Prospect Insider - Spring Notebook: Day Two

Spring Notebook: Day Two

By Jason A. Churchill

By 03-18-2011

PEORIA, ARIZONA -- Thursday we skipped the team practices and worked the intrasquad games, instead, getting a look at several interesting prospects.

Subscribers can check out the report that includes word on three young arms that reached the upper-90s and two young position players that rank among the top talents in the system -- and a couple videos -- from Thursday by clicking here.

If you are not yet a subscriber, click here and change that.

spring-notebook:-day-two

Comments
The following 17 comment(s) for this article are shown below:

1. By: Hackinator on 03-18-2011 11:24:52
Thanks Jason ...keep up the flow of inside info , we appreciate it out here in flyover land.

2. By: Edman on 03-18-2011 12:48:22
Thanks for the report. Beavan might be a great buy low prospect coming over in the Texas deal. It sounds like his velocity is getting back to where he was when he was drafted.

You never know how trades will work out. But at least there is hope that Seattle will end up with three important pieces heading into 2014, from that trade.

3. By: baseballman on 03-18-2011 12:57:01
I really like what I'm hearing about Chavez the past couple of days. For such a rising prospect, he sure seems to be the forgotten piece in the Morrow trade, even though theres a chance that he could be the best player invovled.

4. By: dawgncarolina on 03-18-2011 13:08:14
"It sounds like his velocity is getting back to where he was when he was drafted."

I didn't get that from his report at all.

Love the reports on Walker, Campos and Martinez. We need some impact arms in the system. I hope Campos' power curve is repeatable - the description in the report sounds like it was a heck of a pitch.

March Madness + Spring Training = I love this time of year.

5. By: Jason A. Churchill on 03-18-2011 13:48:59
Beavan was touching 96 in high school prior to the draft, but he's calmed his effort level down and sat 89-91 after the trade last summer. He throws more strikes, apparently, but it's kept him in the minors.

But the thing is, in short stints last year for Texas in March, he was hitting 92-93 also.

6. By: Edman on 03-18-2011 13:53:48
I guess I should have said "closer to". I didn't expect my comment to be parsed.

What I read was exactly what Jason said. That said, if he's throwing 91-93 MPH now, that's an improvement from 89-91 MPH for most of last season, especially if he's throwing more strikes.

7. By: baseballman on 03-18-2011 14:08:37
Beavans ability to stay at starter would be great for this team

8. By: mymrbig on 03-18-2011 14:12:06
Any reason Beaven can't put a little more effort into his delivery and still sit at 90-93 for 6 innings? He barely looks like he uses his lower body at all. Lengthen his stride slightly and get him to speed up the lower half a little more. Might as well tinker with him, he really isn't worth that much as a Carlos Silva (when he was good) clone who limits walks but can't strike anyone out.

9. By: Jason A. Churchill on 03-18-2011 14:38:25
His stride could be longer, but speeding up the delivery also makes it more difficult to repeat and throw pitches with control and command, as well as finish them.

10. By: Edman on 03-18-2011 14:51:49
#8, did Carlos Silva ever throw 93 MPH? That alone, separates Beavan from Silva. I could care less if he strikes everyone out. If you limit the number of runners you allow on base, you also reduce the chance of a run scoring. Strikeouts are nice, but they aren't everything. If you don't strike out a lot of hitters, then limit the damage they can do when they do hit the ball. Part of Lee's success is not only that he can strikeout batters, but that he hardly walks anyone.

There isn't one formula for being a successful pitcher.

11. By: dawgncarolina on 03-18-2011 14:54:21
There's a big difference between touching 93 in a short appearance in spring training and touching 93 once you've been stretched out. As Jason said, he was doing this last year in March as well.

It doesn't sound to me like his velocity is up at all. I wasn't parsing your statement - I was disagreeing with it.

12. By: Jason A. Churchill on 03-18-2011 14:57:38
His last fastball was 92, but it was his 28th pitch. If it was his 98th pitch, I'd feel different.

But there is room for more, and it's not stretch to believe he could do that without losing command. It's just not automatic.

13. By: dawgncarolina on 03-18-2011 15:12:14
Good stuff JAC

14. By: Robert on 03-18-2011 16:59:13
Since I'm subscriber and uhable to get any information I paid fo how about a refund.
Robert

15. By: rjfrik on 03-18-2011 17:04:07
Man I love what I'm reading about Trinufel this spring. It feels like he is back as being one of our great prospects. I love that he is sticking at short. Who knows we could see him next year if his growth continues. It will let Franklin develop more.

And Wow. I love what Im reading about the Velocity Brothers. If we can get two of the three to pan out we would be very well stocked with young big league arms. Campos might be the real deal here. A young Felix? or at least on his way to that level possibly.

Exciting

16. By: Jason A. Churchill on 03-18-2011 23:50:51
Robert --

You either did not follow the kindergarten-level instruction on the subscribe page, or you haven't bothered to ask for assistance.

One of the above two is true. Ball is in your court.

17. By: Shawnuel on 03-19-2011 20:17:59
Jason, Have you been able to watch any of Steven Baron's AB's? Just curious if his success is a desert mirage or if he has made some legitimate improvements to his plate approach and swing. I know you have been very "bearish" on his offense in the past. Has his performance changed your outlook at all?

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