A couple of Quick Look changes for Spring Training. I am going to be doing more players, but with less information. Some pitchers I watch will only throw an inning or two. Also, some broadcasts don’t have radar readings. Finally, the camera angles are horrible to be kind.

Another change I will be implementing is grading the players on the scouting scales of 20-80. I will Kiley McDaniels scale he discussed in this article.

I will give a value for where I think the pitcher could currently fit in on the average team (CV=current value) and where they could end up (FV=future). I am sure I will disagree with some grades from others, but I am only looking at one game.

Note: If I say a pitch moves 11-5, it is from the pitcher’s perspective.

3/8/15 Padres vs Rockies (no velocities)

Tyson Ross (60+ CV/65 FV)

• He was the reason I picked this game. He has talked of the expanded the role of his change-up.
• He throws very over the top.
• His fastball was had some downward motion.
• His slider had a sharp 12-6 down breaking action.
• Now to the change. It looked to be same speed (I checked previous speeds and it was the same) and broke the direction as his slider. The break was less and not as sharp. It was basically his slider, but worse. I can see why he hasn’t used it.
• I wonder if he could add a cutter to give himself a third pitch.

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I am putting all my Quick Look “Final Thoughts” together for the start of spring training. Remember these looks are a little more fluid since pitcher are now throwing, changing and breaking down.

Henderson Alvarez
Henderson Alvarez is what he is. Without a swing-and-miss pitch, he will likely continue on the Doug Fister mold of a High GB/Low K pitcher. He doesn’t have much of a ceiling or floor right now.

Chase Anderson
He has some OK thinks going on. He gets has good swing-and-miss numbers across the board, but the fly ball tendencies (40% GB%) in his home park in Arizona scares me. I think he is best used as a matchup starter versus weaker teams or in pitcher friendly parks.

Chris Bassitt
I wasn’t impressed, but he could work out in Oakland’s large park since he is a flyball pitcher. I see a 5th starter/longer relief future for him.

Mike Bolsinger
I expected to find a horrible pitcher and he wasn’t. His 13% K%-BB% is comparable to Lance Lynn and Francisco Liriano. It would be nice for him to throw a pitch which broke horizontally. If he finds regular playing time, he could be a serviceable pitcher in deeper or NL-only leagues. Read the rest of this entry »

This will be the last week where I will look back at 2014 starts unless something comes up which requires going back. Since I am not 100% sure I will have games to watch week, I will publish all of the Quick Take Final Thoughts before the upcoming season. I plan on giving some pitchers a second look if they need it.

Note: I usually try to pick the most recent game the player pitched. Sometimes the MLB video has issues and other games are picked. Also, if a say a pitch moves 11-5, it is from the pitcher’s perspective.

Henderson Alvarez

Why I watched: About no strikeouts with a 94 mph fastball.

Game(s) Watched: 9/28/14 vs. Nationals

Game Thoughts

• Everything the 25-year-old righty throws breaks down. This downward action has him at a 55% GB% for his career. Of those pitchers with 400 IP thrown over the last three seasons, his ground ball rate is the fifth highest.

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Note: I usually try to pick the most recent game the player pitched. Sometimes the MLB video has issues and other games are picked. Also, if a say a pitch moves 11-5, it is from the pitcher’s perspective.

Hector Noesi

Why I watched: Looks like he will make the White Sox rotation.

Game(s) Watched: 9/26/14 vs Royals

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Note: I usually try to pick the most recent game the player pitched. Sometimes the MLB video has issues and other games are picked. Also, if a say a pitch moves 11-5, it is from the pitcher’s perspective.

Jordan Lyles
Why I watched: Young projected starter

Game(s) Watched: 9/26/14 vs Dodgers

Game Thoughts

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Note: I usually try to pick the most recent game the player pitched. Sometimes the MLB video has issues and other games are picked. Also, if a say a pitch moves 11-5, it is from the pitcher’s perspective.

Marco Gonzales

Why I watched: The top ranked Cardinals prospect according to Baseball America deserved a look.

Game(s) Watched:9/14/14 vs Rockies

Game Thoughts

• The 22-year-old lefty had small amounts of movement on every pitch. Just enough to generate some weak contact.

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Drew Hutchison

Why I watched: Whirling Darvish asked and I couldn’t come up with a reason not to.

Game(s) Watched: 9/26/14 vs Baltimore

Game Thoughts:

• He struck out the side in the first, but allowed one run on two hits and a walk. He struck out seven of the first nine batters.

• The 24-year-old righty worked in the vertical direction with all his pitches. His motion seems a little jerky and mechanical. He is slow to the plate with David Lough getting a stolen base in the first off him. In 2014, base stealers were 24 of 27 (88%) when he was pitching.

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Lisalverto Bonilla

Why I watched: An 3.05 ERA with the Rangers in ‘14

Game(s) Watched: 9/24/14 vs Astros

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Carlos Martinez

Why I watched: He has been getting a little love and hate here at FanGraphs. Also, I wanted to see why the Cardinals are hesitant to make him a starter.

Game(s) Watched: 9/18/14 vs Pirates

Game Thoughts

• The 23-year-old righty works fast.

• He shows his emotions quite a bit on the mound. Once he got the sign for a change, he grimaced and then threw it in the dirt.

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Danny Salazar

Why I watched: All over the place in 2014 with some potential.

Game(s) Watched: 9/23/14 vs Royals

Game Thoughts

• What a game to randomly pick, he got his first six outs via strikeout. He ended each at bat with a swinging strike on his change.

• Threw a 93-98 mph fastball which was straight except some glove side run at lower speeds. It is the only pitch he can throw for called strikes.

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