Post by baseba1111 on Feb 18, 2018 0:07:13 GMT -8
1. Tweedt was out of sync today - never got into a good rhythm. Fastball was high 80's and touched 90 twice that I saw. FB had good tailing movement but curve bubbled early and he hung several. OK command but got behind too many hitters. Early season stuff for Sam, he'll get better with subsequent outings.
2. Chamberlain pitched like a Senior. Poised, works quickly and is tough to hit. Locating was impressive. moved in and out but always down-down-down. Has 3/4 arm slot and drives down with his motion - everything is in the bottom of the zone. Excellent mix of pitches highlighted by a nasty two-plane slider. Has a "roundhouse" curveball he changes up with and a sharp, late breaking curve with a tight wrap. Velo was 85-86 but hit 87 a couple of times. His fastball is deceptive - he has a momentary pause (like Eisert) in his delivery and the ball is on the hitter quicker than it looks. In pro ball, "he's sneaky fast". Surprised by his strength and athleticism. Chamberlain will be a bullpen mainstay for the Beavs this year IMHO.
3. Mulholland - not one of his better outings, Got shelled early, settled down and was good enough at the finish. Relied on mid to high 80's fastballs but left his "stuff" in the dugout. I'll chalk it off to first time out.
4. Murderers Row: Larnach tearing the cover off the ball. 425 to dead center on Friday, 360 to the off field today. Eagle eye at the plate, drawing walks and getting favorable pitches to hit. Rutschman making solid contact - really improved and maybe more confident now at the plate. 4 hits in two games for Adley. Kwan continues to paste the ball but hitting it right at people. Today he ripped a screamer about 8' of the ground and the SS leaped and gloved it. He pushed a bunt at 2B a tad hard and the throw barely beat him. He could easily be 4 for 10 right now. He is NOT struggling, just some really bad bounces and bad luck.
5. MG is a solid 3B with a good stick. Import piece of the Beaver juggernaut. He can catch but not his ideal position. We drop off considerably defensively when Adley takes a day off.
6. Beavers playing as expected early on. Some real strengths and a few questions and concerns that will need answering. Good time to discuss that will be after they conclude the Collegiate Baseball Classic and the PAC-12 v Big-10 Challenge. That will clear some things up. So far? I like what I see.
1. Sam tossed pretty much exactly what Sam has always thrown for his CB... and his FB. He was only able to go 4.1 vs Gonzaga. Early or not he's been throwing for months now. I'll believe he is a Pac12 weekend guy when I actually see consistent placement and a breaking pitch with some bite. IMHO he'll end up not being one of the three starters unless a couple other guys really falter... and I'll gladly admit to such if I am wrong. I just think we have at least two to three other arms that will be brought along slowly and be prepped for Pac12 play.
2. Chamberlain... good assessment. He is one of the other arms that will push to start... as opposed to Sam who is a vet of D1 play in his 1st action... early season also... 3.2 innings of no hit ball with better command and far better pitches.
3. Mulholland seems to live on the shaky side. I can't get past the Furd series where family and friends lamented his desire to be a starter. I wonder if he's accepted he'll not be one at OSU??! With the arms that came in I do not see that ever happening. At times he seems to struggle to find a rhythm in relief, then other times he's fine. As more of a finesse type you have to be all in and focused... I wonder if he is???
4. Murders Row... sarcasm? Yankee hater as I am? GO SOX!!!
Other Larnach ripping the cover off... 4-5/3BIs... and Adley having a good game today (3-4), but has only 3 hits overall, had the collar yesterday (0-4) and stranded 3... not seeing any real comparison to said "row": Were given 6 BBs today and managed 4 runs...
Kwan is 0-10... Oh fer ten is 0 for 10... not even drawn a walk... he is not getting on base... that's his #1 priority
Early in the season is a good "excuse", or at least better, for hitters... after the 8 games there will be a better picture of the offense. I'm hoping to see a little more from Gretler, Grenier, and Armstrong.
5. MG is a better catcher than he showed today, but thought it interesting Adley was DHing already???
6. Baseball is a weird sport to have expectations... but, as mentioned above, versus this level of competition even this early I was hoping for more from the vets we have. Almost seems like some are too... maybe pressing to hard to get off to a big start... solidify playing time with guys pushing them in certain spots?
Fire away...
