Comments on: On the spot: Checking out the River Bandits http://futureredbirds.com/2008/06/20/on-the-spot-checking-out-the-river-bandits/ Baseball's Future in the Gateway City Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:20:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Pitchers Hit Eighth http://futureredbirds.com/2008/06/20/on-the-spot-checking-out-the-river-bandits/#comment-19180 Pitchers Hit Eighth Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:39:38 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=1367#comment-19180 Some fascinating photos from CR that I thought might interest folks here: http://quadcityimages.blogspot.com/2008/06/modern-woodmen-park-flood-2008.html Some fascinating photos from CR that I thought might interest folks here:

http://quadcityimages.blogspot.com/2008/06/modern-woodmen-park-flood-2008.html

]]> By: Beau http://futureredbirds.com/2008/06/20/on-the-spot-checking-out-the-river-bandits/#comment-18952 Beau Sat, 21 Jun 2008 11:47:55 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=1367#comment-18952 Pham is rough, but improving, on pace for 30 homers in a season at the low A level. It's impressive. He has an unusual gift in terms of hitting ability, and he has a strong arm and good speed. King has been afflicted by walks. But in just his last two outings, a switch has been flicked. He has 11 Ks in the past 6 innings, with NO walks. For him, that is an amazing improvement. King's slider and fastball are ML quality. He has been held back by lack of control. Relief seems a good role, given his violent delivery. At this point, its unnecessary to have strong opinions about Additon's career ceiling. He's a good sized lefty who throws easily. He should improve further in the years ahead. Pham is rough, but improving, on pace for 30 homers in a season at the low A level. It’s impressive. He has an unusual gift in terms of hitting ability, and he has a strong arm and good speed.

King has been afflicted by walks. But in just his last two outings, a switch has been flicked. He has 11 Ks in the past 6 innings, with NO walks. For him, that is an amazing improvement. King’s slider and fastball are ML quality. He has been held back by lack of control. Relief seems a good role, given his violent delivery.

At this point, its unnecessary to have strong opinions about Additon’s career ceiling. He’s a good sized lefty who throws easily. He should improve further in the years ahead.

]]> By: erik http://futureredbirds.com/2008/06/20/on-the-spot-checking-out-the-river-bandits/#comment-18942 erik Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:38:05 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=1367#comment-18942 Yes, it does. He has a good eye and controls the strikezone very well. He can pull the ball and take it the other way. His swing portends to a lot of line drives...and sure enough, he's hitting them at a 31% clip. I'm wouldn't call him super patient, but I don't think he'll ever strike out a lot, either. He definitely strikes me as a high average, doubles hitter with some good HR hitting potential as he fills out. As for Additon, I think you all want to believe he's as good as his numbers. I stand by my judgment-he's not a big leaguer. Yes, it does. He has a good eye and controls the strikezone very well. He can pull the ball and take it the other way. His swing portends to a lot of line drives…and sure enough, he’s hitting them at a 31% clip. I’m wouldn’t call him super patient, but I don’t think he’ll ever strike out a lot, either. He definitely strikes me as a high average, doubles hitter with some good HR hitting potential as he fills out.

As for Additon, I think you all want to believe he’s as good as his numbers. I stand by my judgment-he’s not a big leaguer.

]]> By: Bob http://futureredbirds.com/2008/06/20/on-the-spot-checking-out-the-river-bandits/#comment-18941 Bob Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:02:08 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=1367#comment-18941 Oops. Sorry, Erik, I missed the Rivera remarks speed-reading through the first time. Did his strikezone judgement seem to match his excellent BB/K numbers? Thanks again. Oops. Sorry, Erik, I missed the Rivera remarks speed-reading through the first time. Did his strikezone judgement seem to match his excellent BB/K numbers?

Thanks again.

]]> By: Bob http://futureredbirds.com/2008/06/20/on-the-spot-checking-out-the-river-bandits/#comment-18940 Bob Sat, 21 Jun 2008 03:55:21 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=1367#comment-18940 Thanks much for the report, Erik! While I'd sure prefer Additon to add 2 or 3 ticks to the heater (and his frame could fill out quite a bit over the next few years, adding velo), if I recall correctly Bud Smith topped out at 87/88 during his no-no. Lefties are just a whole 'nother species. Maybe Additon is crafty. Maybe supercrafty. Anyone know *anything* about the teenager who's off to such a fine start for the Bandits, Angel Rivera? The kid isn't showing much pop, but a .320 average, with more walks than whiffs...that's an attention-getter. Thanks much for the report, Erik! While I’d sure prefer Additon to add 2 or 3 ticks to the heater (and his frame could fill out quite a bit over the next few years, adding velo), if I recall correctly Bud Smith topped out at 87/88 during his no-no.

