Minor League Thread Part Deux

Good day to keep up with farm... Ian, Braun, and sears starting. I've pretty much given up hope on Ian, but I will continue to follow him.
 
50PoundHead said:
I can understand the aggressive promotion of some guys. Ritchie is ready for the next step. Lara looks to be another guy they are just going to burn option years on before he's ready to actually contribute.
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Yeah 50. Sigh. His command makes Mauricio Cabrera look like he had pinpoint control. In all seriousness, there are further moves coming to the staffs but I have no idea who. There has been progress for some pitchers even if the results don't look good. In Lara's case...the eye tests match the stats.
 
Deester11 said:
Yeah 50. Sigh. His command makes Mauricio Cabrera look like he had pinpoint control. In all seriousness, there are further moves coming to the staffs but I have no idea who. There has been progress for some pitchers even if the results don't look good. In Lara's case...the eye tests match the stats.
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In other words, Lara is not close to ready. Which means he’s due a call up by June 🤣
 
rawwr said:
my favorite lara line is is a game where he struck out 7 with one walk and no HR in 2.1 IP... and also gave up 6 ER
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To me it seems simple with a guy like that but in reality, that's not so easy or everyone would have great command. Leo Mazzone was spot on when he basically said that pitchers are so focused on throwing the hardest that they never master the nuances of pitching. Namely, command. Lara has a howitzer for an arm....and yet....he's maddening to watch at times.

For years I could not understand why Glavine was so effective. As a yung-un, I thought he doesn't throw hard but manages to get people out. Didn't matter if he struck out 1 or 6 batters he PITCHED. I appreciate him and Maddux so much more today.

Fast forward to today. There are more arms throwing mid-90's but their command is awful. This is also why a pitcher like JR Ritchie it’s pretty fun to watch. Even when his command is spotty, his secondary pitches play up because he’s been able to spot his fastball more times than not. Another case of point is Fuentes who has a devastating slider and can get to it when his command is on. When it’s off, he’s hittable, and with an arm like that, he should be less hittable more times than not. But he is young and his command has improved since he first got into the system.

Another case of point is Blake Burkhalter, who I think would be better served as a reliever because he can hold his command in short spurts and throw hard at the same time. I guess it’s give or take, but since we were talking about Lara, command will always be his sticking point unless he figures it out between now and AAA. .
 
Braves can bring up a bunch of Maddux and Smoltz all they want. But if they can’t hit, then it really doesn’t help what this horrible GM has built at the MLB level.
 
Tapate50 said:
Had a lot of guys regress faster than normal. Are long term deals less motivating ?
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I get what AA was trying to do, but the volatility of long term deals are real. I also think AA'S aversion to signing proven established pitchers is as flawed as not giving out a 6 year deal to a proven 1b (but I digress).

The farm system is predicated as it stands on hitting on pitchers sprinkled with a few position players. The AAAA replacement merry go round is asinine in my option. But AA has backed himself in the genius corner. The only tradeable assets you have are stone throws with the exception of Ritchie, Murphy, Caminiti and maybe Fuentes. What position player would be in demand from the minors? All are stone throws.

I could go on about the farm and scouting and theories but these people get paid to analyze what ails the major league team while having a farm that can replenish weaknesses. That endeavor has been spotty at best (and yes, you have to account for the long term guys who graduated to the majors). Also getting Sale for a decent at the time thought of prospect. Something is just missing.
 
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