Hrubes20

No, a pitcher throws a ball more often than one individual batter offers a situation where their speed can be measured in a game. In a given amateur game you’re probably seeing 100+ pitches from a half decent pitcher as opposed to, on a lucky day, a handful of times not all usable. Then you’re dealing with more possibility for human error with hand timed stopwatches. Which is why you get a 4.1-4.2 range (to account for human error) and why statcast can get it more accurately. You only need a handful of times in this range to tell a player's speed, since you can quickly eliminate the times when the player slipped or stumbled coming out of the box. It's identifiable very quickly and does not fluctuate like pitching velocity. You should probably just stop comparing running speed and pitching velocity anyway. They really are two completely different animals. I found several videos of Hoerner running from Home to 1st both at Stanford and in the minors. Using my phone's stopwatch, I got between 4.03 and 4.21 every time, with most coming just below or over that 4.1 figure which is what was being reported by Cubs Den. I'm not sure if you are being sarcastic or not, but Statcast provides a computer stopwatch from home to first that takes the human element away. It's very accurate and functions much the same as an official time in an olympic race or the timing of the 40 yd dash at the NFL combine. While the path may not be exactly the same each time, a player busting down the line is not going to veer off course by much. So you are using amateur subjective opinion as an argument against objective fact? Yikes. The lesser comp argument also holds zero stock for something that can be calculated, such as speed. If anything a player runs FASTER against better competition. You've chosen a really bad hill to die on.

Yeah at this point we have to give Law the benefit of the doubt in that he was talking about overall baserunning, and not just speed. Literally everyone else who has seen him play pre-draft and post-draft agrees that he has really good speed.

Pitcher velocities pre- and post- draft can and often do swing all the time, and that’s more easily defined than speed When considering speed in a baseball context, it's exactly as identifable as pitching velocity. One uses a radar gun, the other a stopwatch. Or Statcast for both. Just because one is defined more often does not mean that another is less identifable. But you're smarter than to make this argument. You know that pitching velocity can be altered by about a million mechanical things, as well as arm health and such. The same does not apply to speed. Name one 21 year old who not only got slower, but TWO levels slower, in 4 months without sustaining injury or gaining a ton of weight? It just doesn't happen. That's why I think toonster's mention is probably spot on. Law surely wasn't talking about speed, but the all-encompassing "baserunning". There have been plenty of players that had insticts and IQ off the charts in other aspects of the game, but weren't good baserunners.

Regardless of Hoerner, a player looking less or more impressive after the draft is not uncommon given the dramatic leap in pool size (all of pro baseball) and competition Again, not with something as objective as speed. It's quantifiable and competition has zero effect. The only way someone could drop from above average to below average in speed in only a few months is due to injury or insane weight gain. Or the evaluator just did a terrible job.

That's actually a pretty good point. And considering it was only a few months ago pre-draft that Law himself stated Hoerner had above average speed, that makes much more sense than Law now trying to claim that he has below average speed. I guess I just assumed all the "baseball instincts" and "baseball smarts" talk included his work on the bases. That could have been a poor assumption.

I knew I had read the 4.1 somewhere. Apparently it was "consistently 4.1-4.2". Even at 4.2, Law's version of "below average" is ridiculous. http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2018/09/end-of-season-prospect-review-nico-hoerner/

You guys know how I feel about rankings and those scouting grades! As far as I can tell this and Law’s claims are both heavily subjective Honestly can’t say I’m impressed by the few things that have come out of the AFL on Hoerner. He’s been pushed yada yada but the tools seem second division Being clocked at 4.1 isn't subjective. That's borderline plus speed from a RH hitter. I am probably with you on most of Hoerner's tools being 2nd division though. The hope is that the 45 power turns into 55 down the road with launch angle stuff, and that the speed/instincts will allow the 50 arm to stay at SS. There's also the hope that the 55 bat can slightly bump up to 60. We aren't talking about a superstar even if everything aligns perfectly, but the sum of the parts is a 1st division starter with some luck and good player development.

IIRC, he was timed around 4.1 home to 1st once he started playing after the draft. That's easily solidly above average and borderline plus. Francisco Lindor is in that range. I believe major league average for a RH batter is a little over 4.3, but my memory could be wrong.

I honestly get Fontenot vibes from Giambrone.

Law is far from alone in thinking that Hoerner doesn't have much in the way of a power, arm, or defense tool. But speed? Below-average? That's just flat out wrong; to the point where I wonder if he was watching the right player.

He added a 2B as well. Nico is 3 for 3 (all singles) and a HBP. REALLY happy that Nico hasn't been stuck on the taxi squad.

That strike percentage from Clark is sexy, given his history. I tried finding some velocity reports for him on twitter, but wasn't having any luck. Last I remember seeing was that he was sitting 92-93ish, rather than the 95-97 that he has flashed before.

The rust for Nico isn't surprising. That was a really shitty outing for Steele though.

Doesn't this bad boy start this week?

Definitely will take that, even if there isn't much separating the 75th prospect from the 125th.

Nice! I had visions of him sitting 82-84 and fooling teenagers in the AZL with breaking stuff.

Nico going to the AFL is pretty fun.

Collmenter never got the swings and misses that Swarmer does, either. But I'd gladly take a Collmenter-type career out of Swarmer if given that option. He was a guy that always performed better than his peripherals.

Yonathan Perlaza had a really nice season this year. He may be a tad underappreciated by us on here.

And missing a bunch of his senior year. Not ideal.

Definitely have to root for the guy. That fastball actually looked like it had a little bit of zip. I was expecting low-80's from him after 2 shoulder surgeries.

Robinson was bumped up as well. [tweet] [/tweet]

Can't you still add anyone in the organization on 8/31 to the playoff rotation if there's someone on the 60-day DL? I believe that’s the rule Good call.

Or why Brennen Davis hasn't played in 11 days?

Leave Hancock on the 60 day. Give Smyly the open spot. DFA Mazzoni and add Webster. Easy peasy. Does he have options remaining? When you put him on the 40, you'd have to option him down to the minors. I guess you could do it after 9/1 and stick him in the MLB bullpen. I'm not sure what the 40 man crunch will look like over the offseason. I hope Hultzen will get up to AA/AAA soon, too. It would be nice to see what he's got in the tank against more advanced hitters. Just do it on August 31st, and option down Rosario for a day. That way Webster can be on the postseason roster if he balls out in September. The long term 40 man looks fine as well, since Chavez/De La Rosa/Wilson are all FAs and only Justin Steele needs to be protected in the Rule 5. Hamels is a FA too, but I'm not totally convinced the Cubs don't pick up his option at this point.