REDREAD (03-23-2013)
"No matter how good you are, you're going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are you're going to win one-third of your games. It's the other third that makes the difference." ~Tommy Lasorda
I would think Leake has a greater chance than most pitchers to improve.
He's the type of pitcher who will have to have a deep knowledge of the hitters. He can't get buy on pure stuff. As he learns more, if he gets good coaching, he should improve. Knowledge and understanding of pitching will be key for him.
Looking at Leake's stats last year, his LD rate against and homers against were higher than the previous year.
He also threw more fastballs and fewer sliders and cutters.
If he gets the opportunity, I think he can be a good pitcher, but he can't continue to make the same mistakes. 26 homers from him are unacceptable.
So, I'm cautiously optimistic he will do better, but he needs to make adjustments. He's not suddenly going to throw 97mph, he'll have to adjust his game.
Spring is the season for scouts. Scouts see a guy with command of four pitches and dream dreams.
They're paid to do that.
"This isn’t stats vs scouts - this is stats and scouts working together, building an organization that blends the best of both worlds. This is the blueprint for how a baseball organization should be run. And, whether the baseball men of the 20th century like it or not, this is where baseball is going."---Dave Cameron, U.S.S. Mariner
"This isn’t stats vs scouts - this is stats and scouts working together, building an organization that blends the best of both worlds. This is the blueprint for how a baseball organization should be run. And, whether the baseball men of the 20th century like it or not, this is where baseball is going."---Dave Cameron, U.S.S. Mariner
"This isn’t stats vs scouts - this is stats and scouts working together, building an organization that blends the best of both worlds. This is the blueprint for how a baseball organization should be run. And, whether the baseball men of the 20th century like it or not, this is where baseball is going."---Dave Cameron, U.S.S. Mariner
He's the best 5th starter in the division. He's not dominant but if you throw him up against other 5th starters -i'd take my chances.
Scrap Irony (03-25-2013)
Lets not forget it's still spring training
Yep.
While I believe Chapman would have been a better choice, only St. Louis, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington, and San Francisco can lay claim to possibly having better value for a fifth man.
Of those, both St. Louis and Atlanta are scratching lottery tickets, with prospects that might be good.
That leaves Washington's Detwiler, LA's Capuano, and San Fran's Vogelsong as contemporaries. Capuano's old and neither Detwiler nor Vogelsong are exactly poster children for consistency. Both have enjoyed mid-career turn-arounds not normally seen in BOR pitchers.
In short, Leake's pretty solid, all in all.
2009 Attendance Record: 3-5 2010 Attendance Record: 2-9 2015 Attendance Record: 2-0
2011 Attendance Record: 3-4 2012 Attendance Record: 3-4
2013 Attendance Record: 5-2 2014 Attendance Record: 3-1
2009 Attendance Record: 3-5 2010 Attendance Record: 2-9 2015 Attendance Record: 2-0
2011 Attendance Record: 3-4 2012 Attendance Record: 3-4
2013 Attendance Record: 5-2 2014 Attendance Record: 3-1
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