Official Spring Training 2021 GDT/discussion thread

[DigitalRock]

Can't wait for the season to start. Wish Sportsnet would have aired more ST games.

[Jays24]

I told you it would happen, lol.

 

You did but one can still hope lol.

[Ryu In My House]

Does anyone have the Sportsnet ST broadcast schedule? That may be a decent idea to make a sticky in this forum. I took a capture of Hazel Mae's tweet a week or so ago, but there has to be a live link that stays current

[Ex Player]

Does anyone have the Sportsnet ST broadcast schedule? That may be a decent idea to make a sticky in this forum. I took a capture of Hazel Mae's tweet a week or so ago, but there has to be a live link that stays current

https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/sportsnet-announces-blue-jays-2021-spring-training-broadcast-schedule/

 

The 10-game broadcast schedule can be seen below.

 

Sunday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT: Toronto at NY Yankees (Watch on Sportsnet)

Friday, Mar. 12 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT: Toronto at Pittsburgh – (Watch on Sportsnet)

Monday, Mar. 15 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT: Toronto at Detroit – (Watch on Sportsnet)

Saturday, Mar. 20 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT: Toronto at Philadelphia – (Watch on Sportsnet)

Sunday, Mar. 21 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT: NY Yankees at Toronto (Watch on Sportsnet; Listen on Sportsnet Radio Network)

Monday, Mar. 22 at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT: Detroit at Toronto (Watch on Sportsnet; Listen on Sportsnet Radio Network)

Wednesday, Mar. 24 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT: Toronto at NY Yankees – (Watch on Sportsnet)

Saturday, Mar. 27 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT: Toronto at NY Yankees – (Watch on Sportsnet)

Sunday, Mar. 28 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT: Detroit at Toronto (Watch on Sportsnet; Listen on Sportsnet Radio Network)

Monday, Mar. 29 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT: Toronto at Philadelphia – (Watch on Sportsnet)

[Grant77]

I'm liking what I'm seeing from Zeuch today. Seems like there's a little more zip on his fastball. He was throwing 89-90 mph his last outing. Also throwing a cutter which I haven't see before.

 

Maybe we can have our own version of Dakota Hudson!

 

He's averaged a little over 92 in the bigs, but any improvement would help. He'll never be an ace, but he probably has a long career ahead of him.

[Spanky__99]

Does anyone have the Sportsnet ST broadcast schedule? That may be a decent idea to make a sticky in this forum. I took a capture of Hazel Mae's tweet a week or so ago, but there has to be a live link that stays current

 

Basically starting next Saturday we'll see full lineups and guys battling for final roster spots, should be good.

[Spanky__99]

He's averaged a little over 92 in the bigs, but any improvement would help. He'll never be an ace, but he probably has a long career ahead of him.

 

As a swingman with no out pitch... some don't last very long at all, mate.

[Laika]

He's averaged a little over 92 in the bigs, but any improvement would help. He'll never be an ace, but he probably has a long career ahead of him.

 

Is it 1995? 92?

[Spanky__99]

Is it 1995? 92?

 

I saw 95 last year up here, I distinctly remember it cause you mentioned it, IIRC.

[43211234]

Wow - I didn't know this. I was going to come comment on their broadcaster, but I think I'll keep my mouthy yap shut.

 

Eh, I think it's fair enough to comment on with tact. It does noticeably affect the broadcast.

[Orgfiller]

He's averaged a little over 92 in the bigs, but any improvement would help. He'll never be an ace, but he probably has a long career ahead of him.

 

92 as a RHP with a sinker and no other swing and miss stuff in today's MLB is...an unlikely combination to pan out.

[Spanky__99]

As a swingman with no out pitch... some don't last very long at all, mate.

 

92 as a RHP with a sinker and no other swing and miss stuff in today's MLB is...an unlikely combination to pan out.

 

Just sayin' ...

[Grant77]

92 as a RHP with a sinker and no other swing and miss stuff in today's MLB is...an unlikely combination to pan out.

 

The team obviously has some serious belief in him. Shapiro and Atkins mention him in their top couple of prospects every time.

 

Everything is there except a breaking pitch. Great fastball command, big velocity separation on the change, elite groundball rates, and durability. A small adjustment on a pitch grip or different sequencing could change his outlook dramatically in a hurry.

[Laika]

He has literally no stuff.

 

No man, everything is there. He can throw a fringe average fastball for strikes and he has at least one functioning testicle. Just give it time

[Spanky__99]

The team obviously has some serious belief in him. Shapiro and Atkins mention him in their top couple of prospects every time.

 

Everything is there except a breaking pitch. Great fastball command, big velocity separation on the change, elite groundball rates, and durability. A small adjustment on a pitch grip or different sequencing could change his outlook dramatically in a hurry.

 

They mention him often to sell... period.

[Spanky__99]

lol Edited March 16, 2021 by Spanky99

[Deadpool]

No man, everything is there. He can throw a fringe average fastball for strikes and he has at least one functioning testicle. Just give it time

 

If he wasn't ludicrously tall, nobody would even mention him. His size SHOULD equal big velocity, but it simply hasn't.

