Duquette: Bundy will get at least 5 more starts at Delmarva

[Lucky Jim]

I figure Low A, High A and AA this year to get used to pitching, work on his change ect ect.

2013-2014 in Norfolk to work on his TTTP.

2015 he should be ready to go.

Fortunately, he'll have options left if he needs to return to AAA to work on TTTP.

[Satyr3206]

TTTP doesn't matter if no one can hit you. I still think that's what screwed up Matusz last year.

[Mizerooskie]

Of course this is true. They should promote him to the level where he's on a close to even playing field with his competition (not way over it). I will criticize for promoting too slowly and to quickly!

I am very much against this process with Bundy. I think it's unnecessarily slowing his development. It's good he's working on a pitch and good he's getting accustomed to the professional life, but couldn't he do that in Bowie where his brother can help introduce him to the pros and he might be able to face hitters with men on and work out of both the wind-up and the stretch? He could also work on holding runners.

How is it slowing his development? Maybe the short outings at Delmarva are forcing him to emphasize his fastball command, while working on sharpening his secondary offerings and thus accelerating his development. Maybe he wouldn't have that opportunity against more advanced bats at a higher level. We don't even know how he'll look in Delmarva once he's fully stretched out. He might not be as dominant against lineups the second time through, especially if he has to ease back on the velocity to extend his outing.

It's obvious that the organization has a specific plan in mind for Bundy's path through the organization. To abandon that plan after 13 innings would be silly and short-sighted. Bundy is the most prized minor league arm in baseball. The Orioles desperately need him to succeed, and should be risk averse.

[UMDTerrapins]

I can hear in my head the collective gasp that will fall across the crowd when he gives up his first hit.

[jamalshw]

How is it slowing his development? Maybe the short outings at Delmarva are forcing him to emphasize his fastball command, while working on sharpening his secondary offerings and thus accelerating his development. Maybe he wouldn't have that opportunity against more advanced bats at a higher level. We don't even know how he'll look in Delmarva once he's fully stretched out. He might not be as dominant against lineups the second time through, especially if he has to ease back on the velocity to extend his outing.

It's obvious that the organization has a specific plan in mind for Bundy's path through the organization. To abandon that plan after 13 innings would be silly and short-sighted. Bundy is the most prized minor league arm in baseball. The Orioles desperately need him to succeed, and should be risk averse.

You can only do so much in bullpen and side sessions and with as little challenge as Bundy is getting from opponents right now, that's basically all he's getting in Delmarva. I know he's being quoted as saying he's plenty challenged (and I'm glad he's saying it), but I don't believe it.

I think we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one.

[Fan4Life]

Didn't management want Bundy to work on some offspeed stuff? Funny how we don't hear any reports on how that is progressing.

You must not have read the writeups in Fangraphs and Baseball Prospectus.

From BP:

Fangraphs: (4/10)

Fangraphs (4/11):




http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index...-report-video/

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index...od-for-a-ball/

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/ar...rticleid=16522

I figure Low A, High A and AA this year to get used to pitching, work on his change ect ect.

Didn't I essentially just say that? And no reports on how that is progressing.

[Mizerooskie]

You can only do so much in bullpen and side sessions and with as little challenge as Bundy is getting from opponents right now, that's basically all he's getting in Delmarva. I know he's being quoted as saying he's plenty challenged (and I'm glad he's saying it), but I don't believe it.

I think we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one.

So you were a pitching prospect then? You know how much development can happen in bullpen and side sessions? And that's not all he's getting. He's facing live hitters. What happens if, in his next outing, he gives up a couple of homeruns, walks a few, and can't command his stuff? Is he still not challenged?

Just admit that you're basing your conclusions on nothing more than a few scouting reports and boxscores from 14 innings of work.

[Can_of_corn]

Didn't I essentially just say that? And no reports on how that is progressing.

The reports I quoted mention his change up, so he is throwing it and it appears to have improved since he was drafted, which would mean it has progressed. When he was drafted no one would have compared his change with Cole Hamels'.

The second time you quoted me...you do realize I was making a joke right? Hence him spending two full seasons in AAA to work on TTTP.

