5/22 - 5/28 Minor League Game Thread

[Bobbob1313]

Yeah, maybe. Supposedly his stuff isn't super great and he gets by on locating and a good change up. I'd like to see him live.

The Tools: 6+ FB; 6+ potential SL: 5+ potential CH

Strengths: Athletic and fluid delivery; good balance and tempo; arm works well; fastball is creeper pitch in the low-mid-90s; good deception in the delivery allows it to jump on hitters; velo ticks up deep into games; can touch 96+ when he needs it; slider is plus offering; multiple looks; can throw in the zone or chase; good vertical depth; turns over an average changeup; could play above average; repeats with good command profile.

Weaknesses: Needs to add strength to frame; fastball can play down early in games; will work 89-93 with some arm-side; slider can get too slurvy and loose; changeup has some vertical dive but lacks high projection; good control; command still needs refinement; can hang around the plate too much.

Definitely doesn't sound like someone just getting away in trickery. Changeup will probably be the key. If he can get it to above-average consistently, he'll probably be a No. 2.

[HUGG]

Heaney makes it look so simple, with easy arm action and a smooth delivery he repeats well. He gets easy velocity on his fastball, touching 95 regularly, particularly in two-strike counts. When he needs a little more he can push it up to 97. He has learned, however, that his command is crisper when he sits in the 91-93 range. There's a little deception to it and natural giddy-up at the end that gives hitters fits, even at the lower velocity. Heaney locates his fastball well down in the zone. His plus slider can be a wipeout pitch, with late, hard, sharp break that finishes outside of the hitting zone. He keeps hitters off-balance with his changeup, a valuable weapon against righthanded hitters. It's solid-average now, though there were times last year, particularly early in the season, when he telegraphed the pitch - or it came in a bit too firm without the fade it has when he turns it over right. The changeup projects as a third above-average offering.

He commands all his pitches consistently and mixes them together well, though he needs to get better at reading swings and picking up on hitters' tendencies to improve his pitch selection. From early in the season to the end, his pitch management took a major step forward as he became more efficient. Heaney needs to learn to improve his tempo and control the running game after allowing 19 of 20 runners to steal against him in 2013, and it's been a notable weakness since college. He added nearly 20 pounds to his frame since signing but could benefit from additional strength. He carries himself well on the mound and competes hard every time out.

Heaney's not far away, though with just 122 pro innings he could stand more minor league time. He'll have to prove he can hold up to a full workload to fulfill his potential as a No. 2 starter, but he should join Miami's young rotation by the end of 2014.

-BA

The pitch selection/hitters' tendencies thing makes me think he could benefit from working with Mathis for a while when he comes up. Helped Jose immensely in those areas.

[Mainge]

I didn't mean to imply trickery. I just meant that he's always been successful as a polish and pitchability guy, and not someone known for his stuff. That usually means a lower ceiling and higher floor.

[Bobbob1313]

Agree that was the book on him coming out of college, though I think it's changed a bit on that front.

[Mainge]

It's why I'm anxious to see him.

[Bobbob1313]

Samesies. Wanna go to his debut together?

[Mainge]

Sure

[Bobbob1313]

Fine, whatever.

[nny]

I believe Barry Jackson said he would have to be called up by mid-late June in order to be in control til 2020 instead of 2019. He also mentioned that Wolf has a clause that guarantees his contract if he's with team by the end of June.

Calling him in mid-late June compared to now would have nothing to do with control, only arbitration.

[Mainge]

Fine, whatever.

Oh : (

[Bobbob1313]

Calling him in mid-late June compared to now would have nothing to do with control, only arbitration.

Everything has to do with control, Nny. Everything.

#StayWoke

[Big Z]

Fucking call Bour up. Fuck.

Solano hasn't started a game since April 22 and has all of 16 PA in the last month+, we need a lefty off the bench, and this dude is hitting .365/.456/.600 off righties in AAA. Quit fucking around.

Dallas McPherson 2.0. He's literally tearing it up down there and doesn't get the call.

By the way, only hit off of Heaney last night: Bryan Petersen.

On another note, Chipper Smith has done a nice job thus far both in Jupiter and now in Jacksonville.

Video of Heaney's 7th K (notice where the catcher asks for the ball to be and where he puts it):

http://lm.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%...E3mAjCbeAY&s=1

[Todd]

I dont like seeing players compared to Dallas McPherson.

[HUGG]

Bour's dropped his K rate from usually in the 18% range to 11% through 200 PA this season. His LD% is consistent, but his ISO has dropped 25 points from .224 to .199.

He's went from missing on 26.2% of his swings in 2012 to 23.1% in 2013 to 18.2% in 2014. This is directly because he's just stopped swinging at anything out of the zone. He swung at 10.7% of all pitches out of the zone in 2012, 15.0% in 2013. He's swinging at 4.6%(!) this season.

He has a pretty good track record, minus 2013 which you can probably chalk up to the injured wrist and the .236 BABIP.


This dude intrigues the hell out of me. He can't hit lefties, so he's a role player, but he could have some nice value during his cost controlled years.

[geemoney]

5/28

AAA New Orleans: W, 7-4

J.Rodriguez: 1-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI, K
Bogusevic: 1-5, 2 R, 3B, RBI
Valdespin: 2-5, R, 2 RBI, CS
Bour: 1-5, K
Jensen: 3-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K
Angle: 2-4, R
Villanueva: W, 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HRA
Dayton: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Roe: SV, 1 IP, 2 K

AA Jacksonville: W, 11-3

Nola: 1-5, RBI, K
Burg: 3-5, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI, K
Realmuto: 2-5, R, 2B, RBI, K
Benson: 2-4, R, 2 RBI
Shoemaker: 2-4, 2 R, HR (4), 2 RBI, K
Silverio: 1-4, R, RBI
A.Lopez: 1-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI
Galloway: 1-3, 2 R, BB
Jay Rogers: W, 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Manzueta: 1 IP, 1 K

A+ Jupiter: L, 4-3

Moran: 1-3, RBI, BB, K
Barnes: 2-4, RBI, K
Juengel: 1-2, R, 2B, BB, CS
Rieger: 1-4, RBI, K
Solorzano: 2-4, SB
Perio: 2-4, R
T.Williams: L, 4 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Ellington: 2 IP, 1 BB, 2 K
Suggs: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

A Greensboro: L, 2-1

C.Lopez: 3-4, 2B
DeWitt: 1-4, 2B
Wallach: 2-4, 2B, RBI
Keefer: 2-3, BB
Milroy: L, 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K
Townsley: 4 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 5 K