Brownie19

c'mon man. Houston's starting lineup this year was the worst/weakest one I've seen all spring. If Brad Penny started today - he wouldn't be retired...

Well that's amazing.

OK - I'm stretching the truth.....but we only got 0.6 WAR from Smoak in a platoon role over half a season of at bats. Is it reasonable to expect that out of a backup catcher starting 40 games? Maybe it is...in which case - we should conclude that Smoak sucks.

0.5 WAR from our backup catcher? We could barely get that from our starting first baseman last year!!!

There isn't much difference between a cutter and a slider.......I'm cool with either and he's been working on a change for a long time. If anything - the change grip seems to be something guys can keep tinkering with before something finally clicks.

He had a AAA catcher and was facing a AAA lineup...

I would guess that's because people sit fastball - and only fastball against him right now. My angle is the curve doesn't make the fastball better - which probably explains why he doesn't get as many swing and misses with the fastball as you'd expect. If he could consistently throw a decent slider and/or change on plain with the fastball - I suspect the fastball would miss a lot more bats. There's a very good chance the curveball will never have that effect on his fastball. Can he keep it around as a surprise pitch and to help against lefties? sure, but he should be focusing elsewhere IMO.

All that because I said there's a good chance he's s*** as a starting pitcher right now? Has the control looked better this spring? Sure, but it's generally been shorter outings vs. a lot of crappy competition. Forgive me if I'll take that with a grain of salt - considering his career minor league BB/9 is 4.9 BB/9 and has been 5+ BB/9 as a starter in the majors so far. If that magically drops to <3 in the majors, then I do think he can be a back of the rotation starter - but reality says that's pretty unlikely in 2016.

Who's to say it didn't start months ago? That said, Pittsburgh's pitching coach turned Happ into a world beater pretty quick... I also disagree on the curve. I think it's an ineffective pitch for him. He needs a slider and a changeup - pitches on plain with his sinker.

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If I'm Shapiro - I'm directing my team of coaches to analyze the spin rates (err whatever they think is holding him back) for Sanchez and I'm seting up my experts to work with Sanchez to see if they can modify his grip or release point in an effort to make tangible differences to his secondary offerings. I'd ask for a report at the end of the spring on what they've discovered, complete with a recommendation on whether this is worthwhile (and in which case if it needs to be continued in AAA) - or whether this is a waste of time and it's time to plunk him in the bullpen and accept what you have. That's what a leader would do (IMO). He doesn't just say "oh well, I'm up here at the top - how am I expected to have any impact on an individual player". Sanchez is a young, talented, valuable asset right now. I expect the leader of this organization to do everything in his power to ensure they've tried everything they can to maximize his value. I'm not going to this extreme with Tony Sanchez's swing - but you're sure as s*** I would with Sanchez's arm.

Actually, as a starting pitcher, there's a very good chance he's a crap pitcher right now.

PS3 controller...

Interesting point - I was at 2 ST'ing games and I didn't see the "shift" used once - which I thought was pretty odd as ST'ing would seemingly be a great time to work on that type of thing....

I get this - but I also see what THANOS is saying. It is a new regime which may be preaching different approaches and strategies. I'd love to hear the new hires have exposed Sanchez to spin rates and the coaching staff is now working with him on grips/release points to increase the spin on his cutter/curve and to decrease it on his changeup. I've been preaching how Sanchez has been working on this crap for 6 years now and still can't throw a secondary pitch worth a crap - but I still hold out hope that a team of coaches with a new approach will be able to help him. Heck - the pitching coach in Pittsburgh made JA Happ a world beater in a matter of weeks!

I heard Fister was up throwing 90+ again...how's he look?

Said everyone who's ever watched him without the rose coloured glasses on...

Buck must listen to Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker... (and drink a lot)

Saunders was league average vs. LHP in 2014....not so much in previous years. Anything think he'll be a black hole vs. LHP?

It's like he doesn't understand this concept. Unfortunately - he's not the only one. I hear this a lot. They probably think the kid selling popcorn (who has no unique or valuable skill) should be making $40/hr instead of giving the players more.

The Dodgers got an ace for 3 years and then Greinke opted out. The Diamondbacks might get an ace for 1-2 years, and average, overpaid pitcher for 2-3 years and a bad, overpaid pitcher for 1-2 years. IMO - this wasn't all bad for the Dodgers. I just see the "end" of all these contracts as a nightmare for more teams - but a necessity (they have to be willing to eat it) to get the FA to sign with them. If there's a way to get fair value for the first 2-3 years of the contract and then let him leave and sign elsewhere (letting that team pay him for his decline) - I'm all for it (provided I'm willing to take the risk he may opt to spend his declining years on my team).

I think there are scenario when this is a win for the team. Grienke is 32 and wants a 6 year deal with an opt out after 3 years. You give him 6 years, $180M and he pitches great for the first 3 years (you get your value out of him), he opts out and then let some other team get stuck with the declining/overpaid stage of his career. The team never would have gotten him to sign 3 years, $90M without the opt out, but if he pitches good - they get a steal while avoiding the decline. Obviously the flip side is if he sucks - you're stuck with him long term (perhaps you shouldn't have signed him in the first place).

To clarify....is he saying he won't tact on a 4th year "player option" to a contract. Or is he saying he won't allow an "opt-out" clause in a contract.....errr both.

Gibby's talked up Darrell Ceciliani a few times - suggesting he can handle CF defensively. Sounds like he has a legit shot - trying to beat out Lake and Carrera.

Yeah I don't like the manager waiting game. It's a lot less annoying in the NFL.