22 replies to this topic

[You Play to Win the Game]

Matusz struggling out the gate. He's given up 3 hits, 2 runs and just retired his second batter with a k. Velo is consistently at 90 with the occasional 91. He threw one curve so far at 78 MPH, good differential there.

[JeffLong]

I wouldn't say he's struggling. He threw one bad pitch all inning. Bloop hit, then a bad pitch. Followed by a GB that would've been an out.

I've been impressed by his velo. and command through the first inning. Also went 0-2 to 3 of the 6 hitters.

[You Play to Win the Game]

I wouldn't say he's struggling. He threw one bad pitch all inning. Bloop hit, then a bad pitch. Followed by a GB that would've been an out.

I've been impressed by his velo. and command through the first inning. Also went 0-2 to 3 of the 6 hitters.

Meh, I wasn't remotely impressed. This is the Buck's b line up too. Only a couple regulars in there. Regardless, I don't put any stock in it whatsoever. But he wasn't sharp. The RBI-Double to bring in the lead off bloop single was absolutely ripped.

[JeffLong]

Yeah I mean he left one fastball over the plate when he was trying to get it up and in.

Other FBs hit the lower outside corner with regularity. Command looked really good, especially for a first start of the year.

[BSLChrisStoner]

I saw what I wanted to see from Matusz tonight. You can't care about the results. He looks better physically and mechanically.

[SportsGuy]

I saw what I wanted to see from Matusz tonight. You can't care about the results. He looks better physically and mechanically.

Exactly...and even the results aren't bad.

He got ahead of most hitters, had the velocity you expect and struck out 2.

Location could have been better on a few pitches, especially when he was trying to come in.

A bloop hit and another hit that would have been out without the IF being drawn in are just things that happen.

Command/location will need to get better but he actually was working on the black a lot in that inning and was pretty effective...he got hurt when he got ahead in the count and caught too much plate with his pitches.

[SportsGuy]

Velocity not as good this inning thus far.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Velocity not as good this inning thus far.

I think 89 is the fastest I've seen this inning so far.

I agree with you guys though, there are definitely some things you like from this performance, there have also been a couple pitches I didn't like, but it's the first game of ST so again, not a big deal. I don't put any credence in ST results.

[SportsGuy]

Velocity not as good this inning thus far.

I think 89 is the fastest I've seen this inning so far.

I agree with you guys though, there are definitely some things you like from this performance. I definitely don't put any credence in ST results.

Just threw one 91...He is using more offspeed stuff this inning, so the fastball may be down on purpose.

He has given up 6 hits...2 are IF hits, 1 is a blooper and the other was a grounder that would have been an out if the IF was at normal depth.

2 legit hits and one of them was a grounder that found a hole.

3 k's...no walks...good velocity.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Just threw one 91...He is using more offspeed stuff this inning, so the fastball may be down on purpose.

He has given up 6 hits...2 are IF hits, 1 is a blooper and the other was a grounder that would have been an out if the IF was at normal depth.

2 legit hits and one of them was a grounder that found a hole.

3 k's...no walks...good velocity.

Yeah, overall I'll definitely take it. Good point about the off speed pitches in the 2nd, I noticed that too. I'd like to see these guys actually work on particular aspects of their game this spring rather than get caught up in the lowest ERA in order to secure a spot in the rotation. Hopefully Peterson/Adair are on the same page organizationally about this.

[JeffLong]

Ryan Adams had a pretty good first AB. He is, for me, someone who is going to have to play his way onto the roster for sure.

Right now he's blocked by Andino, Betemit, Antonelli.

Depending on roster construction, also:
Endy Chavez, Jai Miller, Brian Roberts

[BSLChrisStoner]

I expect Antonelli to come North, but it will be interesting to see if Flaherty and Adams can beat him out.

I still have the roster as:

Britton, Chen, Arrieta, Hammel, Hunter (Those 5, order TBD)
Johnson, Lindstrom, Gregg, Strop, Ayala, Wada, and 1 of 3 out of Simon, Patton, Eveland

With Matusz, Tillman, Bergesen, O’Day, and Berken to AAA.

Markakis RF
Reimold LF
Jones CF
Wieters C
Reynolds 3rd
Hardy SS
Davis 1st
Betemit DH
Andino 2nd

Teagarden, Antonelli, Chavez, and Flaherty or Miller

*Expectation remains that Roberts is bought out, or at-least does not come North.

[JeffLong]

I forgot Flaherty in that first list.

He's a lock to make the roster IMO.

[Coker]

Oh, Kevin Gregg, how I have missed you.

[JeffLong]

Lindstrom is interesting to watch.

Velo comes easy it seems. Command does not.

[Coker]

This is like watching a Little League game.

[BSLChrisStoner]

This is like watching a Little League game.

Yep, even for the Grapefruit League, this is pretty brutal.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Well, the good news is that it's just March 5th.

[Coker]

Get all of the errors out of the way early, right? ....right?!

[BSLChrisStoner]

Get all of the errors out of the way early, right? ....right?!

Yep, and I've still enjoyed seeing baseball again.