Gamethread: Braves vs Mets - 4/17/12

[Andy G.]

Originally Posted by Hobbes

I do think that Fredi likes the idea of keeping him stretched out in case he is needed in the rotation. Plus, the Braves have certainly needed a lot of long relief so far this season.

It's a good point, and I think you're right, especially after tonight.

[Freddy_Ballgame]

So far, Medlen shows the best grasp of how to pitch of any of the young starter-types. If Hanson doesn't start looking like front of the staff guy, he may be on the block with JJ! He doesn't look like he's progressed much at all. Medlen reminds me of a young Gregg Maddux. Not that anyone will ever match Greggie for command and pitching intellect, but Medlen's on that path. He knows how to pitch and shows more guts each time out. I hope they aren't wasting him in the pen. I may be tempted to push one of the guys who has a hard time getting through 5 innings under 100 pitches to the pen.
Please, before you blow a fuse, I'm not suggesting Medlen is an equal to or will ever approach Maddux. I am simply describing his makeup in terms most should recognize.

[BFH]

Nice to see Freddie Freeman come through tonight. He sorely needed a good game at the plate and came through in a big way today. Hopefully the ball keeps rolling for him and he starts turning the results around from the early season.

[BFH]

Originally Posted by Freddy_Ballgame

So far, Medlen shows the best grasp of how to pitch of any of the young starter-types. If Hanson doesn't start looking like front of the staff guy, he may be on the block with JJ! He doesn't look like he's progressed much at all. Medlen reminds me of a young Gregg Maddux. Not that anyone will ever match Greggie for command and pitching intellect, but Medlen's on that path. He knows how to pitch and shows more guts each time out. I hope they aren't wasting him in the pen. I may be tempted to push one of the guys who has a hard time getting through 5 innings under 100 pitches to the pen.
Please, before you blow a fuse, I'm not suggesting Medlen is an equal to or will ever approach Maddux. I am simply describing his makeup in terms most should recognize.

Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm going to disagree....but only slightly.

I do think Medlen can be a serviceable starter...but in no way do I feel he would ever be a front-line guy. That's not a reference to your Greg Maddux comparison, but just what I've observed of his stuff. He will make due as a starter based on his grit and know-how which you've mentioned, but overall I think he'd be nothing more than a 3rd or 4th starter--which isn't all that bad a thing.

As a reliever, however, Medlen is proving what I've felt about him since I saw him pitch a few times in the Hawaii winter league a bunch of years ago. This guy's stuff absolutely plays up as a reliever and he is pretty filthy in shorter stints. As a reliever, I think we've got an elite guy.

For me...it comes down to just that. His value, again based on what I've observed, maximizes in relief. We can milk a start or two out of him in an emergency situation which a lot of folks have been talking about lately with the speculation that Fredi's keeping him stretched out...but he'll help us most in the role he's being currently used in.

That said....the Braves are stocked with guys who are 3rd or 4th starters on their average days and aces when they are on. You mentioned Hanson...and despite a slower start we know what he's been capable of in the past and I think he's earned the patience to be judged on more than a couple starts. Hell...if he's been "bad" and not what we've expected, I'd be interested to see what he looks like when he's good. He's just about at 1 K per inning and the opposition is batting .238 against him. Again...if that's what he's like when he's not on his game, I think we owe him to be patient and see if he can turn it on later.

As for Jurrjens...the knee really seems to be holding him back and I know it's early, but I'm fearing that biding our time and milking his luck is going to catch up with us. I hope it's not that...but I've long said we've been on borrowed time with Jurrjens and I'm going to pray before I go to bed that Jurrjens regains some velocity real soon so his changeup gains more differential. That's the only way we're going to be able to milk his luck again...and eventually move him for something worthwhile.

And...well, it's getting long for a game thread, but I think Randall Delgado showed tonight what the Braves are being patient for. I still don't necessarily believe Delgado's going to be some kind of front line guy....but tonight's effort was absolutely solid for a potential middle rotation guy and from all accounts, Teheran's floor will be that type of performance in the future. The future is absolutely positively bright...and I think that's why the Braves are "wasting" Medlen in the bullpen.

Then again....when you think of it that way, it's not "wasting" him. It's having the supreme luxury of being able to use Medlen in a role where he will be one of the best in the game. On any other team he'd be an average 4th starter....on the Braves, he's going to be part of the best bullpen anyone's seen in a long, long time....and that's including last year's frickdiculous performance from the three-headed monster named O'Ventbrel.

[FrankEC]

Originally Posted by bravos4evr

Heyward is gonna have an MVP type year I suspect as his plate discipline and all fields batting has returned.

9-3 into the 9th

Could not agree more. Whatever was plaguing his swing mechanics last year - whether it was his injured thumb or just something in his head - has definitely been fixed. He is going to have a monster year.

[Andy G.]

Originally Posted by FrankEC

Could not agree more. Whatever was plaguing his swing mechanics last year - whether it was his injured thumb or just something in his head - has definitely been fixed. He is going to have a monster year.

He did the work.

"We broke the parts of the swing down," Stewart said. "You've got your stance, and you've got your load. You have your approach to the ball and your body alignment. Then you have your body alignment on your extension, and then the body alignment on your finish.

"Once you get those parts down, we have to make sure your tempo is good, and then it's timing."

For each of those points of emphasis, Stewart required Heyward to perform them 3,000 times before moving on. Added Stewart, "This wasn't just hitting balls off the tee, and then say, 'Remember what you're doing.' No, it was some resistance drills. It was a ton of stuff.

"We were going to do 3,000 reps so we could develop a habit."

Sounds good. But with Walker also providing more than a few offseason tweaks to Heyward's swing and Fletcher adding a few more, along with Jones, it makes you wonder if Heyward's head is about to explode whenever he leaves the on-deck circle.

"No, that won't be the case for Jason, because we started out on our end in October just getting Jason back to the basics," Stewart said. "We did things to allow him to become comfortable physically and also for Jason to be ready to receive instruction. It's kind of like having a vehicle [as in Stewart's role], and then having that vehicle customized [as in the roles of Walker, Fletcher and Jones]."

There's no stopping this guy, and the great thing is he doesn't just give you offense. Heyward is the complete package as a baseball player. He's phenomenal.

[Freddy_Ballgame]

I follow you, Bryce, I know you've always said you thought Medlen would be best in the pen. You may be right. I was impressed with him as a starter and his knowledge of the science of pitching, if you will. He has been able to pitch deeper into games already and the rotation was needing that when I mentioned this. If he's a 3-4 type, we'll have a heck of a staff! When he's "on," he's very, very good. He's good when he's not "on." Looking back, my choice of the word "wasting" was a poor one. If I could find a word to describe "not taking full advantage of" I'll use it! As things have progressed, Medlen may be invaluable in the pen. I figure they'll "use up" Hernandez and Durbin, if either lasts, before the All Star Break, keeping the other guys stronger for the stretch run. We shouldn't see any of our better relievers in a blowout unless they just need the work. That should prove to be genius, if it works! I like that type of thinking "outside the box," just like I still like my notion of having a pitching coach who specializes in young lefties! It just makes sense to me!