Good Article With Detailed Look at Alex Wood

Heyward said:
The others was probably Sims and someone else.
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He is the top prospect in the system, so they would have named him specifically if that was the case.

Most likely the package would have been Wood plus CB plus 2 of the "other" top 15-20 guys that are nothing more than fringe MLB lottery tickets.

If that's the case then I think I'd have to go ahead and make that trade.
 
clvclv said:
Had it all the way through his years in Chapel Hill. Never caused issues before. I'm sure there are specialists who can provide insight as to whether repetition could have contributed to his eventual injury - do know he was never asked to alter it earlier though.
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Mechanics aren't a sure science. I only say this from personal experience (as a pro tennis instructor, my biggest specialty is in fixing swing mechanics, especially serve. If you don't have good serving mechanics and you try to muscle everything, you're looking at tennis elbow which will lead to elbow surgery (same thing as tommy john). The motion from serving with a tennis racket and throwing a baseball are very very similar. Hitting spin serves is like throwing a slider or curve ball or screw ball.

I'm guessing the reason he didn't have that problem in Chapel Hill was because of the fact he was facing less talented hitters, he didn't feel the need to overthrow. In the Majors I'd imagine every at-bat is 3x more stressful than at College, so he could be trying to overthrow. You combine that with a longer season than the college game and you're looking at a recipe for disaster.

Again, in my own professional opinion because I know pretty closely how the elbow works and how important it is in the throwing motion/service motion, that follow through he has is very unnatural. It's so unnatural that it's inconsistent. Some follow throughs his hand his higher, some follow throughs his hand is to the right or left. That's taking into account the type of pitches he's throwing as well. The minor arm snap is what's doing major damage in a minor sense. It's so subtle you don't notice it but it happens every pitch.

Take your arm and shadow throw. Do it once normally and feel your hand vibrate slightly at the end. That's the force from your shoulder to your hand (where the ball would be). That's the force and momentum dying down. Now do it again this time trying to snap your arm back like Harvey does. You can feel the force reverberate back to the elbow instead of throughout the arm and hand. Take your head and whip it back and let it stop naturally. It's a stretch. Now whip it up and whip it back down consecutively and you feel the snap that isn't supposed to be felt. What Harvey is doing is what I just explained with his elbow. Because he's pretty muscular for a pitcher, he can get away with it for so long but that's the big muscles. Your tendons and ligaments don't grow in size only muscles, so those feel the force whether you're muscular or skinny.
 
I like Wood but no way I keep him over Julio. I'd trade Wood in a second for Price along with CB and 2 other guys not named Sims.
 
I think Wood has already blown out twice....at least once.

I don't think he'll hold up to starters innings. I think he's a pen guy. Ideally paired with a righty ligh Graham as a 1-2 MULTI inning relief combo. But that will never happen...we're stuck with closers.

Julio is a potential TOR. Wood isn't in the same class IMO.

I'd sell high on Wood. If Wood + CB could get me a stud piece I'd jump at it.

Hope I'm wrong. He could be very effective as a starter. I just don't see him holding up long. Which is a big reason why I loved us pushing him up through the minors. He's a college kid......no reason to waste bullets in the minors. Get him to the show.
 
Enscheff said:
He is the top prospect in the system, so they would have named him specifically if that was the case.

Most likely the package would have been Wood plus CB plus 2 of the "other" top 15-20 guys that are nothing more than fringe MLB lottery tickets.

If that's the case then I think I'd have to go ahead and make that trade.
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Bowman said it was Sims.
 
Just bc they ask for it doesn't mean they'll get it. Wood and CB I assume would be a centerpiece.
 
KeithLockhart said:
I'd trade Julio before I trade Wood TBH.

Wood has such a huge mental advantage over Julio it's amazing. They're the same age, but Wood is a bulldog (non-UGA term) and while Julio can get out of jams, we've also seen him get rocked pretty hard and try to go back out there and throw it by guys when he doesn't have high 90's stuff.
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Don't discount Julio. He's made huge strides the last year or so. If he takes another step forward this year we may have our ace.
 
Like I said it was just my opinion... I don't think Teheran's stuff is as overpowering as we think. His changeup only works when his fastball is dialed in, and he's still yet to effectively use that curveball. With his fastball only sitting at 92-94, that's not hard enough for him to plow through lineups.

His development all relies on his fastball IMO. That's going to be the easiest and first pitch he needs to master. If he can't locate his fastball, his changeup and curve are useless.
 
Their well run. But their not gonna get the huge haul they normally expect to get (like with Shields).
 
Survivors of TJ surgery generally have a 5 year window after the surgery where they are healthier than the average pitcher. Wood is 3 years removed from the surgery now. So even if you think he is going to get injured the best bet right now would be to get 2 good years from him then trade him. If Wood can put together a full ML season his value will sky rocket. Teams like proven commodities. Instead of trading Wood + 3 good prospects for Price this time next year we could be trading Wood for a bigger package thant Price nets this year. Young/cheap pitching is the most valuable thing in baseball.
 
I agree about Julio's fastball, KL, but I think he showed more poise than he's being given credit for.
 
Julio3000 said:
I agree about Julio's fastball, KL, but I think he showed more poise than he's being given credit for.
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How much of it can we credit for McCann's ability to work with young pitchers?

I'd assume Laird is going to be JT's personal catcher since he's the "veteran".
 
KeithLockhart said:
How much of it can we credit for McCann's ability to work with young pitchers?

I'd assume Laird is going to be JT's personal catcher since he's the "veteran".
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Can't recall how many times I said last year that Laird should've been his personal caddy all along - Gerald really handled him well early in the season and was a huge part of the reason Julio was able to make the strides he did IMO.
 
KeithLockhart said:
How much of it can we credit for McCann's ability to work with young pitchers?

I'd assume Laird is going to be JT's personal catcher since he's the "veteran".
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McCann's leadership on the field will be the thing we miss most about him. I hope that Gattis is ready to lead this staff.
 
clvclv said:
Can't recall how many times I said last year that Laird should've been his personal caddy all along - Gerald really handled him well early in the season and was a huge part of the reason Julio was able to make the strides he did IMO.
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I remember Laird saying he and Julio had a good gameplan. (Not sure if that's because Laird was getting 1 game played per 3 weeks at that time when McCann came back and was vouching for more PT)

I remember when Laird was catching him he used his curveball more effectively. Problem with Laird is he can't throw worth a sh--. Gattis can throw way better than Laird.
 
KeithLockhart said:
Like I said it was just my opinion... I don't think Teheran's stuff is as overpowering as we think. His changeup only works when his fastball is dialed in, and he's still yet to effectively use that curveball. With his fastball only sitting at 92-94, that's not hard enough for him to plow through lineups.

His development all relies on his fastball IMO. That's going to be the easiest and first pitch he needs to master. If he can't locate his fastball, his changeup and curve are useless.
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Sorry but I just disagree. The fact he was so good last year and is so advanced already at the age of 22 is scary. He sits 92-95 with movement and the location of his fastball will continue to improve. His slider because a weapon last year and he has the makings of two more plus pitches with his change up and curve. If he just continues to develop his fastball command and consistent change up he will be one of the best in baseball.
 
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