6 2/3 - 4 Hits - 1ER - 7BB - 5K - 1.35 ERA (Mike Leake)

[pigskincardboard]

Whatcha guys think?

Kerwin Danley was the HP Ump.. which may explain some things.

I didn't watch it, btw.

 

[ElwayHOf2004]

First time I've seen him. His fast ball isn't much in terms of velocity as he's in the high 80's for the most part but he missed a ton of bats today. Not just the K's, he was getting swings and misses from Aramis and Lee which says something huge. Obviously, 7 walks can't be a regular thing but he pitched pretty darn good

 

[pigskincardboard]

Yah, Foster from Project Prospect has a huge hard-on for him. Just the mental side of things, I guess. I'm excited to look at his PFX when I get a chance, to see where he missed. He shouldn't be walking that many guys with his control.

I'm assuming he missed on the occasional breaking pitch low and outside. Either way, it seems like he walked all the right guys. It's not like he was walking bums.

 

[bradical]

He was also 2 for 2 at the dish.

 

[Jurgy25]

Watched the game (and still am). Very good pitching. A lot of swings and misses, and a lot of close nonstrikes called. Fastball isn't much, but his other pitches, especially changeup looked real good. Really liked what I saw out of him.

 

[pigskincardboard]

I've been getting some epically bad offers on his stuff.

12 dollars for a refractor isn't my cup of tea.

 

[sdsportsfan1214]

Great first start for the kid even with the high walks, would have ben nice to see him get the W though

 

[Jurgy25]

I've been getting some epically bad offers on his stuff.

12 dollars for a refractor isn't my cup of tea.

Haha. I have a Leake up too, and I am letting it run, even though have gotten a few pretty generous offers.

 

[Codasco07]

105 pitches in his professional debut. Don't see that too often. Thanks Dusty!

 

[pigskincardboard]

Haha.

Seriously, as an owner, how do you let Dusty Baker have control of your assets?

It'll take a lot for Dusty to break Leake, who really doesn't make that much cash-money...

But when Chapman rolls around? That's like letting someone with 10 DUI's drive your McLaren.

 

[jbhofmann]

Bought a Refractor at a show yesterday for $20. BIN hit this this morning @ 35. Did I det it too low or was I just lucky? I'll take it.

 

[jbhofmann]

Oops just saw a Refractor auction up to $43.00 with 2hrs left. :shock:

 

[pigskincardboard]

Okay, so wow.

I got around to looking at Leake's start and I didn't realize the magic he could pull out of his arse with his fastball.

He can cut it and sink it, and from the looks of it, he didn't throw more than a handful of fourseam fastballs.

Basically, Mike Leake has the perfect PFX rainbow. He's coming a bit over-the-top with his curveball, but it's barely noticeable. His release point was tight..

I will definitely spend some time on this when I'm not beat, maybe tomorrow morning before work, 6am here I come, but this is very, very intriguing.

 

[ChasHawk]

He benefitted greatly from facing the Cubs offense as well.

 

[All The Hype]

Okay, so wow.

I got around to looking at Leake's start and I didn't realize the magic he could pull out of his arse with his fastball.

He can cut it and sink it, and from the looks of it, he didn't throw more than a handful of fourseam fastballs.

Basically, Mike Leake has the perfect PFX rainbow. He's coming a bit over-the-top with his curveball, but it's barely noticeable. His release point was tight..

I will definitely spend some time on this when I'm not beat, maybe tomorrow morning before work, 6am here I come, but this is very, very intriguing.

This is what makes him so tough- his fastball has ridiculous movement on it and he supposedly can spot it (although 7 walks today don't show that). From what I hear and from what it looked like today, his changeup is a plus or plus-plus pitch.

A great changeup might just be the toughest pitch in baseball to hit, because it is so deceptive and so difficult to time it up when it looks just like the fastball. I'd take a guy with a great changeup and an average breaking ball over a great breaking ball and an average changeup.

It will be interesting to see how Leake pitches in his next start and to see if he can cut the walks down like he supposedly is capable of doing, but I think this guy is the real deal and will be a very solid starter once he settles into the majors.

 

[ahill1]

He benefitted greatly from facing the Cubs offense as well.

Isn't every pitcher that faces us this year! Seriously our offense is awful and this season is going to be a long one with the kind of team they have put together.

 

[pigskincardboard]

He benefitted greatly from facing the Cubs offense as well.

Oh, I don't care about the outcome.

I care about:

A) The Movement
B) The Location
C) Constant Release point
D) Mantaining and Changing Velocity

If he looks good in those things, he'll fair well. Just looking at the movement and velocity right now looks good.

Considering that he barely threw a true "rising" sorta fastball, or four seamer, he worked into the 90s (91mph max) with his cutter and sinker. Looks like he dropped his curve down to about 75mph.

Pretty darn good.

