GDT 4/22/26: Braves @ Nationals - The Right Year To Start Fuentes

zbhargrove said:
I don’t get Scheff’s hard on for Didier only being a pen arm. He obviously has a much higher ceiling
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Here's why (metrics from last night):

FA: 96.5 mph, 15.3" rise, 10" arm-side
It's 2 mph over average, 1" below average rise, and 2" above average arm-side

SL: 86.5 mph, 2.5" glove-side, 3.7" rise
It's average velocity, 2" below average glove-side, and 2" below average sink

FS: 89.3 mph, 17.4" arm-side, 7.3" rise
That's 6" above average arm-side, and 4" below average sink

The slider is not good, no matter what the narrative says. The data is there for anyone to see. The fastball lacks good shape, and I saw how much better it played when he aired it out at 98-99 in a short stint. He should be working on a 2 seamer to lean into that arm-side movement he seems to naturally get on everything.

I go by the data I look up. Anyone can look up the same exact data, and compare it to MLB average data. Whatever people see, or think they see, or are told by people who think they see things carries no value compared to the readily available data.

I prefer JR as something between what Elder used to be, and what Schwelly should be once healthy...but closer to Elder.
 
No blown saves in 25 games seems like an impossible stat. Like.. even in the 6th with a 1 run lead allowing a run is a blown save.
 
Enscheff said:
Here's why (metrics from last night):

FA: 96.5 mph, 15.3" rise, 10" arm-side
It's 2 mph over average, 1" below average rise, and 2" above average arm-side

SL: 86.5 mph, 2.5" glove-side, 3.7" rise
It's average velocity, 2" below average glove-side, and 2" below average sink

FS: 89.3 mph, 17.4" arm-side, 7.3" rise
That's 6" above average arm-side, and 4" below average sink

The slider is not good, no matter what the narrative says. The data is there for anyone to see. The fastball lacks good shape, and I saw how much better it played when he aired it out at 98-99 in a short stint. He should be working on a 2 seamer to lean into that arm-side movement he seems to naturally get on everything.

I go by the data I look up. Anyone can look up the same exact data, and compare it to MLB average data. Whatever people see, or think they see, or are told by people who think they see things carries no value compared to the readily available data.

I prefer JR as something between what Elder used to be, and what Schwelly should be once healthy...but closer to Elder.
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And that data is good for those who use data strictly. You can form your opinions/facts on that so who am I tell you you're wrong? In this case only speaking for me, his upside is too high to pigeon hole into being a reliever. I'm not a name dropper, but I've talked to several scouts and a few 'insiders' who insist his best is yet to come. I believe it is as well.

The good thing is, you could be perfectly correct and it still not be a bad thing for Fuentes. The Braves will let him start until he can't. The youngest pitcher to make his debut since 2016....is still learning.
 
Deester11 said:
And that data is good for those who use data strictly. You can form your opinions/facts on that so who am I tell you you're wrong? In this case only speaking for me, his upside is too high to pigeon hole into being a reliever. I'm not a name dropper, but I've talked to several scouts and a few 'insiders' who insist his best is yet to come. I believe it is as well.

The good thing is, you could be perfectly correct and it still not be a bad thing for Fuentes. The Braves will let him start until he can't. The youngest pitcher to make his debut since 2016....is still learning.
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The data is telling us what he throws today, not opinions of what he might throw someday.

Very recently we saw Waldrep completely revamp his entire arsenal to become an impact arm. So anything is possible. However, the current pitches, as currently thrown, do not look like an impact SP.
 
Enscheff said:
The data is telling us what he throws today, not opinions of what he might throw someday.

Very recently we saw Waldrep completely revamp his entire arsenal to become an impact arm. So anything is possible. However, the current pitches, as currently thrown, do not look like an impact SP.
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Again. Youngest pitcher who's still developing. I just disagree that he's a reliever or is trending that way. I only know time will tell. And yes....he can, will and should make adjustments. I don't know what the developmental path is for him in the Braves eye. I do know that many in the organization love him as an impact starter. If not now....eventually.
 
Enscheff said:
The data is telling us what he throws today, not opinions of what he might throw someday.

Very recently we saw Waldrep completely revamp his entire arsenal to become an impact arm. So anything is possible. However, the current pitches, as currently thrown, do not look like an impact SP.
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No one was saying Fuentes was more ready than Ritchie. We are just saying it’s dumb to declare a 20 year old kid with tons of raw ability as a pen arm going forward. He’s like 2 years younger than the average A ball player. Not trying to develop him as a starter is plain stupid.
 
I don’t think I ever suggested he shouldn’t be tried as a SP. If you can find that quote please post it.

When all you find is me saying I think he will end up in the BP, or should maybe start in the BP so he can impact the team now like many young arms have done before him, you can make your usual “you’re just making up arguments against you” comments.
 
Enscheff said:
Here's why (metrics from last night):

FA: 96.5 mph, 15.3" rise, 10" arm-side
It's 2 mph over average, 1" below average rise, and 2" above average arm-side

SL: 86.5 mph, 2.5" glove-side, 3.7" rise
It's average velocity, 2" below average glove-side, and 2" below average sink

FS: 89.3 mph, 17.4" arm-side, 7.3" rise
That's 6" above average arm-side, and 4" below average sink

The slider is not good, no matter what the narrative says. The data is there for anyone to see. The fastball lacks good shape, and I saw how much better it played when he aired it out at 98-99 in a short stint. He should be working on a 2 seamer to lean into that arm-side movement he seems to naturally get on everything.

I go by the data I look up. Anyone can look up the same exact data, and compare it to MLB average data. Whatever people see, or think they see, or are told by people who think they see things carries no value compared to the readily available data.

I prefer JR as something between what Elder used to be, and what Schwelly should be once healthy...but closer to Elder.
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You see, this is where you need to come out from behind the spreadsheet and understand how pitching actually works.

Movement profile is not even half the picture on what makes a successful pitcher or not.
 
I can list a ton of pitchers who are successful, despite mediocre movement profiles. What is equally as important as movement profile is sequencing and tunnelling.

Fuentes is nowhere close to a finished product and 99% of minor league pitchers his age have nowhere near the movement profile he currently has.
 
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