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Eric Longenhagen Prospects Chat
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Eric A Longenhagen
12:50
Like them both as role players, not studs. Arizona is so injured that I'd have to think they're thinnest in front of Gino.
What’s in a name
12:50
Talk me off the “Anthony Nunez is the new Cade Smith” ledge before I hurt myself from overexcitement. He has the great sweeper, changeup / splitter with excellent depth, and now the four-seam is 96-97 with 18-19 vert…
Eric A Longenhagen
12:50
I will not
Guards! Guards!
12:50
I asked Brendan about short levers being a measurable or vibes, and he stated it was a measurable. Does any team actually care and/or measure arm-length in the sense of swing biomechanics, or is it just sort baked into the whole package by the time a player is drafted?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:52
Teams are tracking it. I wanted to snap a pic of the tablet the scout was using in front of me last night as an example of how many different characteristics like that were being tracked, subjectively or otherwise. Swing length and lever length are different things but it's more feasible for me to look at a guy and make an assessment of the physical trait than it is to assess swing length in the same way Savant does it.
You
You'd be surprised how many things the Hawkeye tech can track about a player's body and movement.
Ozzie
12:52
If Dax Whitney were eligible, would he be the top pitcher taken in the upcoming draft?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:52
Him or Flora
Ozzie
12:53
Sal Stewart looks like the real deal. Given the end of last season and the hot start this season, do you think you were a bit low on the power grade?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:53
Looking that way. Totally reshaped his body. Love the kid's energy and intensity. I'll have to hang my hat on being high guy on him pre-draft because since then I've been too low.
FannyGraphy
12:55
Are certain type pitching prospects more likely to learn new pitches? Does that get projected in their future value? Like certain body or arm slot types?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:58
I've tended to project changeups more aggressively for pitchers with loose arms. Guys with vertical arm slots often struggled to create tailing action on their changeups but now there are so many different grips (from splits, to airbender style, to kick changes) that I think more guys can learn a good one. I do think breaking ball spin is an inherent trait and it's a little less feasible to assume someone can develop a quality breaker when they aren't already showing you one at least some of the time. Guys who can spin it but throw slower curveballs can usually add a slider or cutter and have it be effective. In general I think pitch design has allowed lots of guys to throw at least one or two pitches that they otherwise would not have, because they're being installed almost like software.
Dope
12:58
Reminder to report at least one piece of info before the end of the chat
Eric A Longenhagen
12:58
I'm counting "Orioles banged their first Extended game, Red Sox and Twins three of their first four, wtf I'm mad" as my reporting nugget today.
12:59
What's gonna happen if/when we end up with even fewer minor league roster spots after the next CBA?
Warren
12:59
So Zac Veen got sober and put on 40 pounds, and now he's worse?
Eric A Longenhagen
1:00
It's almost like it had nothing to do with any of that and had everything to do with the way his hands work (or dont)
doughboy
1:00
Bryce Rainer is striking out 44% of the time - which albeit SSS is troubling. His scouting report speaks to his contact concerns. Interestingly enough his swinging strike rate remains around the same. His swing % is down to 32% and his called strike has ballooned to 26%. How do we interpret this?
Eric A Longenhagen
1:01
Too early to freak out but I will say his contact spray was overwhelmingly oppo oriented before he got hurt. Still so tooled up that we cranked his FV, he is not without risk.
Guest
1:01
there will obviously be an adjustment period for KMcG at some point, but how is he so good already
Eric A Longenhagen
1:02
Has always seemed locked in on every pitch, ultra-competitive kid, never overwhelmed by game speed changing as he's risen. Stud.
J
1:03
I'd be happy to get shelled by some prospects if they need pitching
Eric A Longenhagen
1:03
Me too but I don't think sitting 65 would do the kids any favors.
Go Mudcats
1