Official Spring Training Thread

We have a great angle to see Strider's pitches today. The slider in the mid 80s and the curve in the upper 70s look to be the same pitch, just different speeds. I'm still eagerly awaiting real data on them.

The coolest thing to see so far was the change he threw in the 2nd inning. It was filth, and if he masters that pitch it will be game over.
 
Strider looks primed for a big year assuming he stays healthy. If Strider's curve is show a slower slider that works imo. Changing speeds is an effective tool to keep hitters off balance and keep them from making hard contact. One thing I notice just from watching the highlights of his strikeouts is none of them were on full counts. I think two were 2-2 counts and the rest were 1-2 or 0-2. That to me really shows dominance and the ability to go deep into games. I am so used to our young pitchers wasting a lot of pitches in an at bat. I wont be surprised if Strider is consistently going 7 innings and ends up giving us 200+ IP this year.
 
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Enscheff said:
We have a great angle to see Strider's pitches today. The slider in the mid 80s and the curve in the upper 70s look to be the same pitch, just different speeds. I'm still eagerly awaiting real data on them.

The coolest thing to see so far was the change he threw in the 2nd inning. It was filth, and if he masters that pitch it will be game over.
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He threw the change 7% of the time last year. He had six inches more drop than average on the change last year, around 21%. I thought it was a terrific pitch then, if he'd only throw it.

I don't think the slider/curve combo is nearly as effective as one or the other and a well-executed change. The change is the difference maker.

Then he can lose a couple miles an hour off the fastball - and it eventually happens to everybody - and still be effective if he can tunnel that change.
 
I agree the change would be a much more effective weapon to add than another breaking ball. The eye test didn't reveal enough difference between the slider and curve to warrant keeping both pitches fine tuned (the slower curve seemed better), but perhaps the real data will show otherwise. After all, 4 good pitches is better than 3 good pitches.
 
Enscheff said:
I agree the change would be a much more effective weapon to add than another breaking ball. The eye test didn't reveal enough difference between the slider and curve to warrant keeping both pitches fine tuned (the slower curve seemed better), but perhaps the real data will show otherwise. After all, 4 good pitches is better than 3 good pitches.
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Yeah, I hear you, but sliders and curves tend to turn into slurves. Strider threw one yesterday that was gunned at 83 and said it was supposed to be a slider but was kind of in the middle of the two.

I remember telling my kid, "it takes guts to throw a change. But I want you to throw it right down the middle like it's a meatball and let this guy screw himself into the ground. Trust the pitch." And after it worked a few times, he was very successful at his level with that.

Imagine the same basic idea with a little more intention and command when the hitter is gearing up for 99.
 
Enscheff said:
I don’t think anyone is asking for a deep bench, rather a couple guys who actually belong on an MLB roster.
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Haven't been around, but this is what I was trying to say. As for optimal resource allocation, they are on the hook with Fletcher for $6 million.
 
50PoundHead said:
Haven't been around, but this is what I was trying to say. As for optimal resource allocation, they are on the hook with Fletcher for $6 million.
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Fletcher is an unfortunate byproduct of Kelenic being the foundation of the entire offseason. He really needs to pan out...or at least be average for a bit.
 
Acuna tweaked his knee back on Feb 29. No structural damage, but he hasn't played in a game for 2 weeks now.

Keep this in mind every time he steals a meaningless base and slides hands first into a bag. Any value added by all those SB attempts is now wiped away by losing his bat for 2 weeks.

The Braves need to do a better job protecting the right knee of the best player in the sport by giving him some rest and throttling down the pointless base running effort.
 
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Enscheff said:
Acuna tweaked his knee back on Feb 29. No structural damage, but he hasn't played in a game for 2 weeks now.

Keep this in mind every time he steals a meaningless base and slides hands first into a bag. Any value added by all those SB attempts is now wiped away by losing his bat for 2 weeks.

The Braves need to do a better job protecting the right knee of the best player in the sport by giving him some rest and throttling down the pointless base running effort.
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Not that I am on board 100% with this but someone really needs to sit him down and explain basic intelligence. Like getting in a run down in a spring game should be an immediate fine and mandatory film room where you just play new kids and spice girls songs for 5 hours.
 
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