Why can’t guys throw strikes anymore? A little bit is the fact that hitters are coached to take more. But still, that’s all the more reason to throw a strike!
I simply do not understand how a kid can play travel ball, high school ball, college ball, minor league ball, and STILL can’t consistently throw strikes?! And I think the softer-throwing control guys get undervalued. Perhaps the new market inefficiency.
My question is how do they improve? 3 years in FCL… is it offseason work solely by players or are there pitching coaches putting actual plans together for them?
I think this kind of thing is a product of their approach to drafting college pitchers, especially in the middle and late rounds. They've followed a high-risk, medium-reward approach (keeping in mind that high-reward college pitchers are going to be gone after the early rounds). What I've noticed is that some guys surprise, like Carlson Reed and Patrick Reilly, but others tank, often very early. Huntington's approach, by contrast, was to go for guys who could safely be expected to reach AA at least, but maybe no farther.
Reed (or Reilly) vs. Kennedy is a good example. All three had command issues when drafted. Reed and Reilly caught on quickly, Kennedy just didn't. (Of course, that's also reflected in Kennedy going in a later round). These are probably the most extreme examples, but you can find others. Furtado is one.
I'm pretty comfortable with this approach. Getting a Reed, Reilly and Barco is worth risking some guys like Kennedy and Furtado, and a couple guys they've already released, who may flop in the low minors.
It HAS led to pitching depth issues, which you could see in 2024 with the bullpens at Altoona, Greensboro and Bradenton, all of which were pretty combustible a lot of the time. But a major cause of pitching depth issues has been their long-term incompetence in Latin America, as well as BC's bad judgment, like trading Luis Peralta for a guy to pitch mopup for two months.
Why can’t guys throw strikes anymore? A little bit is the fact that hitters are coached to take more. But still, that’s all the more reason to throw a strike!
I simply do not understand how a kid can play travel ball, high school ball, college ball, minor league ball, and STILL can’t consistently throw strikes?! And I think the softer-throwing control guys get undervalued. Perhaps the new market inefficiency.
Love WE/9 also!
My question is how do they improve? 3 years in FCL… is it offseason work solely by players or are there pitching coaches putting actual plans together for them?
I think this kind of thing is a product of their approach to drafting college pitchers, especially in the middle and late rounds. They've followed a high-risk, medium-reward approach (keeping in mind that high-reward college pitchers are going to be gone after the early rounds). What I've noticed is that some guys surprise, like Carlson Reed and Patrick Reilly, but others tank, often very early. Huntington's approach, by contrast, was to go for guys who could safely be expected to reach AA at least, but maybe no farther.
Reed (or Reilly) vs. Kennedy is a good example. All three had command issues when drafted. Reed and Reilly caught on quickly, Kennedy just didn't. (Of course, that's also reflected in Kennedy going in a later round). These are probably the most extreme examples, but you can find others. Furtado is one.
I'm pretty comfortable with this approach. Getting a Reed, Reilly and Barco is worth risking some guys like Kennedy and Furtado, and a couple guys they've already released, who may flop in the low minors.
It HAS led to pitching depth issues, which you could see in 2024 with the bullpens at Altoona, Greensboro and Bradenton, all of which were pretty combustible a lot of the time. But a major cause of pitching depth issues has been their long-term incompetence in Latin America, as well as BC's bad judgment, like trading Luis Peralta for a guy to pitch mopup for two months.
Sure would be nice to have a young lefty reliever with options on the 40 man.
WE/9! Genius!!
It’s been a slow offseason lol
Perhaps you should track UWC/12. Useless Waiver Claims per 12 months. I feel very confident the Pirates avg 1.5 UWC/12. Perhaps even 2.0.