Dirt Dog Sparly

Columbia Central in Columbia, Tennessee Played for Mark Pickle who is also a rather hard nosed individual. Ironicly the first time I ever saw Uggla play was as a pitcher. Mid 80 FB and a nice 12-6. Every time after that was him playing SS. But his arm is w/o a doubt a 2b arm.

Uggla has always been able to hit. You also have to love his hard nosed "I will kick your butt" attitude. Comes from a great family, and is very respectful. He has quite possably the most beautiful set of hands I have seen on a highschool baseball field, and he has only gotten better.

I would think Barrett, and Walker would be easy. I think Eyre, Dempster, Howry, and one of Wood/Prior/Maddux. Reasons are; Barrett - Thrown under the bus after the AJ punching incident. Walker - Is tired of being told he takes to many walks. :lol: Eyre, Dempster, and Howry because of complaints I have read and heard in the media when it comes to useage patterns. Wood/Prior/Maddux because of issues with how they have been used/abused.

I'm not overly optimistic about Colvin, but the point still remains that one game doesn't tell the whole story. Everyone has bad days and bad at bats, or even days/at bats where they get away with poor form. You can't evaluate Colvin based on one game, and you especially can't diagnose flaws in his swing without seeing it more than that. As I said in the part of the post you didnt quote, we are all creatures of habit. Until he shows me different, these are his habits and these are what I see as holes in his swing. Scouts find them, player development is supposed to get them to the big leagues. I dont trust player development to do that. I can tell you from what I saw that I would advise pitching him in and up after one game. Basicly "book" him and probably most of the Clemson team IF, IF, IF, IF the guy for Oral Roberts tomorrow can run it in there in the 88-92 range. I said earlier in this tread that Clemson did little in the way of adjusting during the game. I am betting tomorrow they dont change the approach and I can beat them to death inside. Even with aluminum. That being said the ORU guy starting tomorrow probably wont feature the upper end of the range and below 88 makes coming inside a bit more important that he hits his spots. Clemson didn't miss many mistakes in game one. As far as evaluating after one game, some kids dont get that much before the scouts move on to the next game.

As you say it isnt wise, but game scouting hitters (coaching) has been what I have done for the last 9 years. (I believe did very well) One of the things about the internet you can say what ever bovine fertilizer you like, but its what I have done. No offense taken because I know none was offered. As far as the Cubs organisation fixing his swing. Look at the long and sucessful track record they have posted the last 5 or 6 years with position players. Add to that the human sturboness we all possess, meaning until he sees a need to adjust he wont despite what the Cubs want him to do. Every time I have sat down with another coach, (HS, College, Pro), they all get back to that point. Until the hitter is ready to adjust or you can point to others who have made adjustments and gone on to success making the player believe in you. You are wasting your time trying to change them. Patterson, Hill, Meyers, Murton, anyone? IMO Patterson never bought fully into what the Cubs wanted of him, and maybe the Cubs never really settled on what they wanted of him. Hill and Meyers were good average guys who came in and were told that they had to pull the ball. Instead of utilizing strengths, they were pushed to do things they really didnt need to do. Murton is an example of that also. Does anyone notice the connection with Murtons struggles and his being pushed to be more agressive? Dont get me wrong, I want Colvin to be a guy who plays for 20 years and is part of a Cubs team that wins 15 World Series in that time. But I just dont have faith in the player development side of the house to make that happen.

http://images.minorleagueball.com/images/admin/colvin.JPG Looking at the picture shows exactly what I am talking about. Looking at the position of the bat he has it wrapped. The forearm is locked out keeping it from allowing him to get his hands inside. He is set to hit a mistake or a below average fastball away in that picture. Basicly this swing with a wooden bat is going to result in lots of broken bats. Also look at the hips, they have already fired and his hands are still back. This is the only way he is consitantly going to get to the inside pitch. However doing this means all he can do is roll over an off speed pitch, swing and miss, or pull a pitch foul. Dont get me wrong, It is imperitive that a hitter keep his hands back, but with the bat wrap and forearm locked he is begging to be pounded in with fastballs all day long.

I like the kid playing third that the Cubs took late. I hope he can play several IF positions in the Minors because that is what I would think they are looking at him to do. I love his hands though. He fired them into the strike zone with every pitch ready to hit. The thing he did with them what I wish Colvin would do, he kept them inside the baseball and was short to the ball. As a team I was noticing that Clemson did not adjust well the ORU pitching pattern. ORU worked away, away, and away for the most part. I didnt really see and Clemson hitter make the adjutment and be willing to drive the baseball the opposite way with any consistancy. When an ORU pitcher did make a mistake however...

I'm sorry but can you folks say Brooks Keishnick? For a lefty his swing is long. I am fired up about his frame, it is a pro body with out a doubt. I just see him with his swing getting pounded up and in with fastballs and being over powered. Given the Cubs track record in player development I am seriously worried. From what I saw today I can see why everyone was expecting him to go in the 3rd round. I am not impressed at this point with the first two picks by the Cubs. However it's takes three years to judge a draft, so I will give them that long.

I disagree with you. His swing is long for a left hander. He has nice extension, but he will get pounded inside with fastballs up and he is trouble with wood.

I would like too if I am still not "too meat" by my post count.

They drafted nobody good and earlier that thier slots.

Thank You, Tim. I hope Wilken is right.

MLB Scouthing says " Good approach at plate. but at times to agressive." Now you know why the Cubs took him.

If I crushed a baseball like Pujols does I would stand there and watch too. Now if Pierre stood and admired a homer, that is a plunking offense. My 2 cents worth anyway.

This is so sad, it isnt even funny. Guessing here, you dont have a book against Minor League hitters so you dont know what thier out pitch is. They arent adjusted yet so will hack more than have an at bat? Yea, yea, I know.

Since I am on an boycott of that network till they get rid of Joe M. care to summarize the artice for the rest of us?

I sent him a polite Email telling him he was a idiot. I'll let you know if he replies.

Posted again for 100% truth.

Hill for Patterson. :| Do you think Corey could learn to play 2nd like his brother? That would make the deal a no brainer for Hendry.

I can coach 3rd, or be the bench coach running my charts that I more or less modified from the Yankees. Plus if there is a fight I wont bite. :wink:

reverse psy there?

Ronnie is still going out about Wood. Says everything is looking flat. Not the Wood you expect to see.

Tried to sign Uggla out of high school. Fat neck or not he is as hardnosed as they come.

Ronnie says Wood is pushing the ball. Said he is worried right now about Wood.

Seriously I hope and pray that they will win one. But the quality of my life is not measured by what the Cubs do. After last night my wife still loves me, my dog thinks I am a great guy, our cats still think I make a great pillow, and my co-workers respect me and think I do a good job. That makes me a very lucky fellow. A Cubs championship would make me happy, but I cant honestly say that any of us deserve it. Just my two cents worth. Your change can vary.