pressure was released when he realized the offense wasn't going to fall solely on his back. Tank and Key helping carry the load

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BOOM!!! Goes Ke’ !!!!

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Once again Suwinski just stands there and takes called strikes. Will someone teach this kid to swing the feckin’ bat.

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Shelton got him out before the Golden Sombrero.

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It must be exhausting being this way. It’s February. Eat a snickers. These games don’t count.

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When you look exactly like you did the last two regular seasons in the next spring training then your problem isn't being addressed. So now when he keeps doing it during the regular season should we say "well he did that in spring training too", lol.

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I mean, Jack’s a good player, but he’s flawed. He’s got a specific style of hitting. It’s frustrating, but he’s been pretty good overall.

It’s a fan’s way to always want more from a player. But if fans can’t see he’s good and productive in his way, well…that’s on them.

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His power is real but someone needs to convince him that making more contact is better. He makes it easy for them to pitch to him because his hitting zone is so small. If he ripped a few line drives into the left field corner he'd get more pitches to put in the river.

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He was doing that late last year. Like the man says. It is spring training. Guys are still getting loose and back in the swing of things... so to speak. Give it some time. Suwinski hasn't seen real MLB caliber pitching for 4 months.

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I see what you're saying, lol. But Andy Haines still has a seat in the dugout so all bets are off. WTF is that guy still doing with the Pirates unless he has a pee tape on someone. That's how bad Haines was with the Brewers and is with the Pirates. He has done absolutely zilch in his time with the Pirates.

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