Comments on: Daily Prospect Report 8/28/07

By: erik

erik — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 22:22:55 +0000

Chris–agree 100%. i think that some decent depth has been established, but the too few of it is roster filler. i’d like to see them take more risks on talent with higher ceilings. they did with herron and daryl jones in 05. sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t be i’d rather gamble on upside when it presents itself.

By: mateodh

mateodh — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 22:06:35 +0000

I wonder if someone like Skip shouldn’t be a starting, or at least platooning CF for some club. Sounds crazy, but he just seems like a better option than Nook Logan in Washington, or Nate McLouth in Pittsburgh, or Alejandro De Aza in Florida, or even Jerry Owens/Darin Erstad in Chicago. Not that I’d want to give him away for free, but he’s always hit well in the minors and his defense is more than adequate. Of course he’s a good 5th OF for us, too, but it is pretty crowded here. Just thinking…

If Mather can keep hitting, he has upside. He’s not any older than Chris Duncan was when it finally clicked for him. Just not sure where he’d fit in.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:42:14 +0000

What about Mitchell Boggs? He always seems to get forgotten in the mix. His stats would make me presume that he is in AAA rotation next year with a shot at the majors in ‘09.

http://firstinning.com/players/Mitchell-Boggs-466/

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:57:02 +0000

Anybody know what Lunhow and company are planning on doing with the outfielder glut? I think Skip replaces So next year, but I can’t see any of the other guys making the team next year. I just don’t think any of the AAA or AA (except Rasmus) outfielders grade out to be anything more than a 4th or 5th outfielder. Am I wrong?

I do find it interesting that of our recent drafts some of the biggest strides and upside shown has been our high schoolers. I read an interesting article about the Yankees pitching prospects (Hughes, Chamberlian, Kennedy) and how the organization made a strategy change to go after high ceiling kids, instead of the more safe college guys. I am hoping that the Cards will adopt this kind of strategy since now they have filled out the system with some good “filler” role players. I think the Cards system is strong enough now to begin going with the higher ceiling prospects in the earlier rounds. Thoughts?

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:45:51 +0000

It will be intersting to see his progression next year, especially since he has a strong chance to possibly pitch at least half the season in AAA. I would like to see our AAA staff next year include Walters and Garcia; with Herron, Mortenson and Ottavino at AA. I think the Cards should look to aggressively move their pitchers up the ladder and clear out guys like Smith and Keisler.

By: 3up3down25

3up3down25 — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:04:16 +0000

his change will move down & in to a righty,he doesnt change movement but the speed will vary a little. his fastall will sink & tail in to a righty but he does throw a different grip to get his Fb to cut away from a righty thats the pitch that he is throwing most of the time when it is around 83-85.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 19:36:40 +0000

I wonder if he can change movement and/or speeds on his pitches.

By: 3up3down25

3up3down25 — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:56:15 +0000

i will say this, after the ark.game PJ told me that sean rodriquez got on 1st base late in the game & hamilton asked him why they were having a problem hitting walters & he said hes only throwing 2 pitches a FB & change but they all look different he said its like hes throwing 6 different pitches..i had never heard that before but thought you might like to hear that.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:47:49 +0000

The hardest adjustment for a hitter to make is the changing of speeds when the arm slot is the same regardless of the pitch. It doesn’t matter if the fastball is coming at 87 as long as the changeup is thrown at the same arm angle and is coming at a 76-78. The best example of this is Johan Santana, not that I am at all comparing Walters to Santana. His fastball arm angle and motion is the exact same as his changeup, even the way he jumps off of the mound. That is the hardest thing for a hitter to adjust. As a hitter it is difficult to get a read if the pitcher can change speeds and locate every pitch on each side of the plate in the same arm slot. The only disadvantage Walters has is that when the fastball is only coming at 84-86 it is easier to recognize it as a fastball based on the spin of the seam, now if his changeup has the same spin it wouldn’t come into play. His main problem is that when a batter at the MLB level guesses right on his fastball he will be unable to sneak it past a hitter just based on pure power (Santana). The Maddux comparison is not real accurate because if you watch Maddux pitch he is unique in that he has the innate ability to throw 4 different pitches at 4 different speeds in 4 locations (high inside, low inside, high outside, low outisde) consistently.

By: Dave the Falconer

Dave the Falconer — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:09:11 +0000

DriverZn nailed it, I think. Pitchers who can’t just blow everything by hitters need two things: location and movement. If Walters has a little shimmy and shake to his slowball and shows pinpoint control, I see no reason why he can’t see at least some success at the major league level.