The 2023 Season kicks off at home against NL champs PHI: Cheesesteaks V BBQ at the Grill 3/30 - 4/2

[saddles]

Robbie Grossman has logged in over 2000 innings in RF in his big league career. I think it has mainly been the sun with the roof open that has hampered him, that and playing in a new park.

He has also played almost 1700 innings in RF in the minors.

 

[DT LUNA]

Robbie Grossman has logged in over 2000 innings in RF in his big league career. I think it has mainly been the sun with the roof open that has hampered him, that and playing in a new park.

He has also played almost 1700 innings in RF in the minors.

Could be but he looks slow. He let a ball drop that I still believe Adolis would have caught.

 

[saddles]

Could be but he looks slow. He let a ball drop that I still believe Adolis would have caught.

Just 2 years ago Grossman stole 20 bases so I wouldn't call him slow. I think he will adjust and with the roof closed today, he should look better.

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

 

[saddles]

Duran in LF today like I thought.

 

[saddles]

From Scott Lucas:

In his AAA debut, Cody Bradford continued directly from his outstanding 2022 conclusion, holding Albuquerque scoreless over 5.1 innings on just 73 pitches. Well, not quite directly: Bradford began with a walk and hit batter. Best as I can tell, during 2022 Bradford never put consecutive batters on base via walk and/or HBP during 2022. Bradford emerged unscathed. Two runners reached on an error and lined single with two out in the 2nd, but Bradford again prevented a run. He would retire ten of 12 thereafter, surrendering a walk and soft single.

Bradford offers a four-seam fastball, slider, and change. The slider runs from 80 to 87. Call it a cutter at its fastest if you like. (Statcast calls the slowest ones curves, but I'm not going there.) It doesn't break much horizontally at any speed, instead dropping more at the lower velocities. The change is a traditional fader.

And the fastball. Bradford's median fastball velocity was 89.1 and peaked at 90.6. It doesn't have much horizontal movement, and it's not going to set any spin records. All that said, it still doesn't drop much despite the spin, permitting him to work up successfully. He commands it very well, and batters don't know what's coming out of his hand. He threw 35 fastballs, getting seven misses and eight called strikes. The opposition put only four in play, collecting two singles.

Successful pitchers with that velocity tend to be much older. Greinke, Wainwright, etc. Younger examples are rare. Marco Gonzalez's average fastball dipped below 90 when he was 27. Bradford would have been better regarded a dozen years ago and more likely to have been added to the 40-man roster. In a way, I put him in a group with reliever Ben Rowen, Alex Claudio, and current prospect Chase Lee, all of whom were or are somewhat "unscoutable" in terms of projecting MLB success. Their repertoires don't fit the modern-day mold, but they dominate at every level, so you keep promoting them and see what happens. Bradford might make the Rangers see what happens in Arlington.

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

 

[Kelleyman]

Could be but he looks slow. He let a ball drop that I still believe Adolis would have caught.

this is what I saw but did not know he had logged so much time in RF. Does not look the fit regardless of his experience

Has looked good with the bat. I am please with that

 

[Kelleyman]

For your viewing pleasure

 

[DT LUNA]

this is what I saw but did not know he had logged so much time in RF. Does not look the fit regardless of his experience

Has looked good with the bat. I am please with that

Completely agree.

 

[DT LUNA]

For your viewing pleasure

I'm sure Duane will be pleased as I am. lol

 

[Kelleyman]

Marteen had to labor that first inning

 

[Kelleyman]

Yes the ump cam is wild. I can only take in small
doses

 

[DT LUNA]

Sure nice to have good announcers calling the game

 

[Kelleyman]

Pitchers best friend

 

[DT LUNA]

Perez not sharp thru two.

 

[DT LUNA]

JUNG HR

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

ROY Jung

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

Perez not sharp thru two.

Sharper now

 

[DT LUNA]

Marteen much better in the 3rd