GDT #23, 4/26/'14: Reds (Leake) vs. Braves (Hale)

IMO Hale is what he is, a solid back end of the rotation starter, swing man.

I think the guy potentially could help us more out of the pen as a sinker baller middle reliever, and could have a long MLB career in that role. He's got good sinking action and one good breaking ball, he won't last long as a starter once batters see him the second and third time around and scouts have a better book on him. But as a two pitch pitcher along with average change he could thrive in that middle relief role.

I'm thrilled with what we have gotten out of Harang and Hale with Minor and Floyd out, but it does not change my thoughts on the two going forward. They're hot and getting by with smoke and mirrors and will revert back to norms soon, and Minor and Floyd are superior pitchers, especially Minor.
 
I agree about Minor and Floyd being superior to Hale and Harang. Having someone like Hale as your #6 or #7 starter is a very good situation. And Martin and Schlosser are close to Hale in caliber imo. The nice thing is all three have options. So you can send them down to AAA if necessary, something that is more difficult to do with older guys like Harang and Garcia.
 
a
Gary82 said:
Is Floyd really superior to Harang? Harang has had the better career.
Click to expand...

I'd honestly shop both and see who got the bigger return and sell that one.

Since 2010 Floyd has a 3.92 fip and 3.87 xFIP in the AL, Harang is at 4.28 and 4.47 in the NL. Floyd has clearly been better in recent years. Harang may have a better career, but Harang is 5 years older than FLoyd, so one would assume Harang's best years are behind him. Floyd is more likely to continue at his career norms.
 
Mrs. Meta said:
My first real Braves game of the year with Mlb TV and I get to see Hale pitch?

Sheeeeeeeeeeit.

Howdy, y'all!
Click to expand...

sheeeit_zpsc5254d10.jpg
 
nsacpi said:
His fastball has good late life, making it a better pitch than the radar gun reading. He's just a bit inconsistent with the command. His changeup is a work in progress. His sinker is also a relatively new pitch. Although Hale isn't young for a rookie, we have to keep in mind that going to an Ivy League school retarded his development and also he was mainly an outfielder until his junior year. In terms of development he is still a work in progress. He probably has more potential for growth than your typical 26-year old.

He's the kind of guy you have to keep an open mind about. His floor is as an above average long man in the pen. His upside is mid-rotation starter.
Click to expand...

Ivy League schools always retard development.

He's an interesting case. There's some stuff to like but at this point it feels like most of his success is due to Roger's Pixie Dust. Sometimes guys have the last tumbler click into place right when they're promoted to the bigs. I kind of feel like that happened with Alex Wood with the spike curve last year.
 
Gary82 said:
Is Floyd really superior to Harang? Harang has had the better career.
Click to expand...

Real good question. Harang had three very good years with the Reds, got hurt, has most of his velocity back and has all his stuff moving. He's got a very short stride and comes straight over the top at 6'7", so if he can bury everything he's tough. And he's been tough.

Floyd never impressed me that much, but that park hurt him. In any event, you can't pull Harang out now.
 
Had to be away from home tonight, so I had to miss the game. First off.................
P6x0U.gif


Secondly, saw the soldier reunited with his family at the game. Awesome stuff.
 
GovClintonTyree said:
Harang had three very good years with the Reds, got hurt, has most of his velocity back and has all his stuff moving.
Click to expand...

Fangraphs data on Harang's average fastball velocity:

2004 90.8
2005 90.5
2006 90.4
2007 90.1
2008 89.6
2009 90.4
2010 90.5
2011 89.8
2012 89.7
2013 89.8
2014 89.8

The man himself when asked about his velocity being up after his game against the Mets: "I haven't noticed honestly. That's secondary to me after location. Velocity is just an extra perk."

Tommy Hanson's average fastball velocity his last season with the Braves: 89.7
 
Gary82 said:
Is Floyd really superior to Harang? Harang has had the better career.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind that Floyd is younger, has pitched most of his career in the AL and not in a pitcher friendly ballpark. While the latter is also true for Harang (as far as his years pitching in Cincy goes) he's still pitched in the NL outside of last year. Plus Harang was quite bad pitching in the AL last year.
 
nsacpi said:
Fangraphs data on Harang's average fastball velocity:

2004 90.8
2005 90.5
2006 90.4
2007 90.1
2008 89.6
2009 90.4
2010 90.5
2011 89.8
2012 89.7
2013 89.8
2014 89.8

The man himself when asked about his velocity being up after his game against the Mets: "I haven't noticed honestly. That's secondary to me after location. Velocity is just an extra perk."

Tommy Hanson's average fastball velocity his last season with the Braves: 89.7
Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing that out, I noted his velocity was up early on but if anything it's been worse than last year at times since. Which equals out to the same as last year overall apparently.
 
nsacpi said:
Fangraphs data on Harang's average fastball velocity:

2004 90.8
2005 90.5
2006 90.4
2007 90.1
2008 89.6
2009 90.4
2010 90.5
2011 89.8
2012 89.7
2013 89.8
2014 89.8

The man himself when asked about his velocity being up after his game against the Mets: "I haven't noticed honestly. That's secondary to me after location. Velocity is just an extra perk."

Tommy Hanson's average fastball velocity his last season with the Braves: 89.7
Click to expand...

Well, there you go. He's pretty close to where he was. But even Randy Johnson, who threw 3/4, isn't as downhill as Harang. He pitches tall and is 6'7" to start with. It's not unthinkable that this is a renaissance, though I tend to agree with my close personal friend Zito, who says his exfips predict regression.

I do see a lot of action on his pitches. They look heavy.
 
I'm not sure if Hale is a "swing-man"

He has good command, his change is decent, when he commands his curve like last night, he's tough.

He's kinda like a worse version of Medlen.

And i dont think anyone said he's the savior or anything but minus 1 start vs the Mets, you cant really ask for much more so far.
 
nsacpi said:
He had good command last night. But he's had games this season where his command has not been good enough.
Click to expand...

Yep, no one has said he's an ace or TOR starter (1-2), but he's a solid 4-5 and at times (last night), is capable of dominating.

Niners and Millwood act like he's a scrub who is lucky to get hitters out.

You can say the same about all pitchers though with their command.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top