John Sickels - Cincinnati Reds Top 20

[Ga_Red]

1) I would like to see Bailey be an ace, someday, it would be fantastic for the Reds.
2) However, I am unwilling to disbelieve my own eyes, to root for the kid.
3) Example? We all have now seen Cueto and Volquez
pitch. Every 2 seamer they throw *MOVES*. Every
one HB throws is *STRAIGHT* , although his height
provides for a steeper downward angle.
4) Both Cueto and Volquez are short striders, and their
front foot comes down at the same place in a repeatable motion. Homer overstrides, his front footfall varies and
he has difficulty with identical reps.
5) Both Cueto and Volquez are quick to the plate.
Homer is slow motion in comparison.
6) And there's more....

Homer's straight 98 is more hittable than Volquez's 97
and Cueto's 96, both of which move and are taken for strikes more often.

I haven't compiled the stats, but my guess is that
the average speed of all fbs thrown during a game
from each of the three is lowest for Homer.

This is belaboring the point, but to suggest HB has
potential in excess of C and V is more than a stretch,
imo.

[Patrick Bateman]

It's the knowing where to throw it next and the setting up sequences that really impress me with Cueto. Yes he has great stuff, but he also really knows how to use it in a way that belies his years.

Agreed... and we saw big time evidence of that in his first start. He works so quickly like he knows exactly what he needs to do pitches in advance. He just kept coming at them without any hesitation, and the D Backs never had a chance.

[SarasotaFan]

1) I would like to see Bailey be an ace, someday, it would be fantastic for the Reds.
2) However, I am unwilling to disbelieve my own eyes, to root for the kid.
3) Example? We all have now seen Cueto and Volquez
pitch. Every 2 seamer they throw *MOVES*. Every
one HB throws is *STRAIGHT* , although his height
provides for a steeper downward angle.

don't forget arm angle. HB is straight over the top so he'd really have to pressure one finger to get some sink and get that release point exactly where he wanted it - else the ball will remain flat through the zone.

4) Both Cueto and Volquez are short striders, and their
front foot comes down at the same place in a repeatable motion. Homer overstrides, his front footfall varies and
he has difficulty with identical reps.

weird how most latin players do that isn't it ? just an observation

[SarasotaFan]

Agreed... and we saw big time evidence of that in his first start. He works so quickly like he knows exactly what he needs to do pitches in advance. He just kept coming at them without any hesitation, and the D Backs never had a chance.

i'm sure that's one thing they teach pitchers is to get in a good rhythm - don't work too fast and don't work too slow. pitcher's who work so slow make games boring for me, regardless of if they are dominating or not.