Link Report for Games of Monday, August 18th

[JohnBriggs12]

How about Ben Ford?

 

65 K's and just 13 walks in 73 innings. This from a guy who last year had 83 K's and 74 walks in 142 innings.

 

If he keeps this up, those numbers should earn him a look in September.

[squarepusher]

Any Indy fans here know what Ben Ford and Shane Nance throw? Obviously, if they are just two-pitch pitchers, starting really isn't an option. Ben Ford was a starter at one point, I believe...

[clancyphile]

Ben Sheets has a fastball and a curve - he is trying to develop a change-up, but right now, he's pretty much got two pitches.

 

The only issue I've seen some people raise with Nance is the fact he's 5'8".

[colbyjack]

Everything I've heard says Sheets' changeup has been fine all year. The only reason he doesn't throw it at times from what I've heard is because he falls in love too much with his curveball.

 

Sheets is a 4-pitch pitcher. He has a 4-seam fastball that touches the mid to high-90s, an 2-seam sinker in the upper 80s to low-90s, a curve & a change.

 

What are you trying to do, compare Nance to Sheets?

[squarepusher]

The issue i'd raise with Nance is that he's stunk with every opportunity he's been given in Milwaukee.

 

Certainly it's not to say he can't become a decent MLB pitcher, but he needs to do something to get over the AAAA hump.

[JohnBriggs12]

I think Clancy meant to be commenting on Ben Ford, not Ben Sheets.

 

Whatever he's throwing, its been effective. The question I have is how much credit goes to Mike Caldwell?

 

Not to knock Mike Maddox but it would be nice someday to see Mike Caldwell back in Milwaukee. For those of us old enough to remember, back in the day, his confrontations with Reggie Jackson were classics.

[squarepusher]

No, Ben Sheets does only throw a fastball and a curveball (and a changeup, but not very often). He had that right...

 

Caldwell's certainly on his way to being back in Milwaukee, as he's risen through the ranks in a hurry. I wonder if it would be more effective though for him to help more in the development process, when kids are in the minors, than in Milwaukee trying to teach old dogs new tricks.

[igor67]

It's been only a short time and I'm sure that there'll be rough patches and adjustments as scouting reports go out, but it looks like reports about Weeks polish with the bat were exagerrated though his defense is clearly in need of some coaching. I can live with that, the question is can the midwest league?

[colbyjack]

Sheets throws 2 different fastballs. You can't really call them the same pitch. And he's been throwing his changeup more & more this year.

[DHonks]

Sheets throws 2 different fastballs. You can't really call them the same pitch. And he's been throwing his changeup more & more this year.

 

While I have yet to see him throw the changeup with confidence, let's also remember how pitchers change throughout their careers. I remember Greg Maddux saying in an interview that while he was a good pitcher with the Cubs, he didn't become dominant until his last year there when he finally realized the importance of a changeup and worked hard on it. Sure enough, it's been one of his best pitches for the last decade, especially since he no longer throws his heater in the 90's.

With Sheets, you're right on Colby. He has two fastballs. the 2 seamer regularly sits around 88-92and yields his groundballs. He decided last year to start throwing the 4 seamer on 2 strike counts (which resulted in higher strikeout totals), and so he catches a lot of guys by surprise in 2 strike counts by throwing 4 seamers up in the zone. For as good as his curve is, it seems he rarely get's strikeouts with it.

[JohnBriggs12]

I thought Clancy was responding to the post asking what Ben Ford throws and he mixed up his Bens.

 

Most of us have seen what Sheets throws. I have no idea what Ford features but he's 6'7".

 

With Ben Sheets, Matt Ford and Ben Ford all Brewer property, how long before they find a Matt Sheets?

 

Or another Dan Kolb?

[squarepusher]

[ Or another Dan Kolb? ]

 

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=111

 

http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Al the Thinking Man]

The issue i'd raise with Nance is that he's stunk with every opportunity he's been given in Milwaukee.

 

Is a handful of inings, while being used without a plan, indicative of what Shane can do? Hardly.

 

Pitch him every other day, or consistently, for half a season. The way he's been used thus far, he's a blank slate.

[lend d money]

With Scar going 5 for 5 in the DH, I was wondering if someone could provide me with some sort of splits on his season(say before & after july 1st). He had an absolutely dreadful start offensively, but has rebounded nicely. I have always admired his defensive capabilities, though I think he is better suited as a major league second baseman than shortstop. As mentioned before, I agree he could be a good utility infielder.