The Arms 2018

[FredJacket]

I'm a softy. It's hard to watch a college pitcher injure himself throwing. In 2 games in a row...we've had opponent's pitchers have to leave game after suffering some sort of arm "problem" throwing a pitch. FSU's Friday starter (Tyler Holton) had this happen opening weekend and this week it was announced he's out for the season. Big blow for a highly ranked team.

Just hard to imagine the frustration after working so hard to get these opportunities to pitch at the D1 level. The human body is just not designed to withstand throwing a baseball too hard. Pins and Needles as our pitching staff navigates the season.

 

[FredJacket]

Going forward, I think that the rotation should be Curry, Thomas, and Archer with Hurter and Chapman battling for the weekday spot. I believe that Hughes's niche is out of the pen. It looks like the main guys out of the pen should be Gibson, Hughes, Datoc, Carpenter, and probably Shirah and Mannelly for lefties. I would also like to see more of Serratos and English on the mound.

Quoted from another thread....but emphasizes what follows....

What exactly is (100% healthy) English's pitching role? Starter or Reliever? I know they are bringing him along "slowly"...but when that's done, what's the role?

It is still early...our competition; and therefore, the pressure has not been too huge. But I agree with @THWG here on who (so far) has demonstrated good stuff. I REALLY hope Hughes can fight his way to quality form. Positive trend started today. Something to watch for sure.

 

[RoosterJacket]

Quoted from another thread....but emphasizes what follows....

What exactly is (100% healthy) English's pitching role? Starter or Reliever? I know they are bringing him along "slowly"...but when that's done, what's the role?

It is still early...our competition; and therefore, the pressure has not been too huge. But I agree with @THWG here on who (so far) has demonstrated good stuff. I REALLY hope Hughes can fight his way to quality form. Positive trend started today. Something to watch for sure.

I would guess for this year, English would primarily be a reliever just because it’s been 2 years since he’s really pitched. Assuming he’s still here next season (just never know what MLB teams may do), I’d think we’d really try to have him as a SP. Maybe if he gets stretched out enough over this season, we might see him start some the last month of games or so.

I really like that we are throwing a lot more strikes this year already it seems. Don’t have stats to back that up, but sure feels like we are not putting nearly as many guys in base by BB or HBP.

 

[MWBATL]

I really like that we are throwing a lot more strikes this year already it seems. Don’t have stats to back that up, but sure feels like we are not putting nearly as many guys in base by BB or HBP.

So, you got me curious. I was too lazy to compile the pitch counts and ball strike info for each year, but just in terms of walks etc, here is the data:
2018: 23BB, 6 WP, 4 HBP...total 27 "freebies"
2017: 25BB, 3 P, 11 HBP....total 36 "freebies"

What makes it more striking is the Bradley game where we gave up 10 BB and 3 HBP. Take one game yielded half of our total "freebies" this season where last year we consistently gave up about 5 per game. Take Bradly out and this year we're giving up about 2.5 "freebies" per game.

 

[RoosterJacket]

So, you got me curious. I was too lazy to compile the pitch counts and ball strike info for each year, but just in terms of walks etc, here is the data:
2018: 23BB, 6 WP, 4 HBP...total 27 "freebies"
2017: 25BB, 3 P, 11 HBP....total 36 "freebies"

What makes it more striking is the Bradley game where we gave up 10 BB and 3 HBP. Take one game yielded half of our total "freebies" this season where last year we consistently gave up about 5 per game. Take Bradly out and this year we're giving up about 2.5 "freebies" per game.

Thanks MWBATL! Wow, how about those HBP numbers from last year? Yikes!

 

[GTNavyNuke]

My update / thoughts after two weeks. Going through this, one thing that just jumped out at me is how young we are pitching.

Good:
· Xzavion Curry RHP So. Friday starter as best starter.
· Jared Datoc RHP Sr. Reliable closer.
· Connor Thomas LHP So. Potential starter and pleasant surprise with consistency.
· Andy Archer RHP So. Potential starter and biggest pleasant surprise to me.
· Keyton Gibson RHP Jr. Looks good so far as he did last year.

Good vibes, work in progress:
· Tristin English RHP/1B R-So. I think he'll be a weekend starter by year end.
· Jonathan Hughes RHP R-So. Not consistent but got better game 1 to 2.
· Will Shirah LHP Fr. I really like his style, can't prove why I like him from overall stats.
· Oscar Serratos RHP Fr. True Fr who can come in for an inning.
· Hugh Chapman RHP Fr. True Fr who pitched like one. Good for an inning.
· Brant Hurter LHP Fr. True Fr who pitched like one. Good for an inning.
· Joseph Mannelly LHP Fr. In one inning relief was perfect.

In neither category above:
· Jake Lee RHP Jr. Erratic, not as good as last year.
· Ben Schniederjans RHP R-Sr. Erratic again.
· Robert Winborne RHP Jr. Faced one batter and gave up a hit.

