What You Have Seen So Far From Your Team

Bundy pitched once so far this spring in the major league camp before getting reassigned. Posted this earlier but he faced AGon, Ellsbury, a scrub, and Dustin Pedroia. Walked Ped to start the inning, and then retired the other three throwing 17 pitches(all fastballs) topping out at 97.

Machado played in a few games coming in as a reserve. 8 total AB’s, 1 single, and 1 K. Again he’s only 19 and he came in usually around the 7th in his games so he was facing fringe starters, bullpen arms, and AAA players. However he has looked fantastic in the field. He made in my opinion a top 10 play in the first ST game for the O’s where he made a diving stop past 2nd base and threw teh runner out from his knees. Didn’t have an error.

Jake Arrieta - Had surgery last fall to remove bone spurs that he’s apparently had since A ball(3+ years) Struggled a bit today giving up 4 ER, but was fine in his previous outings but the really intriguing thing is that all spring he has been lighting up the radar gun. Today he was at 97 multiple times through 44 pitches. In his service so far in the majors(2 years) and fangraphs show he’s hit 97 once in his major league career- his MLB debut. Usually in the 92-95 range. He always had a high K/9 in the minors before this velocity burst so he may surprise.

Brian Matusz After one of the worst seasons ever for a major league pitcher in 2011, Matusz went to work in the offseason. Mostly conditioning and has show up to ST in the best sape of his life per him. His struggles last year were mostly poor conditioning entering ST and an injury that kept him out of the game for two months. He had one of the best 2nd halfs of the season in the majors to end 2010 so last year was concerning. This spring he has looked great. in 4 innings the other day he allowed o runs 0 walks and 4 k’s. Also had an unexplicable velocity dip post injury and so far this spring it is back to his normal 90-93 range. He has the stuff but he needs the confidence and a great spring may bring him back to the ace everyone thought he had become at the end of 2010. Well I can dream at least.

Also impressive so far has been Xavier Avery, and Chris Tillman

I’m not in Arizona, but I can say a few things that have been going on.
Hector Noesi- has reportedly looked super good so far. He hit 97mph a couple times in one of his starts and is sitting 94-95, which would back up the reports from the Winter Leagues that Noesi was pitching a lot harder this year.
Vincent Catricala- has been hitting the tar out of the ball. The defense reports are still awful, but he’s really impressed with the bat.
Michael Saunders- I am still skeptical, but Saunders has restored some hope. He has been hitting the ball the opposite way with power, and laying off pitches away, which have been his two main issues in the majors.

I’ve only gotten to see a couple games on MLB.TV but it’s been nice to see the prospects play.

Yonder Alonso - 1B He looks a little jumpy at the plate. He’s over swinging a bit and it’s causing a fair number of swinging strikes. I’m sure he’ll relax and return to form but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him slump a little to start the season. The plate discipline is still there though. I’m not worried, he’ll settle in.

Jeudy Valdez - SS Very impressed with what I saw. He doesn’t swing at bad pitches. Looks very composed and confident at the plate. In the field he has good range and instincts. Good speed on the bases. He muffed a relay but no big deal. Experience will make him better. Even the away announcers remarked how he “looked like a big leaguer”.

Jaff Decker - OF He seems to have taken advice about not being to passive at the plate. He’s jumping on some first pitch fastballs and launching rockets. If you couple that ability with his terrific on base skills you’ve got the potential for a monster year at AAA. Physically, he’s maturing past the baby fat stage and is morphing into a barrel chested slugger. I know people like the Matt Stairs comp but I think another comp that works, at least at the plate, could be the San Diego version of Brian Giles. Not the 40 homer guy, the moderate power, excellent on base guy he was in San Diego.

Rhymer Liriano - OF Well…that’s certainly an interesting body. For a guy who stole 68 bases I was expecting a more svelte player. No, but seriously, I think he might thicken out and lose some athleticism later on. However, he’s looked good at the plate and in the field so far.

Juan Oramas - LHP Not impressed at all. I’ll allow for the fact it’s spring training and that might the result of everything being up in the zone. But his stuff is just not that good. He wasn’t fooling anyone with anything.

Dustin Moseley - SP Here’s a tip for you fantasy guys. Pick this dude. He looks fantastic and he’s not that well known. He can sneak a two seamer on the outside corner and has a nice curve he pitches in with.

Andrelton Simmons- Glove looks to be as advertised, looks a lot bigger than I had imagined and reminds me of Yunel Escobar from a distance….def making every attempt to push Pastor out of the starting gig…

Tyler Pastronicky-Bat hasn’t come around and will need to at least match Simmons to quell the critics.

Mike Minor- Looks like he’s attempting to cash the check his mouth recently wrote. Has been on his game thus far.

Arodys Vizciano- Injured again, would have been a major contributor to the pen and possibly an outside candidate for the rotation.

Sean Gilmartin-In limited innings he’s done what he’s had to do impressively, limited walks and runs while getting outs, as mentioned he could/should be a fast mover.

Joey (I hate my nicknames) Terdoslavich-Power is there but where does he play…has glaring defensive inefficiencies at first base in Lynchburg. Speculations that he will be moved to the outfield are understandable but here’s hoping he gets every opportunity to play himself off of third.