Author Topic: Today’s Game 2023  (Read 33598 times)

craig

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #15 on: March 06, 2023, 10:46:27 am »
Watched Jensen's inning from yesterday.  Wasn't watching the gun carefully, but had at least a couple of 98's and 97.  Do the metrics like his fastball?  It was fast, but seemed kinda hittable just from amateur one-inning TV view.  There's been lots of talk about how he's been constantly changing and shortening his delivery; I don't know what that necessarily means, because there are a lot of pre-throw aspects involved, too.  So maybe the actual firing part is shortened but the load isn't?  But it looked like overall he's got a super long, slow delivery.  Huge leg-kick and weight-back delivery, after first batter singled he stole 2nd easily, all Jensen not the catcher's fault at all.  Looked like a pretty out-of-balance delivery, maybe overthrowing or whatever?  Jensen walked three guys, and walked in the tie-breaking run.  Some of the balls were close, but a lot of them weren't close.  Bounced one pitch well in front of the plate. 

It was one inning, and I'm sure he's nervous in his second outing after doing poorly in his first.  Hopefully he'll settle in and by April-May-June he'll be locked in and good.  But for yesterday, his was the wildest and most out-of-control-looking inning I've watched this spring.  Some guys have inconsistent command of breaking pitches, but can still kinda get their fastball over.  Jensen didn't have that, for that inning his fastball seemed kinda random.   

Reb

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #16 on: March 06, 2023, 12:35:10 pm »
Meghan Montemurro

@M_Montemurro
Scheduled to pitch today for Cubs at Mariners: Wesneski, Borucki, Boxberger, Brown, Duffey and Wick.

Deeg

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #17 on: March 06, 2023, 08:15:33 pm »
Two observations from the highlights…. Brown is nasty. His command and third pitch(es) may hold him back, but his stuff overall really pops.

Also, Alcantara is pretty fast. 

Playtwo

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #18 on: March 07, 2023, 02:20:38 pm »
Looks like Sampson is a big Wesneski fan.

craig

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #19 on: March 07, 2023, 03:04:50 pm »
Two observations from the highlights…. Brown is nasty. His command and third pitch(es) may hold him back, but his stuff overall really pops.
...

He has such a nice, comfortable-looking delivery.  Seems well-balanced and like it shouldn't be super high-maintenance. 

But yeah, the question of command will dictate.   *IF* he has good command, he can be really good, his stuff is good enough.  Not sure his stuff is extraordinary enough to get by without the command, though?  Locating 95-96 is nice when it's placed well, but in a world where every RHP throws 95, I'm not sure that sets him apart. 

Will be interesting to see how well he can locate his fastball; and how much he'll trust it within the strike zone.  I'm thinking that he'll do really well when he gets two strikes on people.  His curve and his high riding fastball can get him a lot of K's.  But getting to K-counts requires getting a couple of strikes first.  Can he locate and trust his fastball enough to throw it in the zone? 

Fun prospect to watch, that's for sure. 

I feel like "command ... may hold him back, but his stuff overall really pops" might be true for a lot of guys in our system.  It's fun.  Hopefully he pitch lab can get some strike-throwing going. 

craig

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #20 on: March 07, 2023, 05:11:44 pm »
Cubs win 9-6.  Rios another HR.  Sampson gave up 3HR and 6 runs in his 2.2, relievers allowed 2 singles the rest of the way. 

Alzolay, Kay, and Sanders all pitched effectively, I'll maybe want to watch some of their innings tonight. 

it's kinda weird being on the other side pitching-wise...  I used to wonder how in spring training games other teams just kept rolling out young prospects with big arms and big stuff.  Now it's us. 

Deeg

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #21 on: March 07, 2023, 05:17:25 pm »
I’m not sure why the Cubs seem obsessed with Sampson winning the 5th starter role when they have so many more interesting options.  Peripherals indicate he was really lucky last year and the raw stuff backs that up.  I expect him to open in the rotation but I hope he’s on a short leash.

craig

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #22 on: March 07, 2023, 05:35:24 pm »
Box score had Kay with two innings, but actually Burdi pitched the 6th.  He looked WAY better and more in control, in-balance, today than when I watched him last Friday, maybe?  Super simple short delivery.  He's got a really nasty curve, which probably is further helped by his velocity.  Fastball seems fast but has some run, too.  We'll see how wild he'll be during the season, and if he can stay healthy.  But that breaking ball could be pretty deadly if can throw enough strikes.  Would have been a lot of seasons in which I'd have thought he might win a job.  Iowa could be loaded. 

davep

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #23 on: March 07, 2023, 07:25:09 pm »
I don't think that the Cubs are obsessed with Sampson winning the fifth starter spot.  I think it is more than they think that Wesneski should start out at Iowa to start the season.  I would rather that Wesneski made the opening day roster, but I don't have access to the scouting or pitching lab information that they have.

Deeg

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #24 on: March 07, 2023, 07:36:14 pm »
There’s also Killian and Assad, both of whom have more upside than Sampson.

davep

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #25 on: March 07, 2023, 08:38:01 pm »
As I said, I am not a Sampson fan.  However, the fact remains that he was quite successful last year, and may well perform very well as a placeholder, if the Cubs feel that others need more time in the minors.

Reb

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #26 on: March 07, 2023, 08:52:42 pm »
PCA made a tremendous running catch in the gap near the wall in today’s game. Looking forward to that kind of CF defense whenever he’s ready.

guest405

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #27 on: March 07, 2023, 09:37:24 pm »
Wont be long.

davep

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #28 on: March 08, 2023, 01:07:33 pm »
PCA made a tremendous running catch in the gap near the wall in today’s game. Looking forward to that kind of CF defense whenever he’s ready.
Just so he remembers that the walls are shorter in Wrigley, and are made out of rather hard bricks.  We have lost more than one outfielder to those walls.

Dave23

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #29 on: March 08, 2023, 02:45:32 pm »
It’s a shame Luis Torrens isn’t more highly regarded defensively; the ball really jumps off his bat…

For those who don’t know, he hit two bombs to CF yesterday…close to 900 feet worth of HRs…

As I type this, Barnhart hits one out to RF, and we are tied 2-2 with Canada…
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