Quick Looks: Lorenzen, Gonzalez, Wojciechowski

I will continue to implement player grading on the scouting scales of 20-80. I will use Kiley McDaniels scale he discussed in this article.

Grade	Hitter	Starting Pitcher	Relief Pitcher	WAR
80	Top 1-2	#1 Starter	—-	7
75	Top 2-3	#1	—-	6
70	Top 5	#1/2	—-	5
65	All-Star	#2/3	—-	4
60	Plus	#3	High Closer	3
55	Above Avg	#3/4	Mid Closer	2.5
50	Avg Regular	#4	Low CL/High SU	2
45	Platoon/Util	#5	Low Setup	1.5
40	Bench	Swing/Spot SP	Middle RP	1
35	Emergency Call-Up	Emergency Call-Up	Emergency Call-Up	0
30	*Organizational	*Organizational	*Organizational	-1

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 value). 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.

 

Michael Lorenzen (CV: 50/FV: 60)
4/29/15 vs Brewers

Game Thoughts
• This game was the 23-year-old righty’s first MLB start.
• His fastball was 93-95 mph with either no break or just a bit on the release side. It was his only called strike pitch of the night. He nibbled with it around the zone seeing a ton of full counts. Also, he got too much of the plate at times with it thereby giving up three homes.

• His slider was at 86 mph and was his only pitch besides the fastball which he could throw consistently. It breaks down and to the glove side with a sweeping motion
• His curveball was at 78 mph with a 12-6 break. He had some issues throwing it consistently. He seemed to either hang it or bury it into the ground.
• His 84-85 mph change had no life, but was a nice change of pace compared to his fastball

Final thoughts: He is far from being a finished product, but a person can see how the pieces may all fit together to make a nice starter. He was just a fastball/slider pitcher in the start I saw.  He needs to consistently throw his other two pitches to take a step forward.

Severino Gonzalez (CV: 35/FV: 40)
4/28/15 vs Cardinals
Game Thoughts

• His team’s defense really let him down. They couldn’t make a play to save their lives.
• His fastball was 87-90 mph. It was either straight or had a small amount of release side run. Note enough life on the pitch to make up for the low velocity. Previous accounts had his velocity in the low 90’s. It was not so this day.
• He had a 77-78 mph breaking pitch which is getting labeled as both a slider or a curve by various pitch tracking systems. I will call it a curve. It is very BLAH. Not good at all.
• His change was at 83-84 with some possible late break. A usable pitch.
• He also has a sinker around 86 mph. This pitch confused me for a bit as it only sunk some times and seemed to be similar to his change.
• His fastball and change had the same movement, but 3 to 7 mph is not enough to difference get some swinging strikes.
• He is a control pitcher who rarely gave up a walk in the minors.

Final thoughts: He is not good enough to pitch in the majors regularly. None of his pitches will generate whiffs and he has to pitch to contact. I just don’t see any reason to own him.

Asher Wojciechowski (45 CV/45 FV)
4/26/15 vs Reds

Game Thoughts
• He had a straight 90-92 mph fastball.
• His change was straight and at 80-82 mph with no break.
• He threw a power 12-6 curve/slider at 80-81 mph for strikes. He loves this pitch and threw it quite often. It is his only pitch with an above average swinging strike rate (15.3%).
• He has no downward breaking pitch except the curve. He will likely be a fly ball pitcher for this reason.
• He seemed to take every count to 3-2. Not efficient at all.
• Very hittable.

Final thoughts: The game plan for the 26-year-old righty was to somehow get two strikes and then throw the curve/slider for a swinging strikeout. Otherwise he has to hope the defense behind him can make some plays from some very hittable pitches.