Fangraphs Top 31 Braves Prospects
- Thread starter thethe
- Start date
Don't like this:
'The Braves have pared down their pro scouting department in the extreme and now only have a couple of pro scouts as they lean more on data in this area. Because they’re contenders and likely to be deadline buyers, they’ll probably be spared the adverse effects of this approach. If they were a rebuilding team more likely to target low-level players, where the data matters less and the eyeball scouting reports matter more, it would be a detrimental approach. Of course, you don’t want to be caught flat-footed if you have an unexpectedly bad year.'
Hope we don't regret showing Bridges the door.
'The Braves have pared down their pro scouting department in the extreme and now only have a couple of pro scouts as they lean more on data in this area. Because they’re contenders and likely to be deadline buyers, they’ll probably be spared the adverse effects of this approach. If they were a rebuilding team more likely to target low-level players, where the data matters less and the eyeball scouting reports matter more, it would be a detrimental approach. Of course, you don’t want to be caught flat-footed if you have an unexpectedly bad year.'
Hope we don't regret showing Bridges the door.
The thing is that he seems to be able to locate well to all four outer quadrants. And with a fastball like his you don't need to be on the outer edge either but just somewhere in those 4/9 quadrants. If that change comes along and he can make it appear to be similar releases then we could be looking at a TOR guy.
There's something unquantifiable (like deception) in terms of velocity and movement that makes Strider's FA play up. It is such a good pitch he can use it to navigate a lineup 1-2 times. Hitters literally look like they've never seen 99-100 when they face him, almost like a little kid batting against his dad in the backyard. I agree that the SL is not very good, but it's good enough to pair with an elite FA. The CH is also just OK, and only good enough to play off the elite FA. I think Strider's career arc will be a race between velocity decline and secondary pitch improvement. So, ride him while he's throwing the heat because if the secondary pitches don't improve as he loses velocity he will see his performance decline.
Harris is pretty much exactly as they described. Hopefully the plate discipline improves as pitchers figure out how to exploit his weaknesses. He seems like a kid it would be unwise to bet against, and I hope he turns into the next Adam Eaton.
Harris is pretty much exactly as they described. Hopefully the plate discipline improves as pitchers figure out how to exploit his weaknesses. He seems like a kid it would be unwise to bet against, and I hope he turns into the next Adam Eaton.
chop2chip
Well-known member
A few things are still weird about his departure.
He was very successful, and while I wasn’t a huge fan of his pitching heavy drafts, his results overall were very good. I also remember the Braves having issues administratively signing guys (offering money they didn’t have in their pool, etc). Maybe it was just philosophical differences, but it was a rather unceremonious exit which hints at something more.
You would also think a guy who built a #1 farm system that won 4 divisions and a World Series champion would get farm director offers. Instead he’s just a national cross checker with the Giants.
All around weird situation.
Tapate50
Well-known member
Yeah its almost perfect. Probably a solid 98 I'd say.
My completely ignorant take is that he's the grumpy old guy that nobody can stand, but is good at his job. So nobody wants him in any type of leadership role, and eventually his nastiness makes it impossible to keep him around no matter how good he is.
bravesfanMatt
Steve Harvey'd
If Fatolo Colon can do it with a 91 mph fastball, I think it could be done with 98... being said, he needs another good pitch.. the slider/slurve thing is very average. I want a cutter or change personally.
zbhargrove
Well-known member
Strider’s slider is a much better pitch than Fangraphs keeps saying… it’s just not a real traditional slider look. From what I gather it was mainly from scouting him for one game when his slider wasn’t really on. His change up keeps improving too.
zbhargrove
Well-known member
He already has an average change up. I also think his slider is better than you’re giving him credit for.
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I think sometimes guys that have big jobs in sports take a year or two 'off' by taking a lesser job. Not sure whats up with Bridges personal situation (family/kids/etc...) but someone with that type of success should have the top amateur job somewhere for sure.
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zbhargrove
Well-known member
I don’t know. Wasn’t that also Tim Lincecum?
They made a point to discuss how his velocity is driven by a strong lower half and it looks 'easy' out of the hand. Maybe this gives the illusion of 'sneaky velocity'.
I also think that arm action would make it easier to pair with a CH.
I thought he was more upper body. He also didn't have tree trunk legs like Strider.
Lincecum was a freak of nature and used an incredible amount of torque and momentum from his unorthodox windup. He was also a smaller guy so I agree that the comparison doesn't hold water here.
zbhargrove
Well-known member
I’m not too familiar with the pitch value section on Fangraphs and how it works. But the slider and change up grade for Strider are both solidly positive. I feel like I’ve seen that value negative for many pitches that are supposed to be plus for other pitchers. Again… I’m not real familiar with this stat section and how it’s computed so I could be completely ignorant. Or maybe the sample size is still too small (especially for the change up which he only throws around 5% of the time).