Spring Training Notes (3/8/18)

The Notes took a leave of absence while I was in Arizona for a few days. I spent most of my time on this article updating the spring training velocities, watching a couple pitchers, and waiting for my internet connection to return.

Astros vs. Nationals (3/6/18)

A.J. Cole
FB: 88-92 mph. Straight with nothing on it
CH: 78-81 mph. 12-6 break, threw it a lot, must of been working on it.
SL: 77-79 mph
Overall: His fastball is well below average with little movement or velocity. His breakers all move to the release side (slider), down (change), or both (curve). He no one to get excited over.

Charlie Morton
FB: 93-96 mph, Kept it up in the strike zone
CH: 86-87 mph
CB: 77-78 mph
Overall: He looked sharp. Nothing to worry about with him.

Dinelson Lamet (3/5/17)

I wanted to see if Lamet’s change or curve would be a usable third pitch. First, Lamet’s slider has curve shape but at a decent velocity and is nasty.

In his three innings of work, he was working on at least one of the pitch but they were way off. It was tough to know what he was trying to throw especially without game velocity. In the third inning, he ripped off this curve (catcher signaled with two fingers right before the pitch).

The Padres manager Andy Green points to Lamet’s curveball, not change, as the difference maker.

“I thought his overall stuff was really good,” Padres manager Andy Green said. “He couldn’t quite command the curveball quite the way he can. …The fastball and slider were still dominant, like they always are. I think as he continues to grow comfortable with the curveball, it’s going to be a very effective pitch for him.”
…
“To me, it’s just command the curveball,” Green said. “Drop it in. That’s going to be a separator for him.”

It’s a start. The problem in this start, his fastball-slider combo easily carried him through his three innings. I’m going to have to look again later in the spring to see how the pitch as progressed.

Notes:

For those projecting playing time, the Padres are looking at spliting playing time in left field according to AJ Cassavell:

Nobody’s going to play 162 games in left field for San Diego this season. I’d be surprised if anyone plays more than 120. The Padres are almost certain to split time among Jose Pirela, Hunter Renfroe and Franchy Cordero. If Alex Dickerson returns to full health, he’s in that mix, too.

Fastball Velocities: From pitch tracking system installed at Salt Rivers (Rockies and D-Backs home park), teams with a broadcast radar (Mets, Nationals, and Yankees home games), and Twitter. Complete spreadsheet.

I’m a little worried that the readings from Salt River Fields (Arizona and Colorado) may be a bit hot with Chad Bettis (+2.0), Kyle Hendricks (+2.2), Taijuan Walker (+2.4), Brandon Woodruff (+3.3), and Zach Davies (+2.3) all up over 2 mph. If it’s hot, Red flags need to be thrown for pitchers heading down just a bit like Zack Greinke (-0.7).