Can Means become the Orioles’ version of Kuechel?

[Redskins Rick]

Just now, wildbillhiccup said:

Has there been talk of the O's making Means a permanent fixture in the starting rotation?

Hyde said he expected him to be there at some point this season.

[Tx Oriole]

11 hours ago, Obando said:

Both were never highly rated prospects in their respective systems, but worked their way up the ladder, made it to the majors, and in the case of Kuechel, has had a ton of success despite lacking dominant stuff. Both are lefties that have good control/command and great changeups, and so far from what I’ve seen from Means, he’s not scared out on the mound.  He has some moxie and poise, just like Kuechel.  I love how he stood up to Yandy Diaz after he threw up and in on him, Yandy shot him a dirty look, and Means said “What are you looking at?” to him with a serious face.  Then Means proceeded to strike him out on the next pitch.  It was a thing of beauty!

Kuechel ended up becoming a major part of the Astros’ success during their rebuild, and the Orioles are in the early stages of their rebuild right now.  Maybe I’m just excited after watching Means close out this game against the Rays, but in general, I’ve been very impressed with him so far this season.

If the Orioles have any luck at all, Means will become that unexpected top of the rotation type of starter that the Astros ended up getting with Kuechel unexpectedly.  I’m not suggesting Means will win 20 games and become a Cy Young winner, but I don’t see any reason why he can’t become a staple of the rotation for many years to come based on what he’s shown me so far.

I hope he does. 

[OFFNY]

On 4/18/2019 at 11:42 PM, Obando said:

 

Both were never highly rated prospects in their respective systems, but worked their way up the ladder, made it to the Majors, and in the case of Kuechel, has had a ton of success despite lacking dominant stuff. Both are lefties that have good control/command and great change-ups, and so far from what I’ve seen from Means, he’s not scared out on the mound. He has some moxie and poise, just like Kuechel. I love how he stood up to Yandy Diaz after he threw up and in on him ....... Yandy shot him a dirty look, and Means said “What are you looking at?” to him with a serious face. Then Means proceeded to strike him out on the next pitch. It was a thing of beauty !!!

Kuechel ended up becoming a major part of the Astros’ success during their rebuild, and the Orioles are in the early stages of their rebuild right now.  Maybe I’m just excited after watching Means close out this game against the D-Rays, but in general, I’ve been very impressed with him so far this season.

If the Orioles have any luck at all, Means will become that unexpected top-of-the-rotation type of starter that the Astros ended up getting with Kuechel unexpectedly. I’m not suggesting that Means will win 20 games and become a Cy Young winner, but I don’t see any reason why he can’t become a staple of the rotation for many years to come, based on what he’s shown me so far.

 

o

 

John Means has Provided a Blueprint for Success for Orioles Pitchers

(By Nick Cicere)

https://www.camdenchat.com/2019/4/23/18511818/john-means-orioles-changeup-2019

 

o

[OFFNY]

On 4/18/2019 at 11:42 PM, Obando said:

 

Both were never highly rated prospects in their respective systems, but worked their way up the ladder, made it to the Majors, and in the case of Kuechel, has had a ton of success despite lacking dominant stuff. Both are lefties that have good control/command and great change-ups, and so far from what I’ve seen from Means, he’s not scared out on the mound. He has some moxie and poise, just like Kuechel. I love how he stood up to Yandy Diaz after he threw up and in on him ....... Yandy shot him a dirty look, and Means said “What are you looking at?” to him with a serious face. Then Means proceeded to strike him out on the next pitch. It was a thing of beauty !!!

Kuechel ended up becoming a major part of the Astros’ success during their rebuild, and the Orioles are in the early stages of their rebuild right now.  Maybe I’m just excited after watching Means close out this game against the D-Rays, but in general, I’ve been very impressed with him so far this season.

If the Orioles have any luck at all, Means will become that unexpected top-of-the-rotation type of starter that the Astros ended up getting with Kuechel unexpectedly. I’m not suggesting that Means will win 20 games and become a Cy Young winner, but I don’t see any reason why he can’t become a staple of the rotation for many years to come, based on what he’s shown me so far.

