So we had two MLB debuts last night and I'm sure there's one in particular that will make people intrigued. Brandon Woodruff went 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks against the Rays, but what's more interesting is that he averaged over 94mph through the outing including 7 whiffs with his Four-Seamer out of 61 thrown. That's a 11.5% whiff rate on heaters - a high mark. So I watched a bit of this one and...yeah I'm not buying it. He missed spots a ton with all three pitches (Slider and Changeup) and while he certainly flexes upside if he's commanding, he showed off some pretty messy mechanics. I even made this GIF for y'all. These two Fastballs earned a pair of strikeouts, but wildly missed their spots in pitcher-friendly counts and are a product of questionable mechanics. Notice how far his left arm pulls over toward first base and back toward second by the end - he's opening up way too harshly, making his delivery more east-west than north-south, creating a much smaller window for his timing to nail the corners. Not a fan of that at all (for reference, Noah Syndergaard and Luis Castillo both did not exhibit this and pitched with their full momentum toward the plate = better overall command) and gives me little faith he's going to help more than hurt.
Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:
Darvish threw 99 pitches and had 10k and went 7 innings. I know the NL and getting out of Texas is good, but let’s also touch on that he doesn’t throw to lucroy anymore. Grandal is a much better catcher and pitch framer, one of the best. Darvish would run his pitch count up in Texas a lot and not go that deep in games despite having a lower walk rate than he’s had during his first 3 years in the league. I think some of that issue is attributable to the catcher, because the stuff is still there.
Definitely! We actually went in depth on that very thing during the latest podcast if you’re interested.
I have 3 starts left this week and I have to choose between Charlie Morton (vs. TOR), Luis Castillo (vs. STL), Taillon (vs. SD) and Manaea (vs. LAA).
Leaning towards sitting Taillon and rolling with Manaea, Castillo and Morton. What do you think?
Up by 2 points with 1 start left. Either taillon or manaea. Opponent has nolasco and berrios going
Manaea.
luckily, i accidentally left taillon in so i had to bench manaea. taillon got me 16, manaea woulda gotten me -7. and i won!
2nd place in my league with a lot of help from you. my rotation is: verlander, degrom, paxton, morton, castillo, manaea and eickhoff.
Sorry I didn’t get back to you yesterday.
Would have told you to do that same trio, though.
To be fair to Peacock, he sat a looong time between the 5th and 6th.
He was bad early and often… Not just the 6th
Escaped up to the 4th. 2 run bomb in the 5th. Then sat for the never ending run explosion. But you’re right. His lack of elite velocity makes him have to hit his targets with more consistency. I think the long layoff between starts is not a good thing either.
So, Woodruff, Sims, Boyd, Newcomb, Pivetta all more streamers (even then, maybe) than holds? Because I’m about to shame myself and pick up the Cashner manperm. My Clev, Taillon, PeacocK are all soiling the bed. I’m in 2nd place but barely hanging on as I hear for the playoffs. Are these even speculative adds with some possibility for consistency?
Sorry to say, yeah I don’t see any of those five being guys you want to give rosters spots to. I’d dance between Newcomb and Sims, though.
Nolasco or sims today?
I can’t stand Nolasco, so I’d rather Sims.
That Asher writeup was the best writeup I have ever seen. You crack me up Nick
Ha, thanks man!