tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post2918032556058168437..comments2023-10-20T06:12:38.934-07:00Comments on Redlegs Baseball: 2010 Top Prospect List: #23 Logan Ondrusek, rhpLark11http://www.blogger.com/profile/06571198327064220683noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post-33908035501694743262010-01-20T06:42:12.641-08:002010-01-20T06:42:12.641-08:00Will,
You may be right, we shall see. Clearly, we...Will,<br /><br />You may be right, we shall see. Clearly, we are looking at two of the main determinants of pitching success. Strikeouts limit contact, which results in fewer hits. You can't get a hit if you can't put the ball in play. Ideally, the cutter reduces the quality of the contact that the hitter can make. <br /><br />So, if you can induce more poor contact by consistently running the ball up the handle of the bat, then it could lead to better results even despite a lower strikeout rate. If that is what's happening, then maybe his success is sustainable. Still, I have my doubts and would like to see less contact from Logan.<br /><br />As for the Hall, I agree. I'd take Larkin over Ozzie every day of the week. I suppose I understand Roberto getting more support than Larkin in their first year of eligibility. Alomar was highly productive and durable. The only thing Larkin couldn't do on a baseball field was stay healthy. Even so, I'm now fairly optimistic that he'll get in at some point. At least, we can hope. <br /><br />Thanks for the comment. I hope you're right on Logan. <br /><br />Best,<br />LarkLark11https://www.blogger.com/profile/06571198327064220683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post-37284448731432478732010-01-17T20:43:24.632-08:002010-01-17T20:43:24.632-08:00I am Will,
Thanks for addressing that Lark. I gue...I am Will,<br /><br />Thanks for addressing that Lark. I guess I'd say I fall somewhere between the 2 camps here on Ondrusek. I'm not so sure he can get 97 and even if he can he's not likely to work at it anyway so I don't know it's much of a big deal. But I do think the Cutter issue I fall more on the other side of it a bit. Sure Rivera and even Burton get a goodly amount of K's when they are on their game. But they also seem to produce alot of poorly hit balls as well or if you prefer they don't get hit with authority as often as others seemingly do. I could be wrong about that but I seem to both remember seeing it and hearing it and it has some logic too it with the type of pitch it is and the respective quality of those 2 particular cutters. That said I can see your point as Burton when not on is a mess as we know and he has the ability to K guys with greater regularity to save himself some grief. <br /><br />I agree on Larkin there are not 10 better SS's in the history of the game Ozzie SMith included. I just wish these so called experts who vote would learn how to view the game in the right way. But we can't even get the fans themselves to do it, not to mention the players and coaches just look at the All-Star voting. Anyway yeah I was also encouraged by his vote total, guys who have little chance to ever get in rarely total more than 20-25% of the vote the 1st year. I think he gets in as the class of '12. Blyleven and Alomar being the class of '11. Maybe I'll get a chance to go up to the ceremonies that year which I wouldn't do for many others.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post-59082042021607670932010-01-10T09:59:03.347-08:002010-01-10T09:59:03.347-08:00Will,
Thanks for relaying the info. I wouldn'...Will,<br /><br />Thanks for relaying the info. I wouldn't be surprised if he can touch 97 from time to time. Even so, I really don't think he sits much higher than 91/92. I've seen some pitchfx data on Ondrusek and the highest velocity he reached was 94.9.<br /><br />Even so, I tend to take radar gun readings with a bit of a grain of salt. There can be some fluctuation from gun to gun, so I tend to focus a bit more on the velocity range than a specific number. Even if Logan can hit 97, I'm not sure it's an effective velocity for him.<br /><br />I know he throws a cutter/slider, but I'm not sure if he started relying on it more heavily in 2009. If so, it could help explain his better performance level last year. Still, I'd like to see a few more swings-and-misses. Contact is rarely a friend of the pitcher. <br /><br />As for Mariano, he's not a "pitch to contact" type, so he'd be something of a poor comparison in this case. He piles up strikeouts at an 8.31 K/9 rate. Still, the splintered bats on Mariano's wood pile clearly attest to his ability to induce poor contact, which can only help.<br /><br />At this point, I'm not sure what to make of Burton, but he also racks up strikeouts at a good clip. His trouble seems to stem more from his walk rate than the type of contact.<br /><br />I'm sure there is a good comp or two out there for Ondrusek, but I can't really think of a high contact, low strikeout relief pitcher who has sustainable success at the MLB level. Of course, sustainable success is something of a rarity for relievers anyway. Even so, I'd have to imagine a high contact rate doesn't help.<br /><br />As for Larkin, I wish I could say I'm amazed he didn't get in, but I'm not. He's clearly deserving. In fact, if he DOESN'T get in, then they may as well not even have a Hall of Fame. He was truly that good. Still, I'm actually rather encouraged that he got such a high percentage on the first ballot. Obviously, some writers are aware of just how good he really was. In addition, some of the ESPN guys have written things heavily in his favor, which can only help sway public opinion.<br /><br />At this point, his election seems like an inevitability, even if it takes a few more years. Personally, I'd have a hard time listing 5 shortstops in the history of the game who were better than he was. And, I don't think anyone can name 10 shortstops who were better.<br /><br />He belongs.<br /><br />Anyway, thanks for the comment and the info.<br /><br />Best,<br />LarkLark11https://www.blogger.com/profile/06571198327064220683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post-74750360045689672612010-01-09T04:40:21.969-08:002010-01-09T04:40:21.969-08:00I am Will,
