2009 Chiefs Q & A with Nathan Baliva

[Guest]

Thanks for the answers, Nathan.

[ChiefsVoice]

Nathan, I noticed that the minor league teams don't seem to give access to the defensive stats of the players (fielding %, etc).They list errors but I think that's all. Do you have any idea where to get this info ? Thanks

 

We can get access to that information daily through the MiLB Private Portal that you have to log in to see. What/Who are you interested in?

[Guest]

Nathan,

 

Does Vitters look like he's head and shoulders above the vast majority of guys at his level?

 

For the first time since the Cubs drafted him I'm getting excited. Lord knows there's no a whole lot to get excited about with the Big Club right now.

[UK1679666180]

Nate, when the Chiefs come to the "lovely" town of Beloit, what time does the away team usually take BP? Is it 2 hours or 90 minutes before the start of the game? I'll be out there next weekend and was just wondering when the Chiefs will take BP as I'm looking forward to Vitters taking BP.

[ChiefsVoice]

Nathan,

 

Does Vitters look like he's head and shoulders above the vast majority of guys at his level?

 

For the first time since the Cubs drafted him I'm getting excited. Lord knows there's no a whole lot to get excited about with the Big Club right now.

 

As a pure hitter yes. Other guys on this team and in the league can hit, but you can see a difference in Josh. He needs more patience (2 walks) but that will come with age and experience. And then its just figuring things out defensively which he works on every day in early work and during BP.

 

Watching Josh hit in BP and in games is a lot of fun. We have had a few others like that (Daric Barton for one) but not many in my six years here.

[ChiefsVoice]

Nate, when the Chiefs come to the "lovely" town of Beloit, what time does the away team usually take BP? Is it 2 hours or 90 minutes before the start of the game? I'll be out there next weekend and was just wondering when the Chiefs will take BP as I'm looking forward to Vitters taking BP.

 

Hey Ping, I'll have to check on Tuesday for sure cause I haven't seen the itinerary but for the most part visiting teams hit 2 hours before the game. We probably won't hit on the field on Sunday with it being a day game.

[craig]

Hey Nate, thanks for your feedback and regular input.

 

You mentioned that Jeff Beliveau is slated to move back into the rotation. I'll probably jinx him by mentioning it, but he's been on quite a high-K's low-hits run.

 

I'm guessing that his fastball is good-but-unexceptional velocity-wise, maybe in the typical 88-92 class, but that it moves a lot and that his breaking ball does also. I'm guessing that both move enough to be both hard to hit and hard to control. Am I close, or way off? If you can you tell us about what he throws and how fast; whether he's as wild as his stats suggest; and why he's so hard to hit, that would be much appreciated.

 

Also, does he have a normal sort of delivery, or something funky that is hard to hit and hard to control?

 

Finally, in terms of delivery, does he have a normal arm slot, or some side-arm that might make him tough on lefties and someday suit him as a LOOGY were he to make it all the way to the majors?

 

thanks!

[Tryptamine]

Hey Nate, thanks for your feedback and regular input.

 

You mentioned that Jeff Beliveau is slated to move back into the rotation. I'll probably jinx him by mentioning it, but he's been on quite a high-K's low-hits run.

 

I'm guessing that his fastball is good-but-unexceptional velocity-wise, maybe in the typical 88-92 class, but that it moves a lot and that his breaking ball does also. I'm guessing that both move enough to be both hard to hit and hard to control. Am I close, or way off? If you can you tell us about what he throws and how fast; whether he's as wild as his stats suggest; and why he's so hard to hit, that would be much appreciated.

 

Also, does he have a normal sort of delivery, or something funky that is hard to hit and hard to control?

 

Finally, in terms of delivery, does he have a normal arm slot, or some side-arm that might make him tough on lefties and someday suit him as a LOOGY were he to make it all the way to the majors?

 

thanks!

 

Yup, you jinxed him. He got roughed up tonight for 4 runs and 7 hits over 3.1 innings.

[toonsterwu]

Sort of piggybacking on UK's question ... sort of ...

 

But I'm wondering if you could offer any thoughts on Archer and Beliveau's delivery? Both guys came into our system with delivery issues, by most accounts. Is it

 

a) Legit, in your opinion

b) a "we need to break it down for these guys to stay as starters" or tinkering?

 

I sort of joke around that Beliveau is Rich Hill 2.0, mini version.

[ChiefsVoice]

Sort of piggybacking on UK's question ... sort of ...

 

But I'm wondering if you could offer any thoughts on Archer and Beliveau's delivery? Both guys came into our system with delivery issues, by most accounts. Is it

 

a) Legit, in your opinion

b) a "we need to break it down for these guys to stay as starters" or tinkering?

 

I sort of joke around that Beliveau is Rich Hill 2.0, mini version.

 

Thanks for the question Toonster.

 

I think both of these guys have legit deliveries. They both really only have one issue and that is throwing strikes. I believe Archer has the best stuff on our roster with Antigua right behind him now. But Chris has struggled with his command and that held him back last year and limits his innings this season. Beliveau is a strong kid who throws harder than most people expect. He can also go as a starter and a reliever though he has better stats out of the pen and seems to prefer that as well when given a chance. I think both have great upside as long as they throw strikes (I know you can say that about alot of guys and its exactly what I said about Veal when he was here and either guy would take his spot right now in a heartbeat if you asked them)

 

Thanks for the question.

NB

[TruffleShuffle]

with vitters gone, who would you say is the best offensive prospect in the chiefs lineup right now?

[ChiefsVoice]

with vitters gone, who would you say is the best offensive prospect in the chiefs lineup right now?

 

1. Jackson

2. Burke

3. Flaherty

4. Ridling

5. LeMahieu

6. Brenly

 

I'm glad to see Perez is finally starting to figure a few things out too. 2-4 was very close for me. I love the double from Kyler though and you have to think that once he gets to AA some of those are gonna start flying out the park. Flaherty uses the opposite field better than any lefty I've seen here and Rebel has shown huge strides from last season.

[Bear Cub]

Nate, are you going to Arizona this Spring?

[ChiefsVoice]

Nate, are you going to Arizona this Spring?

 

Unfotrunately I'm not. That was a budget cut last year that didn't get back in this year and I'm not able to pay it out of pocket either. So I'm stuck watching on TV like the rest of you guys!

[NCCubFan]

With a new thread started for 2010 I'm locking and un-stickying this thread to avoid confusion.