I think his slider is definitely a put away pitch (120+ Stuff+ with plenty of whiffs), but being a slider it's going to have a big handedness tilt. Needs something he can use on opposite handed hitters. The spin on his curve is pretty weak but the Astros have shown a knack at developing changeups, so hopefully that's something that can be improved over time to give him something strike out RHBs. Another thing I like about him, from what I've read, is that he's very smart and coachable like Arrighetti and those kinds of guys (especially pitchers) I tend to be more favorable in projecting. Walter looks like he might have a similar profile - walk limiter with enough Ks but possibly better contact management given that he keeps the ball on the carpet much better than Gordon.
Didn't see this posted yet: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/christian-walker-hasnt-fixed-the-astros-first-base-problem/ While he has been unlucky, the plummet in the quality of his swing decisions and his trouble hitting fastballs are real causes for concern. I also wonder if his oblique injury from this Spring is behind a lot of his struggles.
Yeah I’m actually pretty bullish on Walter. He could be a really good BoR guy for the next 2-3 years.
Buck yes!!! If we had a team that we could make ourselves we have to agree if we had top 2 bunters at top of the order to set the table we would rule, eh?
It's a lost art, and I don't understand why more speedy guys don't excel at it. Hell, Brett Butler and others made a career out of it. It's basically un-defendable if done right. I totally understand why middle of the order guys don't spend a lot of thought and effort at it. Drag bunting for a hit and sac bunting are 2 different skills, I'll admit.
Always sell on guys without an out pitch. It's almost impossible to live in this league if guys aren't in fear of getting behind 0-2 or 1-2 and feel like they will still be able to get a good piece of the next pitch. It's what innings like the 1st and 2nd look like with just a barrage of hits yesterday even when he was up 2 outs and 0-2 and they ended up scoring 2 and stranding the world.
If we're proposing that we cannot continue to exceed expectations, must we not also conceed to claiming that neither can we continue to subceed expectations? The midnight train goes both ways. Listen to the track.
A man walks down the street It’s a street in a strange world Maybe it’s the third world Maybe it’s his first time around He doesn’t speak the language He holds no currency He is a foreign man He is surrounded by the sound, the sound Cattle in the marketplace Scatterlings and orphanages He looks around, around He sees angels in the architecture Spinning in infinity He says, “Amen!” and “Hallelujah!” I ****ing love baseball!
Well, I beat the drum and hold the phone The sun came out today We're born again, there's new grass on the field A-roundin' third and headed for home It's a brown-eyed handsome man Anyone can understand the way I feel Oh, put me in, coach I'm ready to play today Put me in, coach I'm ready to play today Look at me, I can be centerfield Well, I spent some time in the Mudville Nine Watching it from the bench You know I took some lumps When the Mighty Casey struck out So say, "Hey Willie, tell Ty Cobb and Joe DiMaggio" Don't say it ain't so you, know the time is now You got a beat up glove, a homemade bat And a brand new pair of shoes You know I think it's time to give this game a ride Just to hit the ball and touch 'em all, a moment in the sun It's a-gone and you can tell that one goodbye Oh, put me in, coach I'm ready to play today Put me in, coach I'm ready to play today Look at me, gotta be centerfield
Wrote a deep dive on Cam today and compared him to people who are doing this kind of thing at that age. It’s a good good list.
Not that it matters too much, but that seems to be just the AL (still pretty good), despite what Schwab said. Pena is tied for 10th in all of baseball with Wheeler.