Lark, it seems I have found further in...I am Will,<br /><br />Lark, it seems I have found further information that you may have not been aware of on Ondrusek. Apparently he can actually get it up to 97 on the gun which I have heard from 2 different sources, (both posters on forums but "posters in the know" allegedly) one of which does admit he throws it that high but a bit flat. <br /><br />Also i'm getting the argument that although he is a pitch to contact type his cutter may be a reason for optimism. Most who throw a quality cutter in the pros (Rivera, Burton etc.) tend to get above average results with it so that may well be an equalizer for him. He just started throwing this past season apparently which may explain his rise.<br /><br />What do you think? BTW both of our favorites; Larkin should have gotten in and so should the Larkin of 2B Alomar. Those decrepid HOF's/Idiotic writers need to get with it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post-55938075321003274982010-01-06T21:36:08.757-08:002010-01-06T21:36:08.757-08:00Well, I already had a new one up before you posted...Well, I already had a new one up before you posted this comment. But, the slower rate of posts are driven by a lack of time and a longer research period. I don't have as much time as I did this time last year. In addition, the 8 write-ups I've done so far have all been first time write-ups. <br /><br />Guys like Tuttle, Joseph, Fellhauer, and Silva were drafted last year. Guys like Rojas, Klinker, and Ondrusek came largely out of nowhere. So, it's taken more and more research to get a good feel for their abilities. <br /><br />So, there you have it.Lark11https://www.blogger.com/profile/06571198327064220683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post-65534229356578736152010-01-06T12:31:30.492-08:002010-01-06T12:31:30.492-08:00whats up lark? its been a week.whats up lark? its been a week.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post-59395848553250051012009-12-29T22:25:18.781-08:002009-12-29T22:25:18.781-08:00Anon,
You're right, I forgot to mention his r...Anon,<br /><br />You're right, I forgot to mention his repertoire. I'll update the write up, but he's got a four-seam fastball that sits 90-92 and touches 94, a change-up that sits around 80-81 mph, a cutter that sits around 90 mph, and a slider in the 87-88 mph range. <br /><br />The differential in the velocity of his slider and cutter isn't significant, so it could be simply different versions of the same pitch. After all, there isn't a significant difference between the grip and wrist action of the two pitches. <br /><br />Thanks for the comment. <br /><br />Best,<br />LarkLark11https://www.blogger.com/profile/06571198327064220683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post-54939723436263747712009-12-29T22:14:14.857-08:002009-12-29T22:14:14.857-08:00Smitty,
Ondrusek's fastball sits in the 90-92...Smitty,<br /><br />Ondrusek's fastball sits in the 90-92 mph range and touches 94 at times. <br /><br />I'm a big believer in utilizing the lower body in the pitching motion, as throwing with the entire body should relieve stress on the arm. I do think he could do a better job of creating rotational energy and unleashing it with his leg kick. Even so, I do wonder if his height makes all these concerns largely moot, as his taller frame and longer arms allows him to generate additional velocity. <br /><br />It'll be interesting to see what Ondrusek does in 2010. I really would like to see him miss more bats, as I'm just not sure consistent success can be achieved without the ability to miss bats. <br /><br />Thanks for the comment. <br /><br />Best,<br />LarkLark11https://www.blogger.com/profile/06571198327064220683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post-13521558081641220522009-12-29T22:01:18.134-08:002009-12-29T22:01:18.134-08:00Will,
Thanks for the kind words.
Best,
LarkWill, <br /><br />Thanks for the kind words. <br /><br />Best,<br />LarkLark11https://www.blogger.com/profile/06571198327064220683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post-71143064351251637172009-12-29T15:16:27.796-08:002009-12-29T15:16:27.796-08:00I dont belive you mention anything about his stuff...I dont belive you mention anything about his stuff? whats he throw? and how hard?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post-70025112679712737042009-12-29T13:45:28.882-08:002009-12-29T13:45:28.882-08:00his mechanichs really interest me, how hard does h...his mechanichs really interest me, how hard does he throw lark? It seems to me if he worked with a good pitching coach about storing more energy from his body he could increase his velocity quite a bit. Especially if he adds some weightsmittynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post-23673018176927058162009-12-29T09:28:10.777-08:002009-12-29T09:28:10.777-08:00I am Will
Well done as always Lark, great breakdo...I am Will<br /><br />Well done as always Lark, great breakdown.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com