Which tools translate the worst as you advance?

[igor67]

Kind of hard to explain what I'm talking about in one sentence. But we've all seen the one trick minor league wonders who burn out as they advance. The Esix Snead all speed player, the Jose Mercedes deceptive breaking ball, the All power pitcher no control, the swing for the fences only player, the occaisonal walk-aholic. My question is which one of these tools leads to the most deceptive lower minor league stats?

 

I think speed is the worst offender with all of the different ways that speed can inflate batting average against lower level competition, and of course the ridiculous steal totals.

Followed probably by the breaking ball no fastball pitcher, and then free swingers

[colbyjack]

Interesting question igor, and I think I agree with your overall assessment.

 

I think pitchers with shaky command and overall control get exposed the most as they move up. You can see a flamethrower dominate in the lower levels, but if they can't throw a strike or a consistent breaking ball as they move up, they're going to struggle.

 

On the flip side you may often see a polished college pitcher that has very good command yet marginal stuff at best flourish in the lower levels only to struggle more as they reach the higher levels when the better hitters learn to lay off their breaking stuff and tee off on their fastballs. I think we're going to see that with Robert Woodard, currently a senior RHP at UNC, in a few years once he's pitching professionally.

[GagneCY03]

I'd say for hitters, poor plate discipline kills hitting prospects the most.