Here's a collection of random thoughts I have while watching the Tigers/Yankees game on MLB.tv. I'd like to that MLB for not giving me the option to choose the home or away TV feed. I love watching the YES Network feed. Especially the insufferable Michael Kay. Anyway, here's some random thoughts:
- Does anyone actually have an "SAP button?" I swear, I've never seen this mythical button. Do they make you prove you speak Spanish when you buy the TV in order to issue you one with an SAP button?
- Michael Kay informs us that Curtis Granderson and Grady Sizemore "strike out too much to be a leadoff hitter." You're right, Granderson (.347 OBP) and Sizemore (.382 OBP!) should try to be more like Johnny Damon (.353 OBP) or Melky Cabrera (.351 OBP).
- What road starts are to Ervin Santana, the first inning is to Jeremy Bonderman. He's got a 12+ ERA in the first inning! So far it looks like he's well on his way to upping that number...
- Michael Kay talks about Moneyball semi-intelligently. Astounding. Except for the obligatory "Billy Beane likes to draft college guys" talk.
- Does this blog consist of disseminating the accounts and descriptions of the game? Will I have the YES Network breathing down my neck?
- Oh my goodness gracious, of all the dramatic things I have ever seen! Yogi Berra is sitting in George Steinbrenner's box!
- The YES crew are talking about Curtis Granderson's 19 triples and are attributing it to Comerica Park. Too bad only 6 of the 19 triples were hit there. Don't let the fact stand in the way of your argument guys...
- How you can tell an idiot fan: If they boo an intentional walk. Granted there are exceptions (like Barry Bonds), but a real fan of the game will understand the strategy of the game and acknowledge the strategic usage of the intentional walk.
- Apparently, Joe Torre has two ways he can make relief pitchers cry. The first way is well known, run them out there mercilessly until their arm hurts. The second way was just reveal in an anecdote by Michael Kay. First you don't use a pitcher for 2 weeks because you don't trust them (Edwar Ramirez), then you run them out there and let them get pounded because their rusty (Ramirez again), then you send them down to the minors. Voila! tears. Man Torre is shaky with his bullpen usage...
Showing posts with label Jeremy Bonderman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jeremy Bonderman. Show all posts
Sunday, August 19
Sunday, February 25
Redux
So I was busily typing away when Firefox crashed on me, losing my progress. If this isn't any good, trust me, the original was amazing.
So, anyway, here's a roundup of some of the stories I've been following lately. A disclaimer is that most of these stories are either about the Tigers, or about players I happen to have on my team.
The stars of Detroit Tigers camp so far have been Curtis Granderson, Jeremy Bonderman, Gary Sheffield, and Kyle Sleeth. Apparently Grandy has been hitting rockets all over the yard, and seems poised to have a big year. Jeremy Bonderman has apparently been impressing with his newfound (again) changeup. I tell you, if he gets that changeup working, he's going to be Dominant. Don't sleep on Bondo this year. Sheffield has been impressing everyone with that waggling bat.
The most intriguing guy could possibly be Kyle Sleeth. Sleeth is a deep, deep, deep sleeper, not likely to contribute any sooner than next year, if ever. Sleeth was the Tigers' first pick in the 2003 draft. He went third overall behind Delmon Young and Rickie Weekes, and ahead of fellow first rounders like Nick Markakis and Chad Cordero. At draft time John Sickels summed him up like this:
" Likely the best raw arm in the college ranks, although not as polished as Tim Stauffer (see below). Sleeth will probably be the first college hurler drafted. He is big, throws hard, and has pitched well in college. Hard to go wrong with that package."
He made his debut in 2004 in single A Lakeland and performed pretty well (5-4 with a 3.31 ERA, 60 hits, 65/18 K/BB in 68 innings). After that he was promoted to Double A and struggled the rest of the year. 2005 he missed the first few months before finally having Tommy John surgery in June. He came back late last season to single A, but basically got his brains beaten in.
It appears Kyle is feeling better and starting to make big strides on his way back to prospect status. So, if he's getting his career back, how does he project? Going back to Baseball America again, here was the scouting report of Sleeth from 2003:
"Sleeth has far and away the highest ceiling among Tigers farmhands. He had one of the best fastballs available in the 2003 draft, both in terms of velocity and life. He usually pitches between 92-94 mph and touches 96. His fastball seems even firmer, however, because of its movement. It bores down and in on righthanders. It’s a heavy ball. Sleeth throws both a power curveball and a low-80s slider. The curveball is the better breaking pitch, as he throws it in the high 70s, and it features a lot of depth and bite. His slider improved last spring, though some scouts say it’s a bit slurvy. His changeup has the potential to be an average major league pitch. Sleeth has a strong, projectable frame and was durable at Wake Forest. He’s quiet and confident. When the Demon Deacons struggled behind him last spring, he remained poised. Though not demonstrative, Sleeth exudes competitiveness."
