Comments on: Zack Wheeler On Disabled List

By: Metsie

Metsie — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:45:09 +0000

Control is an issue with most AA players…
It’s the focus of AA ball to learn to throw strikes.

By: Alex68

Alex68 — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:22:49 +0000

No worries here.. If this year was 2014 then i’d be worry, it’s not…

By: Metsie

Metsie — Fri, 04 May 2012 05:33:33 +0000

Only if they catch her!

By: Joey D.

Joey D. — Fri, 04 May 2012 04:03:17 +0000

Metsi,

Won’t work. Madge using that Palmolive will get her ejected for doctoring the ball.

Joe

By: Metsie

Metsie — Fri, 04 May 2012 03:38:05 +0000

I remember her and consider starting her instead of Schwinden next week! LOL

By: Joey D.

Joey D. — Fri, 04 May 2012 03:35:51 +0000

Metsi,

At least according to Madge it was. I’m guessing you remember her.

Joe

By: Metsie

Metsie — Fri, 04 May 2012 03:26:38 +0000

And some Palmolive I heard it’s good for your nails too! LOL

By: Mr North Jersey

Mr North Jersey — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:44:13 +0000

If you say you’ve read that he has been wild in all his starts then I can’t dispute if he has been wild in all his appearances or not all I can say is that his walks outside of 2 starts since becoming a Met has been much improved. Regardless Wheeler is still a long ways away from being close to MLB ready so there is time for him to work on refining his pitching.

By: Joey D.

Joey D. — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:38:20 +0000

Hi North,

But from what I have read, Zach had been wild in all his appearances and those four hit batters came before that cold weather experience. Maybe the hitters are learning how to get away from those close pitches. LOL

We shall see. Like I pondered, perhaps he might get better coaching in Double-A which will enable him to master that wildness. Otherwise, we might have another Oliver Perez, minus the fragile esteem problem.

By: Mr North Jersey

Mr North Jersey — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:23:26 +0000

If Tim was referring to Wheeler’s April 24th start vs the New Hampshire Fisher Cats then he most definitely was seeing a lot of wild pitches since it was his worst outing walks wise with 6 walks. I believe Tim also said it was a really cold night and that he was chalking it up to age and the learning curve for now.

Though if you look at his 2 starts prior to that and the 1 after he was nowhere near as bad with his walks.

I think Tim said it best right now I would lean that it’s more about his age and the learning curve as he is still a work in progress.

By: Joey D.

Joey D. — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:01:24 +0000

In his post the other day, Tim pointed out that Zach was quite wild with pitches going all over the place as compared to them being just off the strike zone. Besides the high walk ratio, he also had hit four batters in his first three appearances.

I cannot guess if his control is still a work in progress after two professional seasons or if such wildness is going to be part of his pitching repertoire. He has major stuff, no doubt, but I’m wondering if anyone knows how many of his strikeouts were due to hitters swinging at pitches major leaguers would be holding off of.

Perhaps he is not simply getting the proper coaching. For those who might have seen or read up on Sandy Koufax, it wasn’t until Sandy’s seventh season in the majors – 1961 – when Dodger catcher (and soon to be New York Met) Norm Sherry suggested he try something in his delivery during spring training which then enabled Sandy to control his nasty fastball and curve and from that time on he became one of the game’s greatest pitchers of all time.

One problem Sandy had that Zach doesn’t is that Koo never pitched in the minors (due to the old bonus rule) and thus saw limited action his first two or three seasons and because he could not get the proper work and training in the minors, also had major control problems just like Wheeler. So maybe somebody in the organization might notice the hitch in Zach’s delivery that could also resolve the same type problem.

By: trs86

trs86 — Fri, 04 May 2012 01:42:43 +0000

True but it would make me feel better… lol

By: Mr North Jersey

Mr North Jersey — Fri, 04 May 2012 01:38:07 +0000

If I knew how to best go about it I would do a chart but thinking it over there is just too many variables to do a fair representation. In general one of the most common things one hears is a prospect needs to show is the ability to throw his pitches for strikes. I don’t think I am saying anything most don’t already know.

By: trs86

trs86 — Fri, 04 May 2012 01:15:02 +0000

I wonder if that is true NJ? Might be time for another one of your famous chart post

By: Mr North Jersey

Mr North Jersey — Fri, 04 May 2012 01:12:05 +0000

I would agree as well TRS. Biggest issue right now is control. Which I would think is a common thing with many hard throwing pitching prospects.

By: trs86

trs86 — Fri, 04 May 2012 01:10:10 +0000

Which also goes to show you that just throwing out names as comparable doesn’t work. Cliff Lee had high walk rates in MILB too but that doesn’t mean he will be Cliff Lee either.

By: trs86

trs86 — Fri, 04 May 2012 01:07:24 +0000

To go along with 43 hits in those 52 innings. Again, the control seems to be the only true issue going forward.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 04 May 2012 01:06:20 +0000

I agree Wheeler has more potential than Pelfrey…mainly, because I think Pelfrey is, and always was a head case. However, physically, I think Pelf had as much potential as anyone ever…physical giant, mental midget.

By: trs86

trs86 — Fri, 04 May 2012 01:06:00 +0000

So far since joining the Mets 52 innings, 11 runs 1.90 ERA, 61 strike outs.

By: Mr North Jersey

Mr North Jersey — Fri, 04 May 2012 01:05:06 +0000

Ohhh kaaay???

Thx for that also I guess.