Thanks for the post this morning David. I was traveling this weekend and didn't get to watch any of the games. I just have a few random thoughts so here goes. The power those 3 young men have is crazy. We all know that can't be sustained in the big leagues, but it's still exciting to see what they can do in K C. It's really good to see the young pitchers seemingly getting better and learning from the mistakes they were making earlier in the year. I watched Hunter Dozier play in Springfield in the minors and really liked what I saw when he played there as a kid just after he was drafted. Like you have always thought he would be an above average major league player. I hope they don't sign or trade for a center fielder this winter. I think I have expressed this before, but I really think Isbel could be the primary player in center. His defense is good and hit close to 300, I think. Have a great day, and look forward to reading what you post tomorrow.
I can see both sides of the center field argument, but if they think Isbel can handle it even at 80% of what Taylor has done (which has been truly fantastic), then the added offense is worth it. I also think, as I wrote recently, that moving Mondesi to the outfield could potentially take some of the onus off CF if he takes to RF well because that speed will help to cover some of that ground.
Did Bubic show you yesterday that he can be a solid major league starter without a faster fastball? Is he a #3 or #4 starter or, with a faster fastball, perhaps a #2 or #3? Mondesi seems to just be going through the motions right now, not hitting well and not fielding at 3B all that great, but he seems relaxed and perhaps it is enough for him to just finish healthy. If Isbel can be part of the CF answer (with glove and bat), that really does open up a spot for him. But will the powers that be see enough to not get someone else to block that? I am so happy to see the Omaha Big 3! Hopefully, even if it takes them a half year or year to adjust, they can be our next Hosmer/Moose/Cain (2 of them even play 1B and 3B!), plus our new young pitching will be better than what we had for the last championship run!
I think more than anything with Bubic, as my opinion continues to develop, it might not be so much that he averages 92-94, but that he can get there when he needs it, and he did in one of those gifs above. So maybe that's more of the key for him. The thing is, though, that locating the fastball when it's 90-92 is more important that 92-94, so it really is a matter of having the command if he's not throwing harder.
Thanks for the post this morning David. I was traveling this weekend and didn't get to watch any of the games. I just have a few random thoughts so here goes. The power those 3 young men have is crazy. We all know that can't be sustained in the big leagues, but it's still exciting to see what they can do in K C. It's really good to see the young pitchers seemingly getting better and learning from the mistakes they were making earlier in the year. I watched Hunter Dozier play in Springfield in the minors and really liked what I saw when he played there as a kid just after he was drafted. Like you have always thought he would be an above average major league player. I hope they don't sign or trade for a center fielder this winter. I think I have expressed this before, but I really think Isbel could be the primary player in center. His defense is good and hit close to 300, I think. Have a great day, and look forward to reading what you post tomorrow.
I can see both sides of the center field argument, but if they think Isbel can handle it even at 80% of what Taylor has done (which has been truly fantastic), then the added offense is worth it. I also think, as I wrote recently, that moving Mondesi to the outfield could potentially take some of the onus off CF if he takes to RF well because that speed will help to cover some of that ground.
Did Bubic show you yesterday that he can be a solid major league starter without a faster fastball? Is he a #3 or #4 starter or, with a faster fastball, perhaps a #2 or #3? Mondesi seems to just be going through the motions right now, not hitting well and not fielding at 3B all that great, but he seems relaxed and perhaps it is enough for him to just finish healthy. If Isbel can be part of the CF answer (with glove and bat), that really does open up a spot for him. But will the powers that be see enough to not get someone else to block that? I am so happy to see the Omaha Big 3! Hopefully, even if it takes them a half year or year to adjust, they can be our next Hosmer/Moose/Cain (2 of them even play 1B and 3B!), plus our new young pitching will be better than what we had for the last championship run!
I think more than anything with Bubic, as my opinion continues to develop, it might not be so much that he averages 92-94, but that he can get there when he needs it, and he did in one of those gifs above. So maybe that's more of the key for him. The thing is, though, that locating the fastball when it's 90-92 is more important that 92-94, so it really is a matter of having the command if he's not throwing harder.