Andrew Brackman struggling

[TOBTTReds]

Brackman (Moeller HS; NC State) has been struggling for what was expected out of him.

3.90 era, 67 ip, 70 h, 38 bb, 62 k, .273 opp avg.

Anyone heard anything about why he might be struggling?

[Reds Freak]

I haven't seen him but looking at his stat line, it looks like it is his control that needs some work. 28 BB's, 10 WP's and 8 HBP in 67 IP is uncharacteristic. The guess here is that hitters have learned to lay off his nasty off speed stuff if he can't get it over and sit on the fastball which he tends to get a little lazy with in the zone. If he can learn to work at the knees and the corners, he has the stuff to be a dominant pitcher. Again, that's simply just looking at his stat line.

Currently he is being out pitched by his teammate and fellow Moeller grad, Eric Surkamp. The sophomore lefty is 3-2, 2.88 ERA, 65 IP, 58 H, 20 BB, 60 K, .240 opp. .

[flyer85]

Brackman has not played a lot of baseball in his career.

[Reds Freak]

Originally Posted by flyer85

Brackman has not played a lot of baseball in his career.

You may be thinking of someone else here flyer, Brackman has played baseball is whole life. True, he also was a tremendous basketball player so his time was split but baseball has always been his #1 sport.

[BuckeyeRedleg]

He sure is doing better than he did last year.

2006:

28.1 IP
32 K
19 BB
37 H
1.98 WHIP
6.35 ERA

[Xavier Redleg]

Most top prospects like Brackman play in winter leagues (like the Cape Cod league) to work on their game. Brackman has always played basketball all winter. So with more repetition and coaching, I think he'll get his stuff under control. If he's still there at 15, I think the Reds should consider him.

[TOBTTReds]

Update on Brackman. He has hardly pitched at all lately. Just one game in the last 4 weeks. Last I heard his shoulder was bothering him.

Also, his girlfriend died this past week. I can't imagine what he is going through right now and I'm sure baseball is far from what he is thinking about right now. Sounds terrible. She died in a car wreck on the 18th.

This makes the draft very interesting for him.

[Blue]

Keith Law thinks he might drop out of the first round.

[OnBaseMachine]

Originally Posted by Blue

Keith Law thinks he might drop out of the first round.

I would love to see the Reds scoop him up at No. 34 if he falls that far.

[TOBTTReds]

Originally Posted by OnBaseMachine

I would love to see the Reds scoop him up at No. 34 if he falls that far.

That would make it 3 Moeller grads to be in the Reds org in the last 5 years. Don't know if I can handle that, being a Sycamore guy.

[NorrisHopper30]

Originally Posted by AvesIce51

That would make it 3 Moeller grads to be in the Reds org in the last 5 years. Don't know if I can handle that, being a Sycamore guy.

I can handle that!


Go Big Moe.

[UC_Ken]

Originally Posted by AvesIce51

That would make it 3 Moeller grads to be in the Reds org in the last 5 years. Don't know if I can handle that, being a Sycamore guy.

Well if he ends up with 1/10th of the career those other two Moeller grads had we should take him at 15.

But I agree all else being equal don't take Moeller guys. (St. X grad)

[NorrisHopper30]

Originally Posted by UC_Ken

Well if he ends up with 1/10th of the career those other two Moeller grads had we should take him at 15.

But I agree all else being equal don't take Moeller guys. (St. X grad)

Well at least we can agree that the GCL>All.

[UC_Ken]

Originally Posted by NorrisHopper30

Well at least we can agree that the GCL>All.

Amen to that.

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by NorrisHopper30

Well at least we can agree that the GCL>All.

Umm no, we cant agree to that.