It's Soroka Time

Would anybody support a 6 man rotation until the inevitable injury or flame out?

I think I would. Would limit soroka and Newcomb innings and maybe protect Mcarthy?

They should consider it. Need to get Soroka innings but nobody really deserves to get booted out at this time.
 
After 1 start and 80 pitches, what did we see?

SI (38): 94.0 mph = Grade 58.2 | 8.8" HMov = Grade 53.2 | 2.3" VMov = Grade 65.8

This SI checks in as a true plus or better pitch. I have to hang a 65+ overall grade on it. It is as advertised and exactly what I was hoping to see.

FA (22): 94.2 mph = Grade 54.1 | 1.4" HMov = Grade 28.7 | 6.8" VMov = Grade 30.4

The FA is...not good. Above average velocity, but the same low spin rate that gives him the amazing SI prevents him from having a good FA. He threw it 25% of the time last night, but he needs to only use it as a spot-up pitch...maybe less. It is straight, flat, and will get crushed worse than Fried's. I would strongly suggest shelving this pitch.

SL (16): 86.9 mph = Grade 59.9 | 4.2" HMov = Grade 74.1 | -1.5" VMov = Grade 30.4

This is a sweeper of a SL with good velocity. Definitely a Grade 60+ pitch overall...as long as he doesn't throw it middle-middle to Cespedes.

CH (4): 10.1 mph delta = Grade 61.5 | 7.2" HMov = Grade 46.6 | 5.7" VMov = Grade 46.7

The CH has a plus velocity delta from the SI, and a touch below average movement. Very small sample, but this flashes as an average Grade 50+ CH overall.

Command: 0 BBs, and he looked to be hitting spots until he tired around the 40-50 pitch mark. Easily 60 grade command, and I'm willing to bet it gets better as he "learns how to pitch".

Soroka was as advertised, and showed exactly what I wanted to see...almost eerily exact. The FA needs to hit the bricks, but the 65 SI, 60 SL and 50 CH will play nicely with 60+ command. This is what durable young #3 SPs who flash a couple #2 seasons look like. My comp on Soroka for a while now has been 2002-2011 Derek Lowe when he was churning out 200 IP season like clockwork, and I'm going to stick by it.

Thanks great breakdown

I could see him being in our top 3 starting pitchers now. Really enjoyed watching him

I’m not in on the 6 man rotation bc we already carry a stupid number of pitchers. But maybe they can do it and use the 10 day dL and aaa to move guys around
 
Your mind. It must be an interesting place.

From the outside it looks like this:

anigif_enhanced-buzz-5790-1389910424-0.gif


Until you take a closer look:

AAd3CH7.jpg


And then on the inside it feels like this:

tumblr_o16n2kBlpX1ta3qyvo1_1280.jpg
 
After 1 start and 80 pitches, what did we see?

SI (38): 94.0 mph = Grade 58.2 | 8.8" HMov = Grade 53.2 | 2.3" VMov = Grade 65.8

This SI checks in as a true plus or better pitch. I have to hang a 65+ overall grade on it. It is as advertised and exactly what I was hoping to see.

FA (22): 94.2 mph = Grade 54.1 | 1.4" HMov = Grade 28.7 | 6.8" VMov = Grade 30.4

The FA is...not good. Above average velocity, but the same low spin rate that gives him the amazing SI prevents him from having a good FA. He threw it 25% of the time last night, but he needs to only use it as a spot-up pitch...maybe less. It is straight, flat, and will get crushed worse than Fried's. I would strongly suggest shelving this pitch.

SL (16): 86.9 mph = Grade 59.9 | 4.2" HMov = Grade 74.1 | -1.5" VMov = Grade 30.4

This is a sweeper of a SL with good velocity. Definitely a Grade 60+ pitch overall...as long as he doesn't throw it middle-middle to Cespedes.

CH (4): 10.1 mph delta = Grade 61.5 | 7.2" HMov = Grade 46.6 | 5.7" VMov = Grade 46.7

The CH has a plus velocity delta from the SI, and a touch below average movement. Very small sample, but this flashes as an average Grade 50+ CH overall.

Command: 0 BBs, and he looked to be hitting spots until he tired around the 40-50 pitch mark. Easily 60 grade command, and I'm willing to bet it gets better as he "learns how to pitch".