Well, all of a sudden the Tigers have a packed young rotation. Bonderman and Verlander figure to be rotation fixtures for the forseeable future. Andrew Miller is likely to join them, barring injury, next year. Nate Robertson and Mike Maroth are both very serviceable starters, and are in their prime years. Kenny Rogers is still pitching well, but is likely to move on in the next few year or two.
In the short term, I don't know how the Tigers are going to sort out their pitching depth. It's an enviable problem to have too much young pitching, but Jordan Tata, Andrew Miller, Jair Jurjjens, Eulogio de la Cruz, Virgil Vazquez, Wil Ledezma and maybe Kyle Sleeth are all pitching prospects that may be pushing for a rotation spot. Given his draft pedigree, if Sleeth can resurrect his career, and it's not uncommon for a pitcher to have Tommy John before making it to the majors, he'll likely get one of the first cracks at any open rotation spots.
To sum up, keep an eye of Kyle Sleeth, he was the #3 pick only a few years ago and appears to be making a strong comeback from Tommy John surgery. He may be a name to know in the future.
So, anyway, here's a roundup of some of the stories I've been following lately. A disclaimer is that most of these stories are either about the Tigers, or about players I happen to have on my team.
The stars of Detroit Tigers camp so far have been Curtis Granderson, Jeremy Bonderman, Gary Sheffield, and Kyle Sleeth. Apparently Grandy has been hitting rockets all over the yard, and seems poised to have a big year. Jeremy Bonderman has apparently been impressing with his newfound (again) changeup. I tell you, if he gets that changeup working, he's going to be Dominant. Don't sleep on Bondo this year. Sheffield has been impressing everyone with that waggling bat.
The most intriguing guy could possibly be Kyle Sleeth. Sleeth is a deep, deep, deep sleeper, not likely to contribute any sooner than next year, if ever. Sleeth was the Tigers' first pick in the 2003 draft. He went third overall behind Delmon Young and Rickie Weekes, and ahead of fellow first rounders like Nick Markakis and Chad Cordero. At draft time John Sickels summed him up like this:
" Likely the best raw arm in the college ranks, although not as polished as Tim Stauffer (see below). Sleeth will probably be the first college hurler drafted. He is big, throws hard, and has pitched well in college. Hard to go wrong with that package."
He made his debut in 2004 in single A Lakeland and performed pretty well (5-4 with a 3.31 ERA, 60 hits, 65/18 K/BB in 68 innings). After that he was promoted to Double A and struggled the rest of the year. 2005 he missed the first few months before finally having Tommy John surgery in June. He came back late last season to single A, but basically got his brains beaten in.
It appears Kyle is feeling better and starting to make big strides on his way back to prospect status. So, if he's getting his career back, how does he project? Going back to Baseball America again, here was the scouting report of Sleeth from 2003:
"Sleeth has far and away the highest ceiling among Tigers farmhands. He had one of the best fastballs available in the 2003 draft, both in terms of velocity and life. He usually pitches between 92-94 mph and touches 96. His fastball seems even firmer, however, because of its movement. It bores down and in on righthanders. It’s a heavy ball. Sleeth throws both a power curveball and a low-80s slider. The curveball is the better breaking pitch, as he throws it in the high 70s, and it features a lot of depth and bite. His slider improved last spring, though some scouts say it’s a bit slurvy. His changeup has the potential to be an average major league pitch. Sleeth has a strong, projectable frame and was durable at Wake Forest. He’s quiet and confident. When the Demon Deacons struggled behind him last spring, he remained poised. Though not demonstrative, Sleeth exudes competitiveness."
Well, all of a sudden the Tigers have a packed young rotation. Bonderman and Verlander figure to be rotation fixtures for the forseeable future. Andrew Miller is likely to join them, barring injury, next year. Nate Robertson and Mike Maroth are both very serviceable starters, and are in their prime years. Kenny Rogers is still pitching well, but is likely to move on in the next few year or two.
In the short term, I don't know how the Tigers are going to sort out their pitching depth. It's an enviable problem to have too much young pitching, but Jordan Tata, Andrew Miller, Jair Jurjjens, Eulogio de la Cruz, Virgil Vazquez, Wil Ledezma and maybe Kyle Sleeth are all pitching prospects that may be pushing for a rotation spot. Given his draft pedigree, if Sleeth can resurrect his career, and it's not uncommon for a pitcher to have Tommy John before making it to the majors, he'll likely get one of the first cracks at any open rotation spots.
To sum up, keep an eye of Kyle Sleeth, he was the #3 pick only a few years ago and appears to be making a strong comeback from Tommy John surgery. He may be a name to know in the future.
Friday, February 9
One day closer
So I was cruising around the Inet last night and I came across this picture:
Man that makes me smile. No, that pasty white fellow is not Casper the friendly ghost, it's Jeremy Bonderman. They seem to have gotten right down to business, as here you can see them practicing how to walk off a killer throwing error.
Man that makes me smile. No, that pasty white fellow is not Casper the friendly ghost, it's Jeremy Bonderman. They seem to have gotten right down to business, as here you can see them practicing how to walk off a killer throwing error.
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