Case Fo' the Marc-O
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Bat571 and Billy Zoom are impressively un-impressed by the Think Tank's tirade against the Tank deal. Winning a minors argument against G-Money (and Dr. D among others) is about as easy as taking down Johnny Cochrane in open court, but ... Bat571 sez
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If you look at his Brooks Baseball player card, it looks as though he was still sorting out his release point in '14. As he did, his velocity crept up. The Cardinals used him against the Dodgers and Giants in that post-season, so somebody saw something.
So, we got a TJ-recovering southpaw who was considered a top prospect when his release point was all over the place. We gave up a guy who *might* become a regular OF, but also might be the next Rob Deer. To me, that isn't that bad a trade when the inventories of the two teams are considered.
Marco is just getting to the point where TJ guys are getting their feel and velocity in hand. He didn't pitch in April, and didn't have a good May. Since June 18th, when the Cards sent him back to Memphis after using him in a double-header: 5G, 5W, 32IP, 34K, 7BB, 7R/ER, 22Hits, 2HR, 3HBP. That looks to me like he's coming around and Jerry Dipoto said "NOW!" -----> 34 Ks and 7 BBs in 32 IP -- is that controlling the zone? 22 Hits in 32 IP --- is that limiting damage?
... In the 2014 post-season, he made some pretty good Dodger hitters sit down, then didn't do quite as well in his 3rd game against the Giants. But he pitched in 5 games without getting scored on, before the Giants scored 3 on a hit and a walk in the 6th postseason game he pitched - and that just over a year after pitching for Gonzaga. There's some skill and moxie there - I guess that's what I saw that I really like: the moxie to simply go at guys even knowing you're overmatched. Do we have any other pitchers who are 2-1 in postseason play?
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Zoom has also insisted on these very points. Also on the defense table's side of the deal is Diderot, who correctly notes Leonys Martin and Boog Powell as important #5-6 outfielders in our system. Self-appointed SSI king-priest Dr. D is forced to rule all of this Marco evidence as admissible:
√ The real question on a lefty with Chris Capuano stuff is whether he has "IT," whether he has grace and balance (for plus control) and a feel for pitchability. Gonzalez' 78 MPH deadfish change used to be a plus-plus pitch.
√ The St. Louis Cardinals, who sit North of our own club on the baseball totem pole, deemed the kid suitable for postseason performance a couple years back. Marco showed them right, too. This is no small consideration, jury folk.
√ Bat571's argument and stats about the post-June 18 performance are worth consideration. Worth a cheerful mood, actually :- ) but the judge isn't supposed to say that.
IFF Marco turns out to be a changeup lefty who has "IT" -- like Beuhrle, Romero, and Vargas did -- then, yeah, Bat and Zoom are just as liable to win this case on behalf of Dipoto.
Getting excited to see Marco c'mon up here and show us what he's got.
Enjoy,
Dr D