IF You Believe...

bravesfanMatt said:
Probably not under rate. Just get frustrated with. He has the talent. Just not the control.
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No, I think we underrate him. I've seen quite a few Braves fans suggest there are several better pitching prospects in our organization, or fail to list him among the guys they think have a good chance to be in our future rotation. But all I see from the scouting sites is that he probably has the best strikeout stuff of any LH in the minors and that his ceiling is probably higher than any of our other pitching prospects.

His control certainly remains a work in progress, but that can be said for a whole lot of pitching prospects throughout baseball, including in our organization. Everyone's certainly entitled to their own opinion, and they may end up being right. I just don't know why so many are quick to downgrade him when most around baseball are not.
 
I'm one of those who might underrate wild young lefties. I know Koufax figured it out and became Koufax, but generally I want to see a modicum of control before I even start getting excited. I mean, most of these guys have been pitching since they were eight, and I've never had a coach (or coached a kid) who didn't impress the importance of throwing strikes, have you? So you're talking about a guy who's been trying for 12-15 years to throw strikes and is still walking 6 per 9.

Now, Touki went from six to four-something this year and I see that exquisite breaking ball and I start thinking yeah, this guy could be special. I'd like to see him with a more important role in the playoffs.
 
GovClintonTyree said:
I'm one of those who might underrate wild young lefties. I know Koufax figured it out and became Koufax, but generally I want to see a modicum of control before I even start getting excited. I mean, most of these guys have been pitching since they were eight, and I've never had a coach (or coached a kid) who didn't impress the importance of throwing strikes, have you? So you're talking about a guy who's been trying for 12-15 years to throw strikes and is still walking 6 per 9.

Now, Touki went from six to four-something this year and I see that exquisite breaking ball and I start thinking yeah, this guy could be special. I'd like to see him with a more important role in the playoffs.
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I would love to see Touki get a start, but it may fall where he is going to be a pen guy (playoffs this year, not going forward). Unfortunately, the pitching in Rome is just that good.
 
GovClintonTyree said:
I'm one of those who might underrate wild young lefties. I know Koufax figured it out and became Koufax, but generally I want to see a modicum of control before I even start getting excited. I mean, most of these guys have been pitching since they were eight, and I've never had a coach (or coached a kid) who didn't impress the importance of throwing strikes, have you? So you're talking about a guy who's been trying for 12-15 years to throw strikes and is still walking 6 per 9.

Now, Touki went from six to four-something this year and I see that exquisite breaking ball and I start thinking yeah, this guy could be special. I'd like to see him with a more important role in the playoffs.
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Actually I was reading the latest Baseball Prospectus scouting report on Newcomb and he has not been under professional instruction for long so he's a bit behind other young prospects development wise even though he's older. He still has plenty of time to grow.
 
Povse and Weigel are the two guys not on top of all of the lists that keep standing out to me. Povse for so many reasons, and Weigel just for simply how dominating he was this season, even after moving up to AA.
 
chipchildress said:
Povse and Weigel are the two guys not on top of all of the lists that keep standing out to me. Povse for so many reasons, and Weigel just for simply how dominating he was this season, even after moving up to AA.
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I like guys without the big pedigree who throw quality strikes, don't walk guys and get outs.
 
zbhargrove said:
Actually I was reading the latest Baseball Prospectus scouting report on Newcomb and he has not been under professional instruction for long so he's a bit behind other young prospects development wise even though he's older. He still has plenty of time to grow.
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Good to know. I hope he does. Certainly has a great arm.
 
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