Lefties are just a whole ‘nother species. Maybe Additon is crafty. Maybe supercrafty.

Anyone know *anything* about the teenager who’s off to such a fine start for the Bandits, Angel Rivera? The kid isn’t showing much pop, but a .320 average, with more walks than whiffs…that’s an attention-getter.

]]> By: azruavatar http://futureredbirds.com/2008/06/20/on-the-spot-checking-out-the-river-bandits/#comment-18936 azruavatar Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:11:46 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=1367#comment-18936 I see your Pham and raise you a Daryl Jones. I see your Pham and raise you a Daryl Jones.

]]> By: erik http://futureredbirds.com/2008/06/20/on-the-spot-checking-out-the-river-bandits/#comment-18935 erik Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:00:40 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=1367#comment-18935 His curve isn't really great. It has a big break, but it's loopy and i think hitters can just take it and wait for him to throw his not-so-fastball. His curve isn’t really great. It has a big break, but it’s loopy and i think hitters can just take it and wait for him to throw his not-so-fastball.

]]> By: Chris http://futureredbirds.com/2008/06/20/on-the-spot-checking-out-the-river-bandits/#comment-18932 Chris Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:41:34 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=1367#comment-18932 Addition's only shot is as a lefty specialist. Addition is not even close to Zito. Zito possessed and on some nights still possesses one of the best curveballs in the history of the game. Zito's problem is that he has no other plus pitches and at times can struggle locating the curve. Addition’s only shot is as a lefty specialist. Addition is not even close to Zito. Zito possessed and on some nights still possesses one of the best curveballs in the history of the game. Zito’s problem is that he has no other plus pitches and at times can struggle locating the curve.

]]> By: VolsnCards5 http://futureredbirds.com/2008/06/20/on-the-spot-checking-out-the-river-bandits/#comment-18931 VolsnCards5 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:34:03 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=1367#comment-18931 just from reading about addition...he seems to have a bit of barry zito in him...slow, straight fastball that he can spot really well...and a loopy but confusing curveball that he can also drop in for strikes...i'm not saying he'll be as good as cy young zito, but if he can fool hitters for 4 or 5 seasons like zito did, then i like him....please tell me if i am completely off base. I've never seen him pitch, this is just based on different reports that i have read just from reading about addition…he seems to have a bit of barry zito in him…slow, straight fastball that he can spot really well…and a loopy but confusing curveball that he can also drop in for strikes…i’m not saying he’ll be as good as cy young zito, but if he can fool hitters for 4 or 5 seasons like zito did, then i like him….please tell me if i am completely off base. I’ve never seen him pitch, this is just based on different reports that i have read

]]> By: BigJawnMize http://futureredbirds.com/2008/06/20/on-the-spot-checking-out-the-river-bandits/#comment-18930 BigJawnMize Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:59:29 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=1367#comment-18930 I agree with you generaly assement of Addition. Meh. He is definitely fooling the hell out of players though. When I watched him pitch only one hitter squared up on a ball. Everything tha hitters put wood on was some wierd cue shot off the hands or the end of the bat. The other thing I though after watching him was that he has a couple MPHs to add to his pitches just from mechanical changes. He doesn't really bring it with his body and ends up having a very abrupt finish. Currently I would say that he is an injury risk with that finish but he doesn't have that much arm speed to stop. All the talk of Pham and I really think I would stand a good chance of striking him out. A pithcer just needs to throw a lot of junk because this guy is a dead red hitter. His major swing problem is that he doesn't keep his weight back at all. This also leads to him pulling out as walt mentioned. Currently I doubt he has any chance of putting up a 700 ops at palm beach. I agree with you generaly assement of Addition. Meh. He is definitely fooling the hell out of players though. When I watched him pitch only one hitter squared up on a ball. Everything tha hitters put wood on was some wierd cue shot off the hands or the end of the bat. The other thing I though after watching him was that he has a couple MPHs to add to his pitches just from mechanical changes. He doesn’t really bring it with his body and ends up having a very abrupt finish. Currently I would say that he is an injury risk with that finish but he doesn’t have that much arm speed to stop.

All the talk of Pham and I really think I would stand a good chance of striking him out. A pithcer just needs to throw a lot of junk because this guy is a dead red hitter. His major swing problem is that he doesn’t keep his weight back at all. This also leads to him pulling out as walt mentioned. Currently I doubt he has any chance of putting up a 700 ops at palm beach.

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