Comments on: Who is Greg Burke?

By: Metsie

Metsie — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 20:25:37 +0000

Well he did what he is supposed to do….He got his one out!
Can’t complain with anyone who gets the job done….

By: Metsie

Metsie — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:27:00 +0000

My whole issue with the R/L Split thing is that in essence you are tying up a limited roster spot to play for what in most cases is ONE out per game at best.

And since the Manager controlling the batters can make a switch anytime after you name the pitcher you may not even get that!

I understand and accept that lefty Pitchers should do better vs lefty batters and have no problem making a change to get that, But if the lefty pitcher is only capable of getting lefties out you really are not accomplishing much other than burning up your bullpen to get one lowly out.

It’s one thing to fill out a roster with guys like that when you don’t have the talent available that can be effective against both sides of the plate, But it is not smart to load up your Bench and Pen with SITUATIONAL SPECIALISTS when 1) your not sure you will ever get into that situation to use them and 2) if you do the other side can easily change the situation so you wasted a roster spot and player that got you pretty much nothing because he didn’t even get to throw a single pitch!

That said we need to have some lefties in the pen and barring someone who is good against both sides you take what you can get…
But it would be better if they found good lefty pitchers vs ALL and used them instead of going after these guys who are useless until the starts he needs align and IF not you never get what it is they are supposed to be good for.

By: Mitch Petanick

Mitch Petanick — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:17:33 +0000

Definitely not as deceptive as Bradford, but definitely disturbs the plane of vision for the hitters. This guy comes in after the hitters see an overhand style pitcher, and as long as he throws strikes, is gonna get guys out at least the first time around.

By: srt

srt — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:02:52 +0000

I remember Joe Smith and that submarine type pitch.
Burke though has the most unusual delivery for a submariner. I get the impression he’s going to throw conventional, then he drops down real low (or looks low b/c he’s tall) and fires from the side.

First couple of times I saw him pitch, it almost looked like he would fall over. However he’s doing it though, I’ve been impressed so far in ST. I think he’s got a very good chance to make the team.

By: Joey D.

Joey D. — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:39:46 +0000

What I found so amazing with many submarine pitchers was their ability to throw so fast without the aid of the high forward motion.

By: Teddy Klein

Teddy Klein — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:31:31 +0000

I’m immediately reminded of our old Prophet, Joe Smith, who had continued success in the bigs as a submariner. Miss that pitcher, he was fun to watch and still very effective on the Major League Level. (2.96 era last year with lefties hitting .254 against him in his career.)

But Chad Bradford was at an even lower arm slot than most sidearmers and even submariners, with his knuckles nearly scraping the ground. That was his main deception, and made him so effective as a pitcher.

Burke seems more sidearm, which is a lot more conventional, and less deceptive than submarine to me.

By: Mitch Petanick

Mitch Petanick — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:57:34 +0000

Heck yeah…that’s why hitters are so uncomfortable in the box facing them.

By: Joey D.

Joey D. — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:55:52 +0000

Hi Mitch,

Sidearm pitching can also be quite dangerous – Carl Mays was notoriously known to throw a high and inside pitch at anybody who crowded the plate. One of those fastballs hit Ray Chapman in the head and tragically, he became the first and only player to lose his life playing the game.