There was a fawning/glowing article on Darwinzon Hernandez the other day. He’s put up eye popping K/9 numbers since switching to the pen pat last season and in the Arizona Fall League. Even though he’s just 22 and had success in A+ as a starter, they seem to be seriously considering him for the pen. Same thing with Shawaren, who’s developing nicely as a starter but getting some pen acclimation this spring.
Yeah, o.k. And then that guy had Thoracic Outlet Surgery, which is proving to be worse for your pitching career than a torn labrum.
I'm not very high on him either but there's a reason Thornburg is getting innings this preseason.
The fact that he's getting innings means the team wants to see if he's got anything left. It doesn't mean he does have anything left.
Ahh, got it. I thought you were saying he was getting innings because the team was already committed to giving him a role. My bad.
Based upon the fact that he was working out and throwing last spring while his infant daughter was having serious health issues, I think it's safe to assume that he's been doing so again this spring (perhaps to an even greater extent being that, thankfully, there are no such health concerns this spring).
Guessing the face-saving offer of 1/18 that he turned down in November isn’t there now.
First spring appearances are about as close to meaningless as it gets.Barnes also gave up 3 XBH in his first spring appearance.
That’s cool, it leaves time to worry about Thornburg. Bombed again yesterday and has a 3.00 WHIP through 4 appearances this spring.
Fields has now cleared waivers and is available for the minimum. Hardly someone to freak out about but if he’s healthy he’d have the third highest fastball velocity in the pen behind Barnes and Brasier. His pitch mix is virtually identical to Thornburg’s.
Per the radio broadcast today, he was supposed to pitch today but for whatever reason never got into the game.
Hansen was another victim of thoracic outlet. They really should have nontendered Thornburg. He’s very likely done.
What do you mean?
I sure hope they do.
Pretty sure his contract was/is non guaranteed. I'm not sure how it works or when they have to cut him before it's guaranteed.
If the Sox hadn’t just won the WS, I think DD would be getting a lot less deference and people would be way more up in arms about this.
I believe the only non-guaranteed contracts are those awarded through the arbitration process. If the team and the player agree to a deal that avoids arbitration, it's a standard guaranteed deal like everyone else gets.
Meh, it’s one thing on a list of issues. Nitpick.
I think you are right, but the Workman hand-wringing has a lot to do a concerning decline in velocity. Not that he is a solution to the bullpen issues even at his best (which was 2013 IIRC).
I feel like there has to be a better response for "well, I'm concerned about X player from what I've seen in spring training" than "well, spring training doesn't mean anything." I mean, yes, there is often thigns going on that have nothing to do with results (say, a pitcher working on a specific pitch or trying to pound the zone) but....there has to be SOMETHING we can try to take away from these games. Otherwise, why take note of them at all? A decline in velocity (especially if its unusual for a pitcher at this stage of ramping up) has to at least be some cause for concern. Ditto Thornburg---yeah, I understand that he may be focused on things other than results---but getting repeatedly torched is at least concerning.
You're assuming there's a reason to take note of them, or at least, for fans to take note of them. I'm not sure that's a valid assumption.