Soroka was as advertised, and showed exactly what I wanted to see...almost eerily exact. The FA needs to hit the bricks, but the 65 SI, 60 SL and 50 CH will play nicely with 60+ command. This is what durable young #3 SPs who flash a couple #2 seasons look like. My comp on Soroka for a while now has been 2002-2011 Derek Lowe when he was churning out 200 IP season like clockwork, and I'm going to stick by it.

I appreciate the info. Are these grades you've developed or a list somewhere that has that info?
 
I appreciate the info. Are these grades you've developed or a list somewhere that has that info?

I developed the Velo/HMov/VMov grades myself using 2017 pitch data. Each grade is 1 standard deviation from the mean (which is the definition of grades).

At some point I will have to generate new grades using 2018 pitch data, but for now I assume they still hold up reasonable well.
 
Keith Law was on Buster Olney’s podcast today and raving about Soroka. Said the stuff against the Mets was way better than he has heard from scouts and said he thinks he could be a future #2.

I know it has been said a lot, just encouraging to hear from Law, who has been lower than the industry on Soroka for a while.
 
Keith Law was on Buster Olney’s podcast today and raving about Soroka. Said the stuff against the Mets was way better than he has heard from scouts and said he thinks he could be a future #2.

I know it has been said a lot, just encouraging to hear from Law, who has been lower than the industry on Soroka for a while.

That sinker is a high quality pitch.
 
Keith Law was on Buster Olney’s podcast today and raving about Soroka. Said the stuff against the Mets was way better than he has heard from scouts and said he thinks he could be a future #2.

I know it has been said a lot, just encouraging to hear from Law, who has been lower than the industry on Soroka for a while.

Haha...if you are rating prospects don't you think it would be a good idea to actually go and see the prospect in a game.
 
Majority of people that put out these lists rely on actual scouts giving them information

I never understood why scouts are so forthcoming with information. I know Fangraphs lead prospect writers rely on it alot from scouts too, although they do go to alot of games. But what is the benefit of a scout to answer the phone calls and give up information?
 
I never understood why scouts are so forthcoming with information. I know Fangraphs lead prospect writers rely on it alot from scouts too, although they do go to alot of games. But what is the benefit of a scout to answer the phone calls and give up information?

Disinformation campaigns.
 
Haha...if you are rating prospects don't you think it would be a good idea to actually go and see the prospect in a game.

This is why the only guys I listen to are EL/Kiley from FG. With EL in AZ and Kiley somewhere East, they have put more time in seeing prospects (both pro and prep) live than all other prospect writers combined.

Everyone else is just gathering second hand info from their couch. The fact KLaw charges for his drivel is comical.
 
After 1 start and 80 pitches, what did we see?

SI (38): 94.0 mph = Grade 58.2 | 8.8" HMov = Grade 53.2 | 2.3" VMov = Grade 65.8

This SI checks in as a true plus or better pitch. I have to hang a 65+ overall grade on it. It is as advertised and exactly what I was hoping to see.

FA (22): 94.2 mph = Grade 54.1 | 1.4" HMov = Grade 28.7 | 6.8" VMov = Grade 30.4

The FA is...not good. Above average velocity, but the same low spin rate that gives him the amazing SI prevents him from having a good FA. He threw it 25% of the time last night, but he needs to only use it as a spot-up pitch...maybe less. It is straight, flat, and will get crushed worse than Fried's. I would strongly suggest shelving this pitch.

SL (16): 86.9 mph = Grade 59.9 | 4.2" HMov = Grade 74.1 | -1.5" VMov = Grade 30.4

This is a sweeper of a SL with good velocity. Definitely a Grade 60+ pitch overall...as long as he doesn't throw it middle-middle to Cespedes.

CH (4): 10.1 mph delta = Grade 61.5 | 7.2" HMov = Grade 46.6 | 5.7" VMov = Grade 46.7

The CH has a plus velocity delta from the SI, and a touch below average movement. Very small sample, but this flashes as an average Grade 50+ CH overall.

Command: 0 BBs, and he looked to be hitting spots until he tired around the 40-50 pitch mark. Easily 60 grade command, and I'm willing to bet it gets better as he "learns how to pitch".

Soroka was as advertised, and showed exactly what I wanted to see...almost eerily exact. The FA needs to hit the bricks, but the 65 SI, 60 SL and 50 CH will play nicely with 60+ command. This is what durable young #3 SPs who flash a couple #2 seasons look like. My comp on Soroka for a while now has been 2002-2011 Derek Lowe when he was churning out 200 IP season like clockwork, and I'm going to stick by it.

Are you gonna do this again after yesterday's start or wait for a couple more?
 
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