[saskjayfan]

Jonathan Davis is quietly having a nice spring. 20 plate appearances and only 2 strike out with 3 walks and 2 stolen bases. For a guy who's probably the best defensive outfielder and best base runner there doesn't seem to be any at bats for him to see what he's got or further his development. Injuries could change that, but I feel really good having him as a 5th outfielder who can pinch run and play defense late in games.

[RustyTrombone]

Sick lineup for todays game. All the regulars minus rowdy. Phillies stream will be available on mlb tv or other websites.

[The Iceman]

Sick lineup for todays game. All the regulars minus rowdy. Phillies stream will be available on mlb tv or other websites.

 

If Randall G hits a bit I think Teletubby Tellez will not be a part of the A lineup to start the season.

[RustyTrombone]

If Randall G hits a bit I think Teletubby Tellez will not be a part of the A lineup to start the season.

 

Rowdy needs to be in the lineup vs righties at least

[Laika]

Tellez had two groundouts yesterday that were 110.5 and 113 mph. Both of those EVs would have been in his top 10 BBE in both 2020 and 2019.

[saskjayfan]

If Randall G hits a bit I think Teletubby Tellez will not be a part of the A lineup to start the season.

 

If Tellez hits Randall will be sitting too. They will split time. Randall will be on the opening day lineup. At this point we know what Randall is. With Tellez there is some upside.

[Brownie19]

If Randall G hits a bit I think Teletubby Tellez will not be a part of the A lineup to start the season.

 

Where does this take come from?

 

Grichuk is a career 105 wRC+ hitter. We know what he is and his advanced metrics are actually down the past 2 years. When he gets on a hot streak, you can ride it out, but otherwise, there's no reason to force him into the lineup. He's a great 4th OFer.

 

Tellez is on the right side of the platoon and posted elite statcast/advanced metric numbers last year. I think we need to see if he can sustain the success he had last year. If he can't, then Grichuk is a nice fallback option.

[Olerud363]

The team obviously has some serious belief in him. Shapiro and Atkins mention him in their top couple of prospects every time.

 

Everything is there except a breaking pitch. Great fastball command, big velocity separation on the change, elite groundball rates, and durability. A small adjustment on a pitch grip or different sequencing could change his outlook dramatically in a hurry.

 

lol I kind of agree with Grant. I think he will be the next Jesse Litsch/Josh Towers and if he stays healthy will surprise for years.

 

I have zero logical reason to think that... other then fond memories of being surprised by Litsch and Towers... and Zeuch is taller and supposedly more durable.

 

Please don't yell at me for this post. I 100% admit I have no data to back it up... I assume extreme groundball pitchers like this only come around every few years, so Zeuch is actually a unique guy... but probably there are 100 guys like this and I never heard of them because they all suck (including Jesse Litsh) but Litsch is the one who lucked out for a season and a half creating this illusion in my mind.

[Olerud363]

I am happy to hear Grant out on this one though. Is there any reason to believe Zeuch is unique and pitchers of his profile have had success?

 

Is there any reason to believe milb ground ball rate and height is predictive of anything that the raw stats don't predict?

[glory]

Tellez should definitely start over Grichuk in the lineup, even against lefties until Tellez proves he can't hit them. I think Buntoyo is going to play Grichuk way too much even when everyone is healthy, but Tellez is the much more intriguing player at this point.

[Laika]

I am happy to hear Grant out on this one though. Is there any reason to believe Zeuch is unique and pitchers of his profile have had success?

 

Is there any reason to believe milb ground ball rate and height is predictive of anything that the raw stats don't predict?

 

GB rate is nice and could conceivably be a way for someone to be decent without missing bats. See guys like Brett Anderson or Brad Keller.

 

Zeuch's stuff seems to be below average across the board but some of it is kind of tantalizingly close to being average or better. He'd need to gain one or two mph on his average and top end fastball to have Brad Keller's, for example. Ivan Nova was a durable and worth owning shitballer for many years but he was sitting 92.5 or 93 and touching 96, which is better than Zoinks. When you see a thinner 6'7" guy, it's easy to imagine them adding velocity (but if Zeuch could he probably already would have...)

 

Zeuch has consistently limited runs in the minors and has avoided being destroyed in the limited MLB sample, so that's a tiny feather in his ball cap.

 

He's a boring up and down depth SP right now, like Waguespack, but he has the chance to tweak a couple of things and elevate his profile. He probably won't do that though; remember that we are talking about best case scenarios when referencing guys like Nova and Keller and there is a 90% or 95% chance he doesn't work out like them.

 

By tweaking things I mean adding a full letter grade to his FB, turning his boring changeup into a plus pitch, refining his used cutter into a weapon - stuff like that.

 

In the current depth chart I don't see how they can justify rolling him out there as an MLB SP. There are tons of guys ahead of him who don't need such drastic developments.

[jerb]

 

Philadelphia Phillies

@Phillies

 

We may not be on TV today, but we've still got a way for you to catch the action — Introducing the BayCare Ballpark Cam!

 

Enjoy today's game against Toronto at 1:05 PM: https://atmlb.com/3cEpJcx

[jerb]

 

Philadelphia Phillies

@Phillies

 

We had some technical difficulties, but you should be able to find the stream at this link: https://atmlb.com/2OZ1o9g