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Post by jimed14 on Apr 25, 2016 14:15:36 GMT -5
I only caught one Hembree appearance and didn't pay attention to this, but how is he pitching lefties? Has his fastball improved that much that he can get by with it vs. LHB? He typically only throws 4 seamers and sliders. He added a CB (a pitch he used to throw in HS) that he throws to LHB. There's an article about that I'll look if I can find it and post it here. ADD: HereThanks. It looks like PitchFX is picking it up as a slider which is confusing, but the velocity ranges between 76.2 - 90.4. Confusing.
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Post by brianthetaoist on Apr 25, 2016 14:26:04 GMT -5
I similarly think the concerns about Owens' "stuff" are overblown. His fastball velo is below-average, but it had the second-most horizontal movement of any four-seam fastball in the league last year (among the 174 starting pitchers with 60+ IP), and it plays up due to deception and because hitters have to respect his changeup. The stuff is more than sufficient to be an above-average major league starter, even without pinpoint command. But if he's to be a rotation staple, he does need to make continued strides with his control and command, because what we saw last night isn't going to cut it. Yeah, I think that bolded part is an important point ... he doesn't have to have David Wells command to work as a starter. He's a range of outcomes to me, from "command barely improves" (fringe starter, at best, no use to Sox after his options expire) to "improves to average-ish command" (solid-to-better starter) to "big improvement to above-average command" (rotation stalwart on championship team).
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Post by theghostofjoecronin on Apr 25, 2016 14:39:24 GMT -5
Heath Hembree: A long-man, according to John Farrell Hope he isn't on an innings limit this year...at this rate he'll end up throwing more IP than David Price. Regarding Owens...I think he has the potential to be an 'ok' SP, but it certainly won't happen overnight. If he does find success in the majors it might take another 2-3 years. Could be a similar career path to Jeff Samardzija in which he bounced up and down between minors/ML his first few seasons then broke out once he figured out how to command a FB. I just don't think Owens will ever find consistency until he does improves his command, but in my eyes I don't want to wait to find out on the chance that it never happens. (see: Joe Kelly, Rubby De La Rosa, etc...) I think Brian Johnson is a better choice for being a backend starter for us, great control and has command of all of his pitches. He might not have the ceiling of Owens but IMO he has a much higher floor.
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ericmvan
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Supposed to be working on something more important
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Post by ericmvan on Apr 25, 2016 16:50:13 GMT -5
He added a CB (a pitch he used to throw in HS) that he throws to LHB. There's an article about that I'll look if I can find it and post it here. ADD: HereThanks. It looks like PitchFX is picking it up as a slider which is confusing, but the velocity ranges between 76.2 - 90.4. Confusing. Compared to previously: -- He's changed his release point to be more over the top. -- He's throwing 17% sliders and 12% curves, instead of 22% sliders and 5% changeups. -- He's throwing harder; FB up 0.9 mph, slider up 0.8, to 94.9 and 88.5 respectively. -- The FB has less run and more rise as expected from the new arm slot, but also 0.7" more total movement. -- Total movement on the slider is unchanged, but the tilt is very different; it now drops 2.2" more relative to the FB but has only lost -0.3 or -0.4 of relative sideways movement. -- The curve is hugely better than the baby version he threw 7 times starting last Sept. 18, with 2.2" more absolute drop and 1.8" more fade. Relative to FB, it's 3.3" more drop and 0.3" more fade.
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Post by pokeyreesespieces on Apr 25, 2016 18:00:15 GMT -5
It's gonna be fun to be here in 2 years and having the same "Owens is still just 25, he might still be able to learn to command his fastball"
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ianrs
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Post by ianrs on Apr 25, 2016 18:26:54 GMT -5
It's gonna be fun to be here in 2 years and having the same "Owens is still just 25, he might still be able to learn to command his fastball" Look, I agree that Owens does not currently have good fastball command, and this is an issue for his success at the MLB level. I hope he puts it together and keeps working on it, because, as others have pointed out, he truly does have the stuff to succeed at the MLB level. You act as if no pitcher has ever had a mid to late 20's career turnaround (in one or more previous areas of weakness). Jake Arrieta, Corey Kluber, and friends say hello.
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Post by jimed14 on Apr 25, 2016 18:50:22 GMT -5
It's gonna be fun to be here in 2 years and having the same "Owens is still just 25, he might still be able to learn to command his fastball" And you wait for as long as it takes because of how elite his changeup is and because of how effective his fastball is when it is commanded well. Those are the guys you never give up on even if they never work out. Randy Johnson didn't break out until he was 30.
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