 

 

 

2 hours ago, OFFNY said:

o

 

John Means has Provided a Blueprint for Success for Orioles Pitchers

(By Nick Cicere)

https://www.camdenchat.com/2019/4/23/18511818/john-means-orioles-changeup-2019

 

o

o

 

Happy 26th BIRTHDAY , John Alan Means (originally cited by bobmc in today's game thread.)

 

 

 

o

[tntoriole]

I hope he does become something close to Keuchel.   But he could also, of course, become more like Kuechel which would be our usual luck.  

[OFFNY]

o

 

5 innings of 1-run ball shot Means' ERA up from 1.72 to 1.74.

 

 

15 OUTS: ) 6 Strikeouts, 4 Groundouts, 4 Flyouts, 1 Foulout

 

JOHN ALAN MEANS )))))) (vs. WHITE SOX, 4/24)

IP:lll5

H:llll 4 )l (1 Double, 3 Singles) 

R:lllll 1

BB:lll1 )l

SO:lll6

Pitches: ll)92 )(56 )Strikes, )36 )Balls)

2019 ERA: ))1.74  ))  20.67 IP  (4 ER) 

2019 WHIP: ))1.113  ))  20.67 IP  (23 H/BB)

2019 OPPONENTS BATTING AVG: )).221 ) (17 for 77) 18 for 94

 

PITCHES BY INNING

*************************

25 ll(15 llStrikes, l10 llllBalls)

14 lll(81 llStrikes, lll61 lllBalls)

19 lll(12 llStrikes, lll71 lllBalls)

15 lll(10 llStrikes, lll51 lllBalls)

19 lll(11 llStrikes, lll81 lllBalls)

 

o

[Frobby]

Got a ton of swinging strikes.   He is gaining confidence every game.  

[now]

On 4/19/2019 at 6:38 AM, Redskins Rick said:

It was indeed.

Palmer was once quoted that Stu Miller of the Orioles had the best change up in all of baseball. His delivery was so deceptive it kept the hitters fooled.

And he had three speeds: slow, slower, and slowest. All things of beauty. 

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

Means will become the Orioles' version of John Means.

[sportsfan8703]

9 hours ago, Frobby said:

Got a ton of swinging strikes.   He is gaining confidence every game.  

Best things about this season so far,

1. Mancini

2. Means

3. Smith Jr

4. Nunez

[Bubble Buddy]

His breaking ball isn't great, but I thought it looked at least average a couple times he offered it up. About 80% of the time it was pretty bad, but he had a couple good ones. Control looks pretty good. FB velocity definitely playable and his control is pretty good too. If he can throw a breaking pitch for a strike, we might have a pretty solid starter on our hands. 

Edited April 25, 2019 by Bubble Buddy

[OFFNY]

4 hours ago, OsFanSinceThe80s said:

 

Means will become the Orioles' version of John Means.

 

o

 

Somewhat similar to Matt Wieters simply becoming the next Matt Wieters when he played for the Orioles.

 

o

[Carllamy]

46 minutes ago, Bubble Buddy said:

His breaking ball isn't great, but I thought it looked at least average a couple times he offered it up. About 80% of the time it was pretty bad, but he had a couple good ones. Control looks pretty good. FB velocity definitely playable and his control is pretty good too. If he can throw a breaking pitch for a strike, we might have a pretty solid starter on our hands. 

On a radio interview on The Scott Garceau Show on 105.7 The Fan, Brandon Hyde said Means is feeling more confident and so starting to add his "get me over" breaking ball into his mix so that the batters couldn't just sit on either his fastball or changeup.

[Tony-OH]

When asked on my radio spot last week what players on the current 25-man roster could be part of a winning future here, I named John Means and Renato Nunez. that should tell you what I think of his new changeup. Saying that, I like that he used his slider a bit more today. I'd like to see him have that pitch as well to go to at times, especially against lefties.

[Greg Pappas]

3 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

When asked on my radio spot last week what players on the current 25-man roster could be part of a winning future here, I named John Means and Renato Nunez. that should tell you what I think of his new changeup. Saying that, I like that he used his slider a bit more today. I'd like to see him have that pitch as well to go to at times, especially against lefties.

Credit where credit is due. I may be mis-remembering, but I believe it was you that was pro-Means last year and felt he had a real shot to be a solid big league contributor. Well done. We all hope he continues his early success.