Pictures/Observations from T-Rats on 5/2/09

[CheezWizHed]

Last Saturday, I was over in the area, so I stopped in to see the T-Rats play. Unfortunately, they were beaten soundly, but it was fun none-the-less. I'll offer my amateur scout opinion (my scouting being amateur that is...)

Trey Watten started the game. Looked like he had a 89-90 MPH fastball, 84 slider and 79 MPH changeup. From my angle, I really couldn't see left-right action, just up/down. He did really well for 5 innings, no-hitter through 3. He kept the hitters off balance really well. Lots of swings out in front of the pitch. Reminded me or David Bush (although I couldn't tell if his fastball was straight or moved like Bush's).
In the 6th, he just lost it completely. FB was down to 86, lost all control of everything else and was getting hit hard. Report later said they are trying to stretch him out, but the fans were pretty upset that they left him in that long.

http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/5ca26a2360e4c341f5168930a3384476e62eb81d.pjpg

Lawrie has a really nice swing. Everything he hit was pretty hard. Even when it was an out. Just crushed a triple into a stiff wind. Probably was a homer without the wind. Still, pretty impressive to leg out a triple on a ball hit to left-center. Defense is a work in progress. He had three easy grounders without incident, although one was almost beat out because he waited back on a hop. He had a bad cut-off from RF (Roger Dorn-like Ole'), that allowed a runner to score from 3rd. I also noticed he had a Hardy-esque batting stance. Wide open and steps into the pitch.
http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/db326c037fe37356f8d6f031bc9e01eda876a04c.pjpghttp://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/b243670f3506e9733140f3426750376012671ff3.pjpg
Standing on third after the triple here...

Kemp was the DH. He also hit the ball pretty well, but does look short out there.
http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/fa736cef312be4aa3fd5f24f6d9a33d24a022fa1.pjpg

Dykstra was pretty raw in CF. A few balls hit over his head, and he kept turning to look back. Just needs more work... But he did get a bunt hit, so they threw sausages out to the crowd for a promotion. Unfortunately, I didn't get one...
http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/b91262c3a7e963c2f696b43114e6d6c9002a6384.pjpg

Miller takes one high and tight...
http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/21a2696345e4536dfeb67b31fdba84dc5c20b885.pjpg

Panarama view (not my best... there is no "hill" from 2nd to 3rd base... http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif
http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/41a2647339e8c303fc26123abae8cba05b559a54.pjpg

[pogokat]

Thanks for taking the time to do this...i beg you, please do it as often as possible during the season..

 

outside of top draft picks, we rarely get first hand accounts on players after the draft...you've probably noticed how hard it is to find out the velocity a pitcher throws at when they aren't jeremy jeffress...

 

omne suggestion---don't depend on the field speed gun---they are usually off by a couple mph...i recommend seeing if a scout or one of the off day starters is using a stalker gun---if so, just chill behind them and read it, or go and ask what the pitcher's throwing...i've never had anyone turn me don on a request, and usually you can chat with them for a bit and get some interesting information...

[CheezWizHed]

No problem, it was fun to play scout for the day. Unfortunately, I live 4 hours from Appleton, so this was probably it for me. The radar was the field gun, so take that with a grain of salt, but it didn't seem fast. The Lugnut's starter was hitting 91-92...

[brewmann04]

Great Pics and much appreciated your hard work ,Great to see the young kids up close

[TooLiveBrew]

Thanks for taking the time to do this...i beg you, please do it as often as possible during the season.

 

Ditto -- really appreciated, CheezWiz. The panoramic shot (even with its magical hill!) really gives a nice view of the ballpark. I hadn't gotten a good look at it, so thanks.

 

I'll also echo pogo's suggestion to chat up any scouts. As long as you let them work, shouldn't be any problem... guys probably appreciate talking to educated fans every now & then. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif