3/21/05 - Brewers (Capuano) @ Padres (May), 2:00 PM CT

[hermanator34]

W Helms c 4 0 0 0

 

Obviously just a typo, but Helms catching? That would be an ugly sight. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/laugh.gif

 

Nice day by Rickie as well.

[DHonks]

Its better to be wild in the zone, than not IN the zone, or straight in the zone.

 

I would argue this point. A starting pitcher can be wild in the zone more than a reliever. Why? Early in games, guys go up there trying to work the count, knock the starter out early, see pitches, etc. So if they see a fastball that they don't like, they might take it. Later in the game, you swing at the first good pitch you see from a reliever. If he's aiming away at the knees and leaves it belt high or higher, that pitch will be pounded.

 

Also, I'd rather be wild out of the zone than in the zone. Why was Jeff D'Amico so darn good in the summer of '00? It's because he only didn't his locations when his curve was in the dirt or the fastball was unhittable inside. Making a mistake in the zone should wind up in the seats. Making a mistake out of the zone leads to a ball.

 

 

and Hardy, the quoting isn't something people are demanding because they are annoyed with it, they're asking for it because they want to read what you say. However, I'm sure that I have read your quotes in over half your posts and overlooked your personal statements, thinking they are a signature. I'm sure this is why people have been mentioning it so much lately

[DHonks]

Nice day by Rickie as well.

 

yeah, because those three hits were more important than costing us the game by being lazy

[scoop53714]

lazy?? for those of us who have no idea what you are refering to, do you mind explaining?

[hermanator34]

yeah, because those three hits were more important than costing us the game by being lazy

 

DH, what did I miss? I missed the game this afternoon and was just browsing the box. I assume we must have another entry in the Rickie Weeks defensive woes file... http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/mad.gif

[hardytheman]

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I don't understand "wild in the zone" as having much (if anything) to do with movement; rather it's all a matter of control. You know, in general, what kind of movement your pitches have. If you're hitting the wrong side of the plate, that shows a lack of command, not somehow some positive movement (as opposed to "straight" pitches). I would argue that it's actually better to be "effectively wild" (i.e. OUT of the zone), than be throwing strikes when you don't know what part of the plate it's going to end up in.

Thoughts?

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My thoughts are directly related to a guy like Turnbow. He throws massively hard and IMO will never be a guy that is going to paint the corner with a 95 MPH fastball consistently, so if thats the case, Id rather have a guy that has wildness/movement in the zone, than a guy that throws 95MPH but cant get it over the plate, or throws that hard but its straight as an arrow.

 

Of course Id love it ifhe could gain excellent control, etc. but name 20 extremely hard throwing relievers that have excellent control? Id bet most of them are guys who throw hard and are labeled as being wild in the zone not guys with excellent command, if they are successful at all.

 

Also, I still think his lack of a successful offspeed pitch is more of a problem than him not being able to hit the corners consistently enough, right now at least as his former problem was throwing strikes with the fastball.

 

Does that make better sense of what Im trying to say?

 

Wanted to add one more thing. Dhonks, i totally see what you are saying, it would apply IMO if he were a guy that threw in the upper 80s, like Hendrickson, but with a guy that throws in the upper 90s, you cant expect him to be a guy with great control, youre best bet, if you want him to suceed, is for him to be able to hit the strike zone with movement/wildness instead of a straight ball, or out of the zone entirely.

[DHonks]

scoop and herminator, I was listening on XM and the Padres announcers basically were talking about how the Brewers defense gave the game away in the 9th. Routine chopper up the middle that Weeks nonchalantly went after, resulting in a "hit"--although the announcers felt it was only a hit because of the lack of effort. If he goes after it with some sense of urgency as he should do, especially in the 9th inning of a close game, then the ball game would have been over, 3-2 win I believe. Sorry I didn't mention that before

[hardytheman]

Quote:

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although the announcers felt it was only a hit because of the lack of effort. If he goes after it with some sense of urgency as he should do, especially in the 9th inning of a close game, then the ball game would have been over, 3-2 win I believe. Sorry I didn't mention that before

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If thats the case, then I would bet that Ned is on him bigtime right now.

 

 

There is no excuse to not hustle in any game IMO. Even if it is spring training, this is the time you learn habits, good and bad.

[rluzinski]

Weeks stayed back on a grounder and apparently didn't get rid of the ball quickly. That's OK, he's not really a 2B anyway.

 

Could he handle 3B?

 

**Weeks' slide down the defensive spectrum will begin shortly***

[Anders34]

Yikes.....tough crowd. I'm sure that the ball could have been played better but I highly doubt that single play made or broke the game on its own. Give the kid a chance. Is staying back on a ball laziness or could it be indecision?? I think it will be pretty tough to tell the difference between the two and I will give him the benefit of the doubt. That said, this will be an important year for Rickie to improve again in the field.

 

In a game against Rockies a few weeks ago, the Rockies announcers were talking about Ian Stewart and how some people will be disappointed if "he's not in the hall of fame after his first 6 years". Basically, I liked the comment because we do need to manage our expectations in regards to our prospects. Each of them will have a weakness.

[dadofandrew]

Hilarious. This is the same day Yost was quoted as saying Clark shouldn't be diving in the OF, and that Jenkins, who let a ball get past him, played it right.

 

It's March, it's meaningless. Get a grip.

[H0FFY]

I think there is quite a difference between diving kamakazi style in the outfield and hustling for a ground ball. If Weeks made a mistake by being lazy.... ouch. Is Weeks the new Ronnie Belliard???

 

I am really interested if Weeks would be a good third baseman. I read (I dont know if it is true) for over a year about him being defensively challenged at 2nd. And we seem to have 2nd baseman coming out of our ears. But my preference is to have Branyan swatting 50 a year at third base and Richie Weeks playing super at 2nd.

 

*edit* sorry, I mean , Ritchie Weeks.

[ja002h]

Is Weeks the new Ronnie Belliard???

 

I know it's the nature of fanaticism, but it seems a tad ridiculous to postulate this based on one spring training ground ball.