Comments on: Zack Wheeler Q&A With MiLB.com

By: nathan

nathan — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:52:23 +0000

If you watch Wheelers throwing motion and the watch Harvey’s I can see why SF was worried.

By: Hank

Hank — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:12:07 +0000

Color me excited for some Zack Wheeler.

By: XtreemIcon

XtreemIcon — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:44:26 +0000

I went to a Rock Cats game in 2007 and saw a pitcher on the other team (I can’t remember who it was and what team it was) come in and throw 17 straight curveballs. The Rock Cats knew what was coming after something like third or fourth in a row and I think scored five runs off him in that inning, including three straight first pitch doubles, but when he was removed and went back to the dugout, the pitching coach shook his hand and said “nice job.”

The kids ERA was inflated, but that meant nothing. He was there to work on his curve and I guess they liked what they saw (movement, location,etc.) He wasn’t there necessarily to get guys outs, although that would have been a nice byproduct.

By: Petey Pete

Petey Pete — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:33:19 +0000

If I understand it correctly, the reason for the change by SF, is that they felt his arm was dragging through the delivery, and that the lag was putting too much strain on his arm. They were afraid he would break down eventually, and that by slowing the motion it would give his arm the opportunity to catch up. I think they were wrong, obviously, because it may be a safer delivery, but it took away the whiplike effect that Wheeler gets when he throws naturally.

By: jessep

jessep — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:01:52 +0000

Right an. I think fans assume that everything you need to know about a minor leaguer is in his stat line.

A pitcher can change his delivery/motion for a period of time and totally bomb in Single A. But then coaches fix the problem and he gets back on course.

Minor league coaches/scouts/instructors look at trends with a player in the early stages of their minor league career.

You know if Harvey for example was taught a new pitch, they want him to throw that pitch X # of times in a game.

They want to see performance PLUS progress. Everybody knows Wheeler can throw a fastball, but as he advances that fastball will turn to Batting Practice. It’s about the secondary pitches. Generally speaking you get to the minors because you have a fastball.

It’s a double edged sword. I just dislike when somebody sees Wheeler’s ERA and says “he is no good.”

By: srt

srt — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:15:37 +0000

Here’s hoping they were wrong on that injury potential.

Jeeze, if anyone’s mechanics aren’t fluid, it’s Lincecum’s. But we all know the story of ‘thou shalt not tinker with Timmy’s mechanics’, said Dad.

By: any

any — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:03:58 +0000

you are both right.

a poor ERA say does not mean that a guy is not talented, or a future star. It can mean that like Jessep said, he is working on stuff.

But, the results point out when it is time to promote the guy.

However, results could mean that he mastered what he was working on, and is ready to go up. Or, that he abandoned it, and is maybe relying on just his FB. In either case, getting promoted is how you find out.

their is a subjective piece too. Coaches look at a guy, and decide how ready they are. that could come into play when someone with spectacular #s gets a promotion.

By: Lotus1209

Lotus1209 — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:46:47 +0000

Apparently his mechanics werent fluid and they changed him with fear that if he continued his old mechanics he would be deemed injury prone.. can’t seem to find the article

By: MetsJets13

MetsJets13 — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:00:45 +0000

If they didnt look at performance results than they would have no basis to promote. WHIP, ERA, matters. That’s why Harvey, Familia got promoted and Wheeler didnt.

By: srt

srt — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:50:39 +0000

That’s not the first time I read something about Wheeler going back to his original mechanics.

Have to wonder what the SF coaches were trying to accomplish with him on making him slow down his mechanics.

By: NJstuckinTX

NJstuckinTX — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:32:58 +0000

What is weird is I would think one would trust the SF minor league system for how they cultivate pitching. But then again, when Lincy was drafted, they made it a huge point that the coaches could not mess with his delivery. The inexact science of pitching…

By: jessep

jessep — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:33:00 +0000

His answers to the questions about his curveball is exactly why I don’t look at ERA and Hits Allowed until a minor leaguer is closing in on AAA.

The only way to work on a pitch is to throw it in game scenarios. When it’s not up to par it’s going to get hit, and hit far. When people look solely at ERA in Single A baseball they are assuming (or pretending) that this pitcher already has all the tools he needs to become a big league pitcher.

If he did, he’d be in the big leagues.

I look at K’s and BB paired with health for the most part in the early stages of minor league pitching. When you are older and throwing in AA and then AAA yes I believe you need to have your stuff to a point where your ERA, Hits Allowed etc matter.

But not when you’re learning a new pitch etc.