Grayson Rodriguez 2019

[LookinUp]

Between Hall's BB's and Law's comments, it's a bummer reading about two of our top 3 prospects all of the sudden. I guess it's to be expected, at bit. Anyone who isn't an uber prospect will have warts, and they will get called out given all of the attention on these guys. 

If I were in charge, I'd try to tweak things over time rather than focus on a full breakdown and rebuild of a throwing motion. He has time to work on things.

[Luke-OH]

3 minutes ago, LookinUp said:

Between Hall's BB's and Law's comments, it's a bummer reading about two of our top 3 prospects all of the sudden. I guess it's to be expected, at bit. Anyone who isn't an uber prospect will have warts, and they will get called out given all of the attention on these guys. 

If I were in charge, I'd try to tweak things over time rather than focus on a full breakdown and rebuild of a throwing motion. He has time to work on things.

They are both top 60 prospects in baseball according to Baseball America and top 100 prospects in baseball according to Fangraphs. I wouldn't be bummed out. Like I said, I can't find anyone else concerned about Grayson as a starter. 

[brvn52]

 

[Tony-OH]

He's my report on his start tonight against Lakewood...

7/1 vs Lakewood

1st inning  FB 91-92, 94 (t95)  cb 75. 77, 79 ch 76-79 82 slider

1. R - 3-2 KL, 94
2. L 1-1 7, 93

3. L- 3-2, 93 2B
4. L- 1-1 , 76 CB, HBP
5. R- 3-2, 93 KS,

27  pitches to get through inning. Started left-handers off with CH with good drop. Can throw for strikes. Threw a two seamer around 89-91, and a four seamer at 93-94. Slider was at 82 and not good.

2nd inning  FB 92-93, CB 76

6. R - 3-2 CH (80) 4-3 up middle
7. R - 0-2 SL (83( low and away KS
8. R - 1-2 SL (82) low and away KS

Worked on the slider during this inning against the righties. Some sharp late bite that he kept low and away.

3rd inning FB 89-93..

9. R - 1-2 SL (82) low and away KS
10. (1) R - 0-1 SL (80) low and away P-6
11. (2) L - 3-1 FB (93) High, missed with two changeups
12. (3) L - 0-0 FB (91) 1B down rightfield line
13. (4) L - 0-0 FB (93) P6

4th inning FB 88-92

14. (5) R - 1-1 FB 91 F8
15. (6) R - 1-1 SL (81) SL center cut, 2B
16. (7) R - 0-2 FB (92) 2b to RC for RBI Strange 0-2 call and pitch selection (out trying to stretch to 3b)
17. (8) R - 0-1 FB (88) F8

5th inning FB 90, 91 t93

18. (9) R - 1-2 SL (83) KS
19. (1) R 0-1 (FB) 91 F9
20. (2) L 1-2 CH (76) left up for 1B
21. (3) L  1-0 Fb (90) in on hands for 1-3

80 pitches on the game…
Fastball ranged from 89-94 but sat a lot of 92-94, t 95. Used the changeup for outs against lefties. Changeup got a little loopy in 5th inning. Slider was his best pitch against righties, kept it low and away for swinging strikes to righties. Moved fastball around zone, missed mostly low.

[jabba72]

On 6/27/2019 at 10:04 PM, Moose Milligan said:

Law would be hard pressed not to find a pitcher that doesn't end up hurt at some point.  The ones that don't are few and far between.  

I think if we learned anything from Arrieta, it was that we should have just left him alone with the way he threw.  Maybe Gray-Rod has some oddities but as long as he's doing well I'd just leave him alone.  

If its causing him to lose his command after 80 pitches I think they need to do something now. 

[Luke-OH]

1 hour ago, jabba72 said:

If its causing him to lose his command after 80 pitches I think they need to do something now. 

Why?

[jabba72]

4 hours ago, Luke-OH said:

Why?

Well according to Law hes surprised he can maintain or even throw as hard as he does now. Its not like he has great velocity either. I think some recommended changes to his delivery could get more MPH, and maybe improve his stamina. 

[Luke-OH]

3 minutes ago, jabba72 said:

Well according to Law hes surprised he can maintain or even throw as hard as he does now. Its not like he has great velocity either. I think some recommended changes to his delivery could get more MPH, and maybe improve his stamina. 

