There's reason to believe Ottavino's 2018 wasn't smoke and mirrors. He basically scrapped his 4 seamer. Walk rate dipped, k rate jumped. Has a killer slider now.
He was actually even better @ Coors (2.10 ERA, 0.757 WHIP)
He really worked on his craft and I think what he's doing is fairly sustainable.
BUT...
There's one major issue with Ottavino and it's that he can't control the run game. He's very slow to the plate and the 25% steal rate against him was the highest in baseball.
I'm not concerned with regression as a pitcher - I am concerned with this.
$25 mill on a guy that at 33 y/o all of a sudden finds nirvana after years of mediocrity. But that is up to Cash and his scouts to believe it and take a chance.
Remember, Kahnle all of a sudden found 98/99 mph and then poof, it was gone and he was 27.
$25 mill on a guy that at 33 y/o all of a sudden finds nirvana after years of mediocrity. But that is up to Cash and his scouts to believe it and take a chance.
Remember, Kahnle all of a sudden found 98/99 mph and then poof, it was gone and he was 27.
Kahnle always threw hard- he was a mid-upper 90's guy when the Yanks drafted him years ago. It was control and command that eluded him for years.
Kahnle put it together under Cooper's tutelage in Chicago- and now he needs to prove that he is effective away from Cooper.
Ottavino was elite last year. Other than 2017 (when he stunk) Â
$25 mill on a guy that at 33 y/o all of a sudden finds nirvana after years of mediocrity. But that is up to Cash and his scouts to believe it and take a chance.
Remember, Kahnle all of a sudden found 98/99 mph and then poof, it was gone and he was 27.
Kahnle always threw hard- he was a mid-upper 90's guy when the Yanks drafted him years ago. It was control and command that eluded him for years.
Kahnle put it together under Cooper's tutelage in Chicago- and now he needs to prove that he is effective away from Cooper.
Yes, he threw in the mid/upper mid 90's but was wild, true. But all of a sudden he got to 98/99 and gained his control, yes. And then he lost velocity and control last year (injury?).
My point was Ottavino is not a sure fire certainty to repeat in 2019 after "finding it" in 2018.
Kahnle isn't a great comp - it's not a velo thing with Ottavino, it's approach. If the only thing that changed was that Ottavino was throwing harder, I'd be skeptical too - but that's not what led to his excellent 2018 season.
Kahnle isn't a great comp - it's not a velo thing with Ottavino, it's approach. If the only thing that changed was that Ottavino was throwing harder, I'd be skeptical too - but that's not what led to his excellent 2018 season.
Agree with this 100% on Ottavino.
The thing about Kahnle is he cost only 1.5M this year and if you get the player that averaged 98.5MPH on his FB in 2017 versus the guy that topped out last year at 97.5 it's a big win for NYY. The top FA relievers should all be off the board by Friday, so let's see where Ottavino lands - anywhere but Boston...
and Britton is a legit closer. Signing Britton makes sense simply because the Yankees have a group of hard throwing righties to vie for Robertson's innings. Green, Holder, Kahnle and a bunch of young guys should be able to fill Robertson's shoes.
if the Yankees are really pussy-footing the Machado situation or are lukewarm to a level that they're really willing to lose out on him...
sure, in a vacuum, not paying $250M-$300M can be defended.
But putting all of that aside -- do we really think Cashman is prepared to trot out a left-side IF of Andujar and Tulo for what could easily be 100+ games in a season where a WS title is the realistic expectation?
I have to think it's a "no". And that's what makes me think they do what it takes to get Machado or that there is yet another contingency plan for 3B/SS if he doesn't sign.
if the Yankees are really pussy-footing the Machado situation or are lukewarm to a level that they're really willing to lose out on him...
sure, in a vacuum, not paying $250M-$300M can be defended.
But putting all of that aside -- do we really think Cashman is prepared to trot out a left-side IF of Andujar and Tulo for what could easily be 100+ games in a season where a WS title is the realistic expectation?
I have to think it's a "no". And that's what makes me think they do what it takes to get Machado or that there is yet another contingency plan for 3B/SS if he doesn't sign.
I was thinking about this yesterday. We don't even know if Tulo's body can hold up at all, let alone to play short at an average level. Those two combined with Voit's defensive liabilities would make for one porous infield.
Recent history says absolutely not, but Tulo gives the Yanks another option to work with to piece it together until Didi gets back. Tulo along with Tyler Wade, Thairo Estrada and Hanser Alberto gives the Yanks four legit defensive shortstops to work with. If none work out, Cashman will have to swing a deal for a stopgap.
CC cleared to work out and resume baseball activities Â
He was actually even better @ Coors (2.10 ERA, 0.757 WHIP)
He really worked on his craft and I think what he's doing is fairly sustainable.
BUT...
There's one major issue with Ottavino and it's that he can't control the run game. He's very slow to the plate and the 25% steal rate against him was the highest in baseball.
I'm not concerned with regression as a pitcher - I am concerned with this.
Remember, Kahnle all of a sudden found 98/99 mph and then poof, it was gone and he was 27.
Remember, Kahnle all of a sudden found 98/99 mph and then poof, it was gone and he was 27.
Kahnle always threw hard- he was a mid-upper 90's guy when the Yanks drafted him years ago. It was control and command that eluded him for years.
Kahnle put it together under Cooper's tutelage in Chicago- and now he needs to prove that he is effective away from Cooper.
Quote:
$25 mill on a guy that at 33 y/o all of a sudden finds nirvana after years of mediocrity. But that is up to Cash and his scouts to believe it and take a chance.
Remember, Kahnle all of a sudden found 98/99 mph and then poof, it was gone and he was 27.
Kahnle always threw hard- he was a mid-upper 90's guy when the Yanks drafted him years ago. It was control and command that eluded him for years.
Kahnle put it together under Cooper's tutelage in Chicago- and now he needs to prove that he is effective away from Cooper.
Yes, he threw in the mid/upper mid 90's but was wild, true. But all of a sudden he got to 98/99 and gained his control, yes. And then he lost velocity and control last year (injury?).
My point was Ottavino is not a sure fire certainty to repeat in 2019 after "finding it" in 2018.
Agree with this 100% on Ottavino.
The thing about Kahnle is he cost only 1.5M this year and if you get the player that averaged 98.5MPH on his FB in 2017 versus the guy that topped out last year at 97.5 it's a big win for NYY. The top FA relievers should all be off the board by Friday, so let's see where Ottavino lands - anywhere but Boston...
sure, in a vacuum, not paying $250M-$300M can be defended.
But putting all of that aside -- do we really think Cashman is prepared to trot out a left-side IF of Andujar and Tulo for what could easily be 100+ games in a season where a WS title is the realistic expectation?
I have to think it's a "no". And that's what makes me think they do what it takes to get Machado or that there is yet another contingency plan for 3B/SS if he doesn't sign.
sure, in a vacuum, not paying $250M-$300M can be defended.
But putting all of that aside -- do we really think Cashman is prepared to trot out a left-side IF of Andujar and Tulo for what could easily be 100+ games in a season where a WS title is the realistic expectation?
I have to think it's a "no". And that's what makes me think they do what it takes to get Machado or that there is yet another contingency plan for 3B/SS if he doesn't sign.
I was thinking about this yesterday. We don't even know if Tulo's body can hold up at all, let alone to play short at an average level. Those two combined with Voit's defensive liabilities would make for one porous infield.