|
Post by RedSoxStats on Aug 1, 2014 12:06:46 GMT -5
No one is going to walk when they are freaking punishing every pitch they like. Won't have a good idea on his approach till he starts being challenged.
|
|
|
Post by iakovos11 on Aug 1, 2014 12:12:30 GMT -5
Witte is 3-1/2 years older and in A for the half the year and A+ for half the year. Travis getting the call to A now. Even if he spends all of next year in A and goes to A+ the following year, he'll still be essentially 2 years ahead of Witte at that stage. It's not even close, Travis is a far superior prospect until he proves he's not.
|
|
|
Post by gregblossersbelly on Aug 1, 2014 12:19:52 GMT -5
No one is going to walk when they are freaking punishing every pitch they like. Won't have a good idea on his approach till he starts being challenged. I wouldn't call his line punishing every pitch he likes. Even though he's hitting .333 he only has 10 XBH's in 165 pa's. I'm not worried. But, 4 bb's in 165 pa's is very low. If he were a Latin kid, we'd send him back to the island Ian said he's looking for pitches to hit. Which I'm fine with. Just don't want a total free-swinger who isn't hitting for as much pop as you want from a 1B.
|
|
|
Post by iakovos11 on Aug 1, 2014 12:21:29 GMT -5
His K rate is around 10-11%, so he's not striking out much either. The BB's will come. Scouting reports have him with a good approach and raw power.
|
|
|
Post by amfox1 on Aug 1, 2014 12:22:17 GMT -5
His lack of walks and power is going to catch up with him still. I'm more impressed by Witte than him at this point. Well see if those areas kick into gear in Greenville. Serious question. I'm interested in what you have seen in Witte this year that has impressed you the most and gives you hope for his prospectness down the road. Usually, 24th round redshirt seniors who are 24YO in A-ball are JAGs. I'll hang up and listen.
|
|
nomar
Veteran
Posts: 10,793
|
Post by nomar on Aug 1, 2014 12:28:34 GMT -5
His lack of walks and power is going to catch up with him still. I'm more impressed by Witte than him at this point. Well see if those areas kick into gear in Greenville. Serious question. I'm interested in what you have seen in Witte this year that has impressed you the most and gives you hope for his prospectness down the road. Usually, 24th round redshirt seniors who are 24YO in A-ball are JAGs. I'll hang up and listen. Well norther has seriously done much for me. I didn't realize how old Witte was admittedly. I do agree that Travis' K rates are impressive and his BBs should pick up once he's challenged more. But I think the lack of power is important especially for a guy who's hitting as well as he is. If he was playing 3B I'd be more hopeful. Anything can happen, maybe he's just had a down month power wise, but he has a lot to prove.
|
|
|
Post by iakovos11 on Aug 1, 2014 12:33:11 GMT -5
Pretty much everyone at Lowell and Greenville has a lot to prove.
Not saying his lack of power isn't something to keep an eye on. But his scouting says he has raw power. It's generally the last tool to develop. I think he'll improve on this.
|
|
|
Post by caseytins on Aug 1, 2014 12:35:16 GMT -5
I think Travis has had a fine start to his professional career. He's about to turn 21, had a decent start in Lowell and is now getting promoted to Greenville. It will be interesting to see what happens during the next few weeks as he is challenged by better pitching.
|
|
|
Post by Jonathan Singer on Aug 1, 2014 12:37:12 GMT -5
Serious question. I'm interested in what you have seen in Witte this year that has impressed you the most and gives you hope for his prospectness down the road. Usually, 24th round redshirt seniors who are 24YO in A-ball are JAGs. I'll hang up and listen. Well norther has seriously done much for me. I didn't realize how old Witte was admittedly. I do agree that Travis' K rates are impressive and his BBs should pick up once he's challenged more. But I think the lack of power is important especially for a guy who's hitting as well as he is. If he was playing 3B I'd be more hopeful. Anything can happen, maybe he's just had a down month power wise, but he has a lot to prove. Power is the last tool to usually develop. He just entered the system 6 weeks ago. He is far from a finished product.
|
|
|
Post by amfox1 on Aug 1, 2014 12:39:07 GMT -5
I wouldn't worry about Travis' power yet because (a) he's only 20 and (b) wait to see what he does in the Fenway-esque configured parks at Greenville and Portland. The K rate is important and we'll have to see if it stands up to better pitchers at higher levels. Keep in mind also that, in most cases, stats at short season ball are largely irrelevant, because of the layoff between college ball and short-season ball and the adjustment to wood bats. Travis was one of the best college bats coming out of the draft and only fell to #82 because of the position he plays. It doesn't mean that he will hit enough all the way up the ladder to justify a 1B position, but for now I wouldn't worry about how he's doing.
