Comments on: Jake Odorizzi, Kyle Skipworth, Aaron Hicks, Jemile Weeks

By: Black Hat Millionaire

Black Hat Millionaire — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:41:35 +0000

Glad I just found your wordpress blog through Google.

Found just what I was looking for, thanks =)

Btw, wat plugins are you using??

By: bob

bob — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:36:38 +0000

Jake did very well in instructional ball. Fastball still sizzling and with a better group of kids. Instruction was good. He made great progress. To be continued next year. Have a nice winter in the great white north.

By: bob

bob — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:30:56 +0000

so here’s how it ended for the summer

11 games pitched
20.2 innings
18 hits
8 earned runs
18 hits
3.46 era
19 k
9 bb

one bad outing 7 hits and 4 earned runs in 1.1 in
or the era is 1.86 and hits are 11 (i know, horse shoes and hand grenades) Insteresting to see what they did with him. Two things really stand out which effect performance. 1) throw pitches on opposit counts. 3-2 count throw the change. 0-2 throw the fastball, etc. deffinately threw changes on counts as never before. 2) removed slide step when runners on base. this is a highschool move so the ball gets to the plate faster as catchers on the level don’t throw guys out so often. Instead had him kick high, not caring is the guys on first stole, as the catchers in the bigs will have the arms to throw those guys out.

So this was a teaching summer and outcome is not the concern. He comes back in the fall for prospect camp.
Still ont he right track and the fastball is still a winner.

By: bob

bob — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:23:10 +0000

Here’s the line on jake now.
0-2 w/l
4.32 era
16.2 innings
17 hits
8 eraned runs
6 bb
17 k’s

They are throwing him every five days for mostly one inning. he had the one bad outing where he got rocked for 7 hits and 4 earned runs in 1.1 innings. he is walking more guys then he did in high school. he is being taught to throw the change a lot. (from what i’ve heard)

By: bob

bob — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:44:31 +0000

He got rocked for the first time in his life the other day. 1.1 innings seven hits, four runs, 1 bb, 1 k, 1 balk. from what i’m told it’s a mental game now as the mechanics of a “big leager” are being taught and the result isn’t cared so much about. still got rocked….interested to see how he comes back from this as again it has never happened to him.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:38:54 +0000

I’d love to know how Odorizzi turns out. I don’t think anything he does this season helps in that matter.

By: bob

bob — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:40:17 +0000

Dearest Peter,
As I mentioned above I am only holding you accountable for your comments regarding Jake.
I am not saying 12.1, innings now, mean anything.
In the business world we always measure our progress. by providing you an update on Jake I am measuring yours for you and letting you measure yourself. I am assuming you are interested in the correctness of your judgement. I don’t assume you are mearly interested in making comments for the purpose of just talking. In the business world we are rewarded well or fired for our calls. Just helping you follow up on this one.

Still a long way to go and i will continue this service for you.

Thanks for providing the space.

By: Tess

Tess — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:01:37 +0000

Hi Peter-

I appreciate your disclaimer about your bias against high school players, and I understand what you are saying about the reliability of high school stats as they apply to major league. And they might just be ‘high school’ players now, but I remember when Dustin Pedroia was the little kid who was ‘really into baseball’ that lived around the corner from me. Not to mention, in a nation filled with kids playing baseball, some stand out and become our stars. Jake stands out.

As for questions raised about his competitiveness, maybe it is his quiet, calm, and confident demeanor that keeps him grounded and focused. It must have helped him while scouts were watching his every move and he was able to step up his game when others might have fallen apart. And when he was surrounded by draft hype trying to help his team win a state championship. It bothers me that others hold it against him like it is a flaw!!!

But, then again, I am definitely biased!

Respectfully,
His cousin from California

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:47:16 +0000

I’ve personally seen Jake pitch and have talked to him recently so obviously I’m biased. Having said that, talking to numerous scouts, all have said that he is a polished, projectable arm. A scout from the Braves said he pitched very well and was surprised he fell to the sandwich round. Not to start arguing, because I know the success rate is indeed low, but he does have the make up to be at least a serviceable starting pitcher in the big leagues.

By: Peter

Peter — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:06:30 +0000

Lordy lordy, 11 innings in 4 short rookie-ball starts. That certainly shuts me up. Check back in two years, please.