Monday April 30, 2012 Minor League Updates

[texasdave]

Originally Posted by dougdirt

Not good for Andrew Brackman, who started for the Bats today. He walked 5 batters in 1 inning of work, threw 3 wild pitches and only had 8 strikes in 34 pitches before being pulled. The Bats trail 5-0. Only a Corky Miller single is on the board for the Bats.

Brackman walked the first three batters he faced in the second to load them up. He was replaced by Scott Carroll who promptly walked the first two batters he pitched to.
Five straight walks to open the second lead to five runs.

Seems apropos:

[Blitz Dorsey]

Everyone who proclaimed that Denis Phipps' 2011 season was merely a fluke, that it was aided by an abnormally-high BABIP ... guess what ... you were exactly right.

Well, it's still early. But safe to say I was excited about him for little reason. I thought maybe the "light had come on" for him last year. Doesn't look that way.

[HokieRed]

Originally Posted by powersackers

He's striking out about 30% of the time and showing no improvement - he's been doing that since 2005. Still manages to put up good numbers, too bad he's never figured out how to make more contact.

Maybe he should calm his bat down, he's still wiggling it when he starts his swing, and it's a big looping swing as it stands.
Mike Costanzo of the Carolina Mudcats hitting - YouTube

Thanks for the video. Not sure why he's got all the wiggle, but I'm not convinced the swing's really all that looping. I'd have to see him more. Has he always had the huge left-right split?

[mth123]

Originally Posted by Blitz Dorsey

Everyone who proclaimed that Denis Phipps' 2011 season was merely a fluke, that it was aided by an abnormally-high BABIP ... guess what ... you were exactly right.

Well, it's still early. But safe to say I was excited about him for little reason. I thought maybe the "light had come on" for him last year. Doesn't look that way.

Seems like Phipps struggled last year in April and heated up with the weather. Not sure if I recall correctly. Not ready to write him off as a fluke yet (though the BABIP and other numbers do shed doubt on the validity of 2011).

If he's still struggling on Memorial Day ...

[corkedbat]

Originally Posted by dougdirt

Not good for Andrew Brackman, who started for the Bats today. He walked 5 batters in 1 inning of work, threw 3 wild pitches and only had 8 strikes in 34 pitches before being pulled. The Bats trail 5-0. Only a Corky Miller single is on the board for the Bats.

Wonder if he can hit. Not as extreme, but starting to head down the Ankiel Parkway.

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by corkedbat

Wonder if he can hit. Not as extreme, but starting to head down the Ankiel Parkway.

At 6' 10", my guess would be "not a chance". Put him in the bullpen and see if he can be effective in shorter stints.

[Vottomatic]

Brackman:

Does he have any college basketball eligibility left? He could hook up with Mick Cronin.