For MLB fans

[Spencer 555]

it's weird how Felix Hernandez turns bad as Paxton takes off. Is that kinda how it just works in baseball? Like Tanaka struggles and Severino ascends. Are there just not enough pitching coaches to make a Astros-like core of ace pitchers? If so why don't teams just hire like 5 pitching coaches so each starter gets an individual tutor/guy to feed them tape?

I mean, that's any sport. The old get filtered out by the new. The Astros staff is a total outlier right now and could very well be the best pitching staff of all time.

[Hugh]

I agree, Spencer. Braves staff of the late 90s with Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz/Millwood is pretty much considered the best but the Astros current rotation might actually be better, which is more nuts than Ach is for butts!

[Nightmarez]

I wouldn't buy too much. He's struggled with the homer in his career and hasn't really shown an improvement on any of his pitches that I could see to merit the big drop in homers he's allowed.

Results on his change have night and day differences.

it's weird how Felix Hernandez turns bad as Paxton takes off. Is that kinda how it just works in baseball? Like Tanaka struggles and Severino ascends. Are there just not enough pitching coaches to make a Astros-like core of ace pitchers? If so why don't teams just hire like 5 pitching coaches so each starter gets an individual tutor/guy to feed them tape?

I mean it’s more complicated obviously. For one who knows what coaches can get what attributes out of players, and how that will figure itself out. For Cole I really think it was a matter of going to a pitching coach with a more open philosophy and a philosophy more geared to what Cole does well, whereas his former PC Ray Searage has also been a magician throughout his career with guys like Liriano. But Searage and Cole didn’t seem to work well together. And I truly believe and have advocated that... but I’d never dream of calling ray a bad PC.

I agree, Spencer. Braves staff of the late 90s with Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz/Millwood is pretty much considered the best but the Astros current rotation might actually be better, which is more nuts than Ach is for butts!

They obviously still have it, but if the Astros continue I think they’re the clear #1. Verlander is a HOF having a ridiculous year by his own peak standards. Cole is another leading Cy candidate. Keuchel has his Cy. Morton and McCullers are ridiculous for being backend.

[Hugh]

Mike Trout is 5 for 5 with 3 doubles and a homerun.
That dude is going to be pretty good. Mark my words.

[Gryph]

Maybe if the Yankees would stop tossin fuckin 3-1 pitches right in his wheelhouse he wouldn't of dragged his dick across the diamond this game, just watching how they pitch to him aggravates me.

This game pisses me off tonight.

[Hugh]

Dude there’s no way to pitch to Mike Trout. And no, no need for a pitch by pitch analysis. I get the pleasure of watching him destroy every pitcher we have multiple times a year.

[Spencer 555]

@Marez the changeup doesn't look any different honestly. It's always been pretty good. I think the improvements are coming from pitch mix. I'm not super optimistic.

[Nightmarez]

@Marez the changeup doesn't look any different honestly. It's always been pretty good. I think the improvements are coming from pitch mix. I'm not super optimistic.

You're taling about changes from when he was a young raw player? He throws three pitches, and they're getting good results, and he has an elite defense behind him. Heaney Skaggs and Tropeano are all pretty legit SPs.

[Spencer 555]

I mean, hes still young and raw, weve only seen a pretty small sample here and the only adjustment I can see is that hes thrown more sliders this year then in years prior. The stuff is relatively the same.

Hes a lefty finesse pitcher, I wanna see more before I invest. Hulkys talking about a 10 team mixed league here. The only angel you mentioned that I really want in that format is Skaggs unless I'm streaming.

[Nightmarez]

I mean, hes still young and raw, weve only seen a pretty small sample here and the only adjustment I can see is that hes thrown more sliders this year then in years prior. The stuff is relatively the same.

Hes a lefty finesse pitcher, I wanna see more before I invest. Hulkys talking about a 10 team mixed league here. The only angel you mentioned that I really want in that format is Skaggs unless I'm streaming.

What are you talking about "in years prior?" What are we comparing it to? 100 Innings in like 2015? This isn't a guy that had a large sample size. Are you really saying that going into 2016 your thought was that that was exactly who Heaney was and who he would always be?

And in terms of being a "finesse" pitcher, that's not really fair. His Whiff%'s have been great this year, and were great before his TJS in 2016 and after his TJS in 2017. Plenty of people liked him as a potential breakout back in 2016 same as Skaggs before he had TJS.

Again, two of them are small samples, but his last three Contact%'s have been 74.4%, 71.1%, and 73.5%. In 2015 it was 81.7%. His Whiff%'s have been 12.6%, 13.5%, and 11.9%. In 2015 it was 8.6%. These are all significantly better numbers and over samples that are undeniably relevant.

ANd don't underrate the team defense behind him either.

I'm not too concerned about Heaney. I don't think he hits a 3-Flat ERA or is as close to a 10 K/9, but as a mid rotation starter with decent ratios and Ks? Yup.