GeorgiaGirl
NL Rookie of the Year
To be fair I'm not a big fan of MLB pipeline. I think their rankings suck, but they're fun to look at because of how they set up.
As we've said before, the Braves drafted Allard based on a 1 inning spike in velocity.
Also interesting to note that when he says "solid average stuff" he is talking about non-fastballs, because Allard's fastball is NOT average for the MLB level.
Allard has also not had an 88 mph to 94 mph fastball so far in MLB. It's been more 88-89 mph. Plus his change-up and curve hasn't been there much either. That left him throwing a lot of 88 mph fastballs and that turned into a batting practice vs the Nats. That is as bad as I have seen him pitch, you could tell he had nothing going that day.
Allard has also not had an 88 mph to 94 mph fastball so far in MLB. It's been more 88-89 mph. Plus his change-up and curve hasn't been there much either. That left him throwing a lot of 88 mph fastballs and that turned into a batting practice vs the Nats. That is as bad as I have seen him pitch, you could tell he had nothing going that day.
Allard is a smart kid. Maybe he is smart enough to pitch better than his stuff. He would be the very first guy I would move in a deal. There are teams that would value him, but more that would not.
Based on what I've read on twitter from minor league baseball followers, that is not what Allard is averaging this year in the minors. He's averaging 90-91 and topping at 93 and that does not cut it today without Cliff Lee like control. He's either going to need that or to figure something else out.
It's not a hot take to say this version of Allard won't succeed, it is to say he can't figure something else out to succeed. But if he keeps throwing 90-91, without that amazing command (not normal great command), I can safely say he won't be a long term major leaguer.
It might be more accurate to say you can't be Cliff Lee without great command.
There are more guys who have stable major league careers throwing 90-91 then there are guys with great command.
Velocity is important. It's not the only factor. Or necessarily the most important.
But its unclear whether Allard has any of the other things that would make him successful. I sure don't know. Two stints is hardly the decider on that one. I would vote against and I've suggested he should be shopped all along. But it's not an impossible story.
I feel like the guys throwing 90-91 that are successful have already been through the wars and understand what to do at that velo to succeed. Not a guy that is just coming up with that velo or the K rate he had in AAA.
And you would be correct. Guys succeeding now at 90-91 came up throwing much harder and were then naturally selected over time for their their skill to succeed as their stuff declined.
Pitchers don't come up throwing 90 and succeed.
I don't know that "catatonic" is the word you're looking for there, Kiley.
Apoplectic?