I am not sure what you expect to be hearing. Detailed reports on speed differential and drop?

[wpetraska]

Bundy got an article on Yahoo!'s Big League Stew:
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-bi...145821956.html

[Stotle]

The reports I quoted mention his change up, so he is throwing it and it appears to have improved since he was drafted, which would mean it has progressed. When he was drafted no one would have compared his change with Cole Hamels'.

The second time you quoted me...you do realize I was making a joke right? Hence him spending two full seasons in AAA to work on TTTP.

I am not sure what you expect to be hearing. Detailed reports on speed differential and drop?

The Cole Hamels comp should be taken lightly -- Cameron isn't exactly an evaluator. His change is solid, and arguably very good compared to your typical prep pitcher. But some the quotes you listed are hyperbolic to a fault. In any event, Sally hitters aren't going to do well against even a below average changeup if it's being paired with a mid- to upper-90s fastball, a solid curve and monster cutter.

[jamalshw]

So you were a pitching prospect then? You know how much development can happen in bullpen and side sessions? And that's not all he's getting. He's facing live hitters. What happens if, in his next outing, he gives up a couple of homeruns, walks a few, and can't command his stuff? Is he still not challenged?

Just admit that you're basing your conclusions on nothing more than a few scouting reports and boxscores from 14 innings of work.

Yes. That is what I'm basing my opinion off of cause that's all I have to go off. As far as giving up the homers and walks in the next outing, I would then blame that on boredom and the lack of a challenge.

As Stotle says in the post above me:
"Sally hitters aren't going to do well against even a below average changeup if it's being paired with a mid- to upper-90s fastball, a solid curve and monster cutter. "

How can he develop the change against live hitters then? How are the live hitters that are not going to do well against a below average changeup anything but a bullpen sessions with someone standing in?

[srock]

Wasn't there talk during the off season about teaching Dylan how to pace himself? Supposedly he pretty high strung which can lead of over throwing.

Maybe this is to show him he doesn't have to throw 100% effort to be effective. Let him fall into a nice pattern against weak opposition then make him learn how to adjust as he moves up, while still retaining the same basic patterns and effort.

Pure speculation.

[AgentOrange]

Wasn't there talk during the off season about teaching Dylan how to pace himself? Supposedly he pretty high strung which can lead of over throwing.

Maybe this is to show him he doesn't have to throw 100% effort to be effective. Let him fall into a nice pattern against weak opposition then make him learn how to adjust as he moves up, while still retaining the same basic patterns and effort.

Pure speculation.

From the ESPN Article, it was Bundy that chose the slow approach:

The Orioles plan to cap Bundy's workload at 125 innings this season, and they suggested two possible approaches: He could take the "five and dive'' route, throwing five innings and 85 pitches per start, and reach his innings limit so quickly that he would have to shut it down in August. Or he could start out slower, pitch in bite-sized chunks and make those 125 innings last until September.

Bundy chose Plan B. He began the season with multiple three-inning appearances, stretched it to four and will soon ascend to five. In an email to ESPN.com, Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said the team will evaluate Bundy's progress later this month and decide on the next course of action. Don't be surprised if Bundy receives a promotion to high-A Frederick soon and makes it to Double-A Bowie sometime this summer. Palmer's proclamation notwithstanding, it's a stretch to see him at Camden Yards in 2012.

[AgentOrange]

Yes. That is what I'm basing my opinion off of cause that's all I have to go off. As far as giving up the homers and walks in the next outing, I would then blame that on boredom and the lack of a challenge.

As Stotle says in the post above me:
"Sally hitters aren't going to do well against even a below average changeup if it's being paired with a mid- to upper-90s fastball, a solid curve and monster cutter. "

How can he develop the change against live hitters then? How are the live hitters that are not going to do well against a below average changeup anything but a bullpen sessions with someone standing in?

One of his best pitches in the cutter. They told him to scrap that in favor of the changeup this year. He never had to throw one in High School. He is facing minor league hitters, which should be fine at this point to see how his changeup is progressing. I would rather him try that pitch even if a below average one can get these hitters out. You have to start somewhere. Once he is able to use his cutter, all bets are off.