Woodruff conversation

[Bulldogboy]

Today Brandon Woodruff showed the kind of stuff that a year ago made him a top 75 prospect. Easy 97 with sharp slider looked every bit as good as some of the stuff we have seen from Burnes. There has been a ton of talk about why he hasn't gotten more of a shot to this point. He has seemingly been passed on the depth chart by Burnes and Freddy. In a year I think a rotation of Burnes Nelson fully recovered of course Freddy Woodruff with Chacin looks pretty good. I think the guy has the stuff to be pretty good. Thoughts? Future plans?

[Fear The Chorizo]

To be a quality MLB starter, Woodruff needs a better secondary pitch to get lefties out - whether that's a changeup, cutter, or good overhand curve remains to be seen. I view Woodruff like what Jimmy Nelson was about 3 seasons ago before he developed that curve and the consistency to command his pitches and attack hitters instead or racking up huge pitch counts nibbling.

 

Woodruff has the arm, hopefully he develops a bit more deception in his delivery and finds that 3rd MLB-quality pitch to be a rotation option next year. He may also be a trade candidate, but I think that would be selling relatively low on the potential he has. In 2018, he's been caught on the MLB/AAA shuttle and also between starting and relieving this year, but much of that is on him for not earning a regular turn in the MLB rotation early this season.

[Bulldogboy]

Very good points and I agree with just about all of them. The third pitch thing for sure. Haven't seen much in the way of a change up which would help also. His kind of arm is the kind I would like to see Brewers give every chance to work versus the trickster types like Davies and Suter.

[Jenkins5]

I think this year he has gotten in his own way the most. He was awful in Spring then was not overslept impressive when he got chances for most the year. That all comes from command not really being there. He has a Wily Peralta fastball. High velocity but little movement or deception usually. Command of the fastball & slider is critical to keep hitters off it. Like Wily, when he is able command slider, the 97 mph fastball is tough, even more so if he keeps it down & off the middle of plate. When he struggles, hitters just sit on fastball & wait for him to leave one where they want it.

 

Great points ahead. He needs to have solid & consistent 3rd pitch. Command hasn’t been an issue for him since he left Mississippi State so you figure he will or has gotten that fixed up a bit. As for being jumped. Burns has 4 pitches he can pull the strings on in any count along with 94+ velocity. Burns just has it out there. Peralta when he is able to get ball over plate is unhittable. He is deceptive & ball moves like crazy. Peralta got a chance & he ran with it. Woodruff simply didn’t run with his chances the way he did last August before hitting wall in September.

[clancyphile]

I wonder if Woodruff's future is in the pen, as a right-handed version of Hader.

 

Counsell's been talking about needing to manage innings for Hader after some interviews.

 

If you have a rotation that could consist of a mix of five of the following: Gonzales, Nelson, Burnes, Anderson, Miley, Davies, Guerra, Freddy Peralta, and Chacin, that's a lot of spots. Yes, Davies and Nelson have health questions, but... imagine, if you will, that Woodruff and one of Guerra or Peralta join Hader in the pen.

 

Now, this means Knebel, Barnes, and Taylor Williams likely get moved, but the Crew got a great return for Thornburg.

 

Now, got a lead in the sixth, Counsell has two or three options besides Hader...

 

The key isn't having one Andrew Miller - it's having two or three.

[coolhandluke121]

I wish they played Woodruff, but not because I think he'd be better than the alternative. I think he's going to continue to have growing pains and would be wildly inconsistent, but I'd like to see the Brewers work through those growing pains now rather than later because he could be a big asset when they peak in a few years.

 

Same goes for Peralta, Burnes, Williams, and Barnes. I understand the comfort level with more veteran players, but in the end they haven't been that much better or more consistent. I think they could have stayed in the wild card hunt with Woodruff out there a little more. It would have been tough to bench Guerra before his recent slump though. Hopefully we'll see some piggy-backing with 8 starters now available.

[Austin Tatious]

This is a great conversation. Everybody is different but I was going to make the Nelson comp too.

 

I like him in this role for now. His live arm can be a real factor.

 

I’ve said it before but, while Peralta is basically a one pitch pony, he typically has good movement and keeps hitters off balance. I think Woodruff needs to learn how to get hitters off balance more. I didn’t see it but four scoreless against Washington sure was nice.

 

If any starter gets into trouble early, he can jump in. I don’t know that he’s ready for Hader leverage but he can be a nice piece. He was critical to winning that Sunday game where Guerra couldn’t get through the early frames. It’s great having a guy like that. That was a highlight.

[brewmann04]

I hope they start Woodruff or Gio instead of Guerra.