 

[pigskincardboard]

Okay, so wow.

I got around to looking at Leake's start and I didn't realize the magic he could pull out of his arse with his fastball.

He can cut it and sink it, and from the looks of it, he didn't throw more than a handful of fourseam fastballs.

Basically, Mike Leake has the perfect PFX rainbow. He's coming a bit over-the-top with his curveball, but it's barely noticeable. His release point was tight..

I will definitely spend some time on this when I'm not beat, maybe tomorrow morning before work, 6am here I come, but this is very, very intriguing.

This is what makes him so tough- his fastball has ridiculous movement on it and he supposedly can spot it (although 7 walks today don't show that). From what I hear and from what it looked like today, his changeup is a plus or plus-plus pitch.

A great changeup might just be the toughest pitch in baseball to hit, because it is so deceptive and so difficult to time it up when it looks just like the fastball. I'd take a guy with a great changeup and an average breaking ball over a great breaking ball and an average changeup.

It will be interesting to see how Leake pitches in his next start and to see if he can cut the walks down like he supposedly is capable of doing, but I think this guy is the real deal and will be a very solid starter once he settles into the majors.

Yah, I'm wondering if Cinci's (or wrigley's) PFX Camera is somewhat askew.

As it looks right now, Leake has some serious dip to all of his pitches. Everything he throws is heavy, heavy, heavy.

I'm about to blow your goddarn mind, but:

Dan Haren.

 

[All The Hype]

Okay, so wow.

I got around to looking at Leake's start and I didn't realize the magic he could pull out of his arse with his fastball.

He can cut it and sink it, and from the looks of it, he didn't throw more than a handful of fourseam fastballs.

Basically, Mike Leake has the perfect PFX rainbow. He's coming a bit over-the-top with his curveball, but it's barely noticeable. His release point was tight..

I will definitely spend some time on this when I'm not beat, maybe tomorrow morning before work, 6am here I come, but this is very, very intriguing.

This is what makes him so tough- his fastball has ridiculous movement on it and he supposedly can spot it (although 7 walks today don't show that). From what I hear and from what it looked like today, his changeup is a plus or plus-plus pitch.

A great changeup might just be the toughest pitch in baseball to hit, because it is so deceptive and so difficult to time it up when it looks just like the fastball. I'd take a guy with a great changeup and an average breaking ball over a great breaking ball and an average changeup.

It will be interesting to see how Leake pitches in his next start and to see if he can cut the walks down like he supposedly is capable of doing, but I think this guy is the real deal and will be a very solid starter once he settles into the majors.

Yah, I'm wondering if Cinci's (or wrigley's) PFX Camera is somewhat askew.

As it looks right now, Leake has some serious dip to all of his pitches. Everything he throws is heavy, heavy, heavy.

I'm about to blow your goddarn mind, but:

Dan Haren.

It's one heck of a comparison and it may be a little early, but I'll buy it. If you've never looked at them, check out his college numbers and accolades...this kind of stuff doesn't just happen, you have to be darn good. Here is a blurb about his junior year, although his freshman and sophomore seasons at Arizona State were almost as impressive:

2009 (Junior): Completed one of the greatest careers in Sun Devil history by turning in one of the greatest individual seasons in ASU Baseball history...was named the National Player of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association and was a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, Dick Howser Trophy and National Pitcher of the Year...was named the Academic All-American of the Year...won the Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year award for the second straight season, becoming the first ever back-to-back winner and fourth two-time winner...was a Unanimous First Team All-American...earned First Team Academic Pac-10 for the second straight year as well as ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII...named the Most Outstanding Player of the Tempe Regional for the second time in his career...finished the year as the nation's win leader with a 16-1 record...led the Pac-10 with his 1.71 ERA, 142 innings pitched and 162 strike outs...opponents hit only .193 against him, second lowest in the Pac-10...threw seven complete games, including two straight shutouts...had a string of 26 consecutive scoreless innings...his 40 career wins is second most in school history in the aluminum bat era and tied for the third most ever...tied for the most ever wins in school history by a three-year pitcher...twice was named the National Pitcher of the Week and four times was named Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week...became only the second pitcher in school history to win 10 or more games in three straight seasons (Eddie Bane)...was the 8th overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds...one of only two Sun Devils (Raoul Torrez) to win three straight Pac-10 Conference titles.

 

[jbhofmann]

3 things.
1. I watched the game.
2. I sold off my stash prior to the game.
3. I tried to find BIN steals after the game.

Something that I noticed was that he refused to give them anything to hit over the plate. The walks were not due to being wild, he just didn't want to give their big boppers anything to hit and he wasn't getting ANY borderline calls behind the plate. If the first inning is any indication of his "moxie", "it factor", or whatever he has it. Kid loaded the bases and preceded to get the middle of the order out 1,2,3 to get out of the inning untouched. He is a pitcher, not a thrower.