Hasn't pitched (which says something non-positive):
· Micah Carpenter RHP Jr.
· Bailey Combs RHP Jr.
· Garrett Gooden RHP So.
· Jake Brace RHP Fr.
· Patrick Wiseman LHP Sr.

 

[RoosterJacket]

My update / thoughts after two weeks. Going through this, one thing that just jumped out at me is how young we are pitching.

Good:
· Andy Archer RHP So. Potential starter and biggest pleasant surprise to me.


Good vibes, work in progress:
· Tristin English RHP/1B R-So. I think he'll be a weekend starter by year end.
· Will Shirah LHP Fr. I really like his style, can't prove why I like him from overall stats.

In neither category above:
· Robert Winborne RHP Jr. Faced one batter and gave up a hit.

Hasn't pitched (which says something non-positive):
· Micah Carpenter RHP Jr.
· Bailey Combs RHP Jr.
· Garrett Gooden RHP So.
· Jake Brace RHP Fr.
· Patrick Wiseman LHP Sr.

Archer-CDH has a trendency to leave a player as a reliever if he feels that’s where he is most effective and needed. Archer might be in this boat. I’m all for giving him a chance to start.
English-What a boost that could be if English gets to even 80% of where he was coming out of HS. People may forget he was an All-American HS P who was up to about 95-96.
Shirah-Heard some talk he may be having some elbow pain after last week. One to keep an eye on.
Winborne-I’m wondering if CDH is going to use him as a specialist now that he’s dropped down his arm slot and throwing sidearm.
Carpenter-Recovering from injury but heard he’s been throwing live sessions this last week.
Combs-Heard he also may be dealing with some pain/soreness. Not sure of extent.
Gooden-I didn’t even see him in uniform this weekend. Wondering if he is taking a RS.
Brace-Might still be adjusting to the college level. A finesse pitcher, so if he’s struggling with command, then his effectiveness will be way down. Still think he can be a quality arm over the next few years.
Wiseman-I wouldn’t expect to see him on the mound. More likely get a PH every once in a while and maybe play 1B in a blowout.

 

[MWBATL]

Didn't Gooden get lit up in summer ball as well? Maybe....well, I don't know what ....but with his stats last year and if I am right about his summer stats, maybe we aren't missing that much? (Hate to say that about any kid!). Hopefully he will improve big time with some learning and adjustments...

 

[ball4life66]

Any clue when Carter Hall will be back?

 

[GTNavyNuke]

Didn't Gooden get lit up in summer ball as well? .......

I'd say between mediocre and lit up. In fairness, he may have been experimenting with new pitches which I think I heard somewhere. http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?ID=207905

 

[Jacketman1]

Didn't Gooden get lit up in summer ball as well? Maybe....well, I don't know what ....but with his stats last year and if I am right about his summer stats, maybe we aren't missing that much? (Hate to say that about any kid!). Hopefully he will improve big time with some learning and adjustments...

His situation is just strange. He had a lot of potential coming out of high school. I think he can be really good.

 

[GTNavyNuke]

His situation is just strange. He had a lot of potential coming out of high school. I think he can be really good.

I share your opinion based on what I've seen on tape and TV. It seems that there is just something that needs to click it all in place. But the fact is that he hasn't pitched yet this year for us and was undistinguished in summer ball. Being a pitcher at GT has to be hard. So many mental games going on.

 

[senoiajacket]

I share your opinion based on what I've seen on tape and TV. It seems that there is just something that needs to click it all in place. But the fact is that he hasn't pitched yet this year for us and was undistinguished in summer ball. Being a pitcher at GT has to be hard. So many mental games going on.

I am missing something ..... is it more difficult to pitch at GT than anywhere else? If so, why?

 

[augustabuzz]

I am missing something ..... is it more difficult to pitch at GT than anywhere else? If so, why?

The demand on your time makes it different.

 

[Buzzbomb]

It’s not easy to evaluate the young hurlers against this early level of competition....although, you can’t dismiss a little success to gain confidence.

 

[ball4life66]

New weekend starters.

 

[augustabuzz]

New weekend starters.

Are these guys really named Friday, Saturday, Sunday?

 

[THWG]

Are these guys really named Friday, Saturday, Sunday?

It's better than TBA.

 

[MWBATL]

Sooo, Curry (no surprise), Hurter again (I think that's him, right?), and Connor Thomas (no surprise).

I am surprised that frosh Hurter is getting a second straight start. He got hit pretty good by Dartmouth but to his credit gave no freebies. (OK, very few) I kinda thought maybe we'd see English (too soon?) or maybe Hughes again after a decent outing by him (weekday starter role?)

 

[FredJacket]

Sooo, Curry (no surprise), Hurter again (I think that's him, right?), and Connor Thomas (no surprise).

I am surprised that frosh Hurter is getting a second straight start. He got hit pretty good by Dartmouth but to his credit gave no freebies. (OK, very few) I kinda thought maybe we'd see English (too soon?) or maybe Hughes again after a decent outing by him (weekday starter role?)

I feel same way for most part. Probably too soon for English to do the customary 5+ inn start.

Could be as simple as scouting report says UIC has a little more trouble against LHPs.