Comments on: What Should We Take From Santana’s Starts?

By: Metsie

Metsie — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:19:48 +0000

I take from it that while he seems quite able to make pitches (and note he has stayed away from the changeup which tends to add stress to the arm) his real worry isn’t what he will do when he is out there, He’s a competitior and will give you his best when he can!

The Issue and pessimism is in regards to can he keep on going out there or does he stress out the capsule that he reinjures it!

And for the record you don’t need to throw 90+ to use your changeup.
It helps but it is not required provided it looks like your fastball with your arm swing.

By: stick

stick — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:20:32 +0000

I take from it that he seems to be able to pitch, and isn’t having problems with pain, etc. So a huge hurdle jumped.

I still would not be surprised to see him stay behind in PSL until they really need him in the rotation (so go with a 4 man on normal rest, instead of 5 man going every 6 days).

By: XtreemIcon

XtreemIcon — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:05:30 +0000

It’s still a little early early in ST to be worrying about velocity. In two weeks, when his limit is 80-90 pitches and he’s still averaging 88 or so, we can talk about it. His outing yesterday was what amounted to a hybrid live BP/simulated game.

By: Alex68

Alex68 — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:58:21 +0000

So now we say screw it, let’s do what small market teams do, stay away from good free agents players, let’s sign oft injured players. cheap FA and hope we strike gold in a bottle with at least one of them so people think we did a good job…
Pathetic mentality…

By: Hodges14

Hodges14 — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:57:19 +0000

He did touch 90 a few times yesterday, and even before the surgery he topped out at 92 but sat mostly at 91, so this is good considering how early in ST it is.

By: GW

GW — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:49:05 +0000

I disagree, I wasn’t talking the technical point that one pitch is faster than the other, I get that, and I’m not saying he’s going to be awful – but the point is that if you can sit back and wait the change-up is much much less effective.

You can even see it in santana’s numbers – the correlation between fastball MPH and overall performance.

By: trs86

trs86 — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:44:14 +0000

Sure you can if there is still a large enough change in velocity and there is decent movement.

By: GW

GW — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:41:48 +0000

“Although his velocity is not all the way back yet, the rest of his arsenal was in full display yesterday.”

For all intents and purposes, you can’t have a change-up without a fastball.

By: trs86

trs86 — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:37:20 +0000

Exactly, the impending doom started when our highly paid teams of 2007, 2008, 2009 couldn’t get it done. After two “chokes” and then a season full of injuries most felt that the shoe was always waiting to drop.

By: NJstuckinTX

NJstuckinTX — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:02:47 +0000

Nah, that started well before.

By: Alex68

Alex68 — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:00:30 +0000

the traditional met feeling of doom”

Isn’t that what THIS front office has made us feel????

By: NJstuckinTX

NJstuckinTX — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:56:53 +0000

Optimism is what we can take from it. That, and the traditional met feeling of doom as we wait for obligatory oblique injury….