The kid is 19, I don't expect big league stamina from a 19 year old kid still growing into his body/routine. So this is a case of do you trust Law or every other publicly available analysis. What are the recommended changes anyways? I agree that the mechanics aren't ideal, but there isn't an easy fix, his arm stab is his timing mechanism. The lower half is fine for a guy his size, maybe you gradually get him a little further down the mound, but I completely disagree with Law that the lower half isn't working. Pitching isn't linear, it's rotational, linear drive towards the plate is a fairly minimal component of velocity. A big guy doesn't need it, his easy stride down the mound probably is a big part of why the command is good for his age with a sub-optimal arm action. You change that, maybe he can't throw strikes.

[UpstateNYfan]

10 hours ago, jabba72 said:

Well according to Law hes surprised he can maintain or even throw as hard as he does now. Its not like he has great velocity either. I think some recommended changes to his delivery could get more MPH, and maybe improve his stamina. 

I really get nervous when the term "tweak" comes into play with a pitcher, especially one that has been successful to date, but not maybe up to the level a few expect. How many pitches has he tossed over the years...his muscles, bones, etc are all in concert here. Tweak, and you may get unwanted results...they all break. Pushing someone beyond his limits is a recipe for injury IMO. Even little tweaks (look at TTP for Arietta) can cause unwanted results. You can tweak all you want with position players, but pitchers that are throwing 90+ with decent control, leave alone.

[Just Regular]

BP had a guy at his 7/1 appearance too and the write up was this morning.

https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/51346/eyewitness-accounts-july-3-2019/

Agree wholly that big league stamina not realistic for a guy in high school last year.  This report and Law's on the mechanics though have made me realize he is perhaps rawer than I imagined given the first half dominance.  I guess it is okay if sheer talent can do that.  I suppose Arrieta was our last Texan hoss, but Rodriguez's raw material is probably even more tantalizing.

I had been watching with bated breath to see if Frederick after the All-Star game would happen, but not as much now.

[DirtyBird]

Just now, OrioleDog said:

BP had a guy at his 7/1 appearance too and the write up was this morning.

https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/51346/eyewitness-accounts-july-3-2019/

Agree wholly that big league stamina not realistic for a guy in high school last year.  This report and Law's on the mechanics though have made me realize he is perhaps rawer than I imagined given the first half dominance.  I guess it is okay if sheer talent can do that.  I suppose Arrieta was our last Texan hoss, but Rodriguez's raw material is probably even more tantalizing.

I had been watching with bated breath to see if Frederick after the All-Star game would happen, but not as much now.

You got a summary of the write up?

[jabba72]

10 hours ago, Luke-OH said:

The kid is 19, I don't expect big league stamina from a 19 year old kid still growing into his body/routine. So this is a case of do you trust Law or every other publicly available analysis. What are the recommended changes anyways? I agree that the mechanics aren't ideal, but there isn't an easy fix, his arm stab is his timing mechanism. The lower half is fine for a guy his size, maybe you gradually get him a little further down the mound, but I completely disagree with Law that the lower half isn't working. Pitching isn't linear, it's rotational, linear drive towards the plate is a fairly minimal component of velocity. A big guy doesn't need it, his easy stride down the mound probably is a big part of why the command is good for his age with a sub-optimal arm action. You change that, maybe he can't throw strikes.

Well I'll trust your analysis over Laws since its obvious you know alot more about pitching mechanics than   i do. At 19 I guess there is no rush.  

[Just Regular]

2 minutes ago, DirtyBird said:

You got a summary of the write up?

Lavish assessment of the raw talent, but noted struggles from stretch (understandable - imagine HS was a lot of near no-hitters), and that the curve and slider blurred a little bit (also feels pretty common to me for really young pro pitchers figuring out their best breaking ball).  This report was on Team Slider (had it Future 60).

[Luke-OH]

3 minutes ago, jabba72 said:

Well I'll trust your analysis over Laws since its obvious you know alot more about pitching mechanics than   i do. At 19 I guess there is no rush.  

I’m not saying I know more than Law, I disagree with him on the issue and I haven’t seen the concern over not having the delivery to start elsewhere.

[Luke-OH]

Just now, OrioleDog said:

Lavish assessment of the raw talent, but noted struggles from stretch (understandable - imagine HS was a lot of near no-hitters), and that the curve and slider blurred a little bit (also feels pretty common to me for really young pro pitchers figuring out their best breaking ball).  This report was on Team Slider (had it Future 60).

The breaking balls have blurred the two starts I’ve seen. I’m not worried about that, they flash distinctly. He does lose a tick or two from the stretch it seems, although I haven’t seen it hurt his effectiveness. I’m much more in agreement with these assessments.