The Departed

Ecbucs · Post by **Ecbucs** » Sun Jun 03, 2018 6:40 pm

766E6C6B6B7C6D6A777660050 wrote: To be clear, I referenced the article that specifically explains what has been different about Cole's coaching in Houston. This is quite relevant to the issue of why he seems to have reached the potential there that he failed to do in Pittsburgh. So while Cole mentioned Searage and Benedict among those who were influential, he specifically detailed:

"I used to throw a four-seam and the two-seam, and I used to probably lean on the two-seam almost 50 percent of the time or more. When I'd go into the room and have a meeting with them , they'd show me the data on my four-seam, and then they would show me what my best four-seams looked like. Like, they have video of it, and then they have statistics on it."

So it was the first time you've ever seen those stats?

"Yes, absolutely. They'd say here are the top 15 percent of the four-seams you've thrown your entire career, and this is what it looks like on the stat sheet; this is what the rotation looks like; this is what the ball looks like coming out of your hand. if you can strive to chase that, as opposed to some of the other fastballs that I throw, you don't have to hit spots as much, and you can just attack the zone in these areas. Just attack the zone."

So this was a revelation for you? Something you had never seen on paper?

"Yes. I mean, Charlie [Morton] kind of gave me a heads-up before I got in. I remember maybe like the first or second day, I was playing catch with Justin, after that meeting. When you're playing catch with a pitcher, there's an element of 'training' your mind. You just play catch like we all do, but at the same time you're going to work.

"Justin was asking questions like, 'What do you want me to look for?' And I was like, 'Maybe free and clear, something that looks it's timed up, that looks clean.' And he was, 'Ok, what about backspin? What kind of spin you want on your ball?' And I really didn't know.

"I just came into that meeting, and they talked to me about backspin and the four-seam and throwing it more. So then I remembered playing catch with Justin and when the ball is spinning true and getting the action that he is looking for in his fastball and, ultimately, what they're looking for in mine. He would give me a nod or like some sort of body language that, 'That was the right read.'"

So while all of that explains what has changed for him in Houston, Dog's response was: "The question was "Who helped you become the pitcher you are today?" He mentioned both of those guys" (referring to Searage and Benedict). So it looks like Dog doesn't want to give the credit to the Astros staff for getting Cole to the level he is currently at. He wants to make sure Searage and Benedict are included in the credit for how Cole is pitching TODAY even tho the article clearly shows why things have changed since Cole left the Pirates. That doesn't mean I'm knocking Searage. But it shows the Astros staff has performed productive analysis that the Pirates didn't do and the result is dramatic. It's nice Cole mentioned Searage and Benedict. Sure, they were helpful. But when he left the Pirates, we all wondered why he never became the stud he is TODAY. It's clear they are not the reason he is the pitcher he is TODAY. That would not have happened without the Astros' analysis.
This makes me sick, can't believe how far behind we are in player development. I was so frustrated with Cole but I knew he was a competitor and had a great arm, now we know there's a problem we must get up to speed immediately.

yeah, an area the Bucs need to be out front in is player development. For a little while it seemed like the Bucs were at the front of analytics and were on there way to being towards the top in development. Since the team can't pay for talent it has to be better than other teams to make up the difference.

fjk090852-7 · Post by **fjk090852-7** » Sun Jun 10, 2018 11:14 pm

Charlie Morton was more like the Charlie we knew last night. In 3.2 innings he walked six and hit 4 batters. He was a little wild!

notes34 · Post by **notes34** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 4:40 pm

Cutch starting his annual hot streak. .333AVG in June with an .OPS of 1.037.

dmetz · Post by **dmetz** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 7:43 pm

yup. .800 OPS. 120 OPS+ OK RF defense.

Polanco is a 94 OPS+ with poor defense

However, Corey Dickerson is 119 OPS+ with good LF defense.

After all that good start from Dickerson and terrible start from Cutch, the two are arguably similar value as of today.

We have Crick and an injured minor leaguer, at least.

notes34 · Post by **notes34** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 7:48 pm

Yep. I expect Cutch to end up with similar numbers too last year. While he is no longer a superstar those numbers are pretty good. He was .279/363/486 for last year. OPS+121.

fjk090852-7 · Post by **fjk090852-7** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 12:06 pm

Just noticed Alen Hanson is hitting.338 with 5 home runs for the Giants. Not sure if he is a late bloomer, or he possibly figured out major league pitching. It could be possible that the Pirates gave up on him too fast, but he never appeared to hit that well while he was with the Pirates.

Bobster21 · Post by **Bobster21** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 12:34 pm

5955540F060F070A0D12083F0 wrote: Just noticed Alen Hanson is hitting.338 with 5 home runs for the Giants. Not sure if he is a late bloomer, or he possibly figured out major league pitching. It could be possible that the Pirates gave up on him too fast, but he never appeared to hit that well while he was with the Pirates.
And Gorkys Hernandez is hitting .289 with 7 HRs for SF. I wasn't sorry to see him or Hanson go. But it seems like they had abilities that the Pirate organization was unable to develop.

PMike · Post by **PMike** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 2:43 pm

4B666B7A7D6C7B3B38090 wrote: Just noticed Alen Hanson is hitting.338 with 5 home runs for the Giants. Not sure if he is a late bloomer, or he possibly figured out major league pitching. It could be possible that the Pirates gave up on him too fast, but he never appeared to hit that well while he was with the Pirates.
And Gorkys Hernandez is hitting .289 with 7 HRs for SF. I wasn't sorry to see him or Hanson go. But it seems like they had abilities that the Pirate organization was unable to develop.

I agree on not being sad that they left. However, both of those two guys are Latin American guys. It makes me think that LA players develop slower than others. Perhaps they are a cautionary tale about Polanco and passing on him at this point in his career. I know Polanco has been dreadful, but it's not hard to look at him move on a baseball field and see the talent oozing out of him. He could easily be a Jose Bautista type.

fjk090852-7 · Post by **fjk090852-7** » Sat Jun 16, 2018 11:39 pm

The Dodgers signed Drew Hutchison to a minor league contract.

Bobster21 · Post by **Bobster21** » Sun Jun 17, 2018 12:02 am

757978232A232B26213E24130 wrote: The Dodgers signed Drew Hutchison to a minor league contract.
He made the Phillies roster out of ST but had a few too many poor outings. Was DFA'd and elected free agency over being out-righted to AAA.