In fact, you can look at Witte's results last year as an example of why short-season stats don't matter. Compared to Witte's stats last year, Travis is an absolute monster. BTW, Witte is defensively challenged and he will need to prove himself with the bat at every level. So far, so good but usually the wheat gets separated from the chaff (prospectwise) at Double-A.
|
|
|
Post by godot on Aug 1, 2014 12:42:17 GMT -5
I thought that I may have been offbase believing that the Sox may be giving mix messages on hitting. Hatfield says no, but don't know if he is there when they are instructing. This would be hard anywhoo. But the talk on Travis not walking much and other matters make me believe that something is amiss. It could be reading too much of people on this board who turn walks into a virtue itself and miss the fact that it is hitting. Likewise, all the talk of Sox liking hitters who "work the count". Regardless, I always though the idea was to get a pitch you like and try not and hit out your zone, not necessarily going deep into the count. You may get that pitch early in the count. And how many hitters can constantly hit with two strikes. Granted, that it is good to run up the pitch count, but at what cost for the hitter. Telling a hitter to work the count and also be "selectively aggressive" can make them think too much and become mixed up. The hitting coaches I know say be ready to hit when they throw the ball and recognize whether it is a good pitch for you. If Travis does this he is fine, and don't worry about not walking. It is not an end in itself
|
|
|
Post by amfox1 on Aug 1, 2014 12:42:22 GMT -5
|
|
nomar
Veteran
Posts: 10,793
|
Post by nomar on Aug 1, 2014 12:52:31 GMT -5
I guess I just expect more from a guy with his frame power-wise. He's not going to fill out. I know power is the last tool to develop, but it still makes me nervous.
I probably am being way too hard on the kid, but his bat is going to have to be good given his defensive ability. I'm not going to write him off, but I'm not going to get my hopes up at the same time.
The mojo I'm giving him is probably going to make him a stud. If so, call me an idiot, and we can all be happy.
|
|
|
Post by moonstone2 on Aug 1, 2014 17:57:14 GMT -5
I think I am closer to nomar on this one.
It juat seems that the top college 1b are always the same. Great numbers in the minors especially the lower minors. Followed by the inability to hold a job at the major league level.
Over the past decade there has been.a parade of these guys. Aubrey, Wallace , Smoak, and Cooper off the top of my head.
That said he will likely put up numbers at Salem next year and the forums will explode. If he does the Sox should probably look to deal him.
|
|
|
Post by huskies15 on Aug 2, 2014 0:14:37 GMT -5
Is there any chance he also improves significantly on defense? Napoli picked it up in a year, not saying he will be that good. But I feel more professional reps at first can turn any decent athlete into a more than competent defender at first base. I also believe his power will begin to show. Im rooting for him.
|
|
|
Post by arzjake on Aug 7, 2014 12:50:56 GMT -5
This guy is on fire!
|
|
|
Post by redsox4242 on Aug 7, 2014 12:51:38 GMT -5
Sure is, another call up in the works?!!
|
|
|
Post by iakovos11 on Aug 7, 2014 16:59:10 GMT -5
Easy, killer. Every time a player has a good game you're calling for a promotion.
|
|
|
Post by jchang on Aug 7, 2014 17:11:02 GMT -5
I can wait till late May for Sam to make it to Salem. Both Potomac and Frederick are close, and Salem is a 3.5hr drive.
|
|
|
Post by umassgrad2005 on Aug 7, 2014 17:43:41 GMT -5
Glad to see him doing well. At this stage I'm only worried about how he hits, power comes with age. We need good hitters in our system.
|
|
|
Post by redsox1534 on Aug 7, 2014 18:26:17 GMT -5
Im a fan of Travis. He actually has some qualitys that remind me of Allen Craig. He may end up being more like James Loney then Allen Craig but time will tell. He is really young for a college draftee, just 20 and thats just young period. This org teaches plate discipline and patients/taking walks realigously threw the minors. He seems like the type who could take to that philosphy or atleast put in a good effort to. We have taken plenty of guys and helped them become more disciline and learn to draw more walks and we even takent some kids and failed to help them there. Time will tell what kinda player he will be.
|
|
|
Post by moonstone2 on Aug 7, 2014 20:01:59 GMT -5
So what about a few of weeks in Arizona this fall for Travis? It would certainly challenge him.
|
|
|
Post by redsox4242 on Aug 7, 2014 20:05:26 GMT -5
Easy, killer. Every time a player has a good game you're calling for a promotion. True, buts Its hard to ignore what Travis is done. We aren't talking about a 18 year old kid here. Travis turns 21 in 3 weeks. He played 3 years at Indiana so he has some experience against the quality pitching in A ball that he faced in college playing in the big ten. If he continues with this pace, Travis could be in Salem before the end of the season. if not, then next year for sure! A lot to be excited about with all these prospects producing! GO SOX!
|
|
|
Post by larrycook on Aug 7, 2014 20:46:57 GMT -5
Should he start next season at Salem?
|
|
|
Post by jmei on Aug 7, 2014 21:11:40 GMT -5
So what about a few of weeks in Arizona this fall for Travis? It would certainly challenge him. At least a year too early, I think. Looking through the list of past AFL invitees, I don't see anyone with as little pro experience at as low a level as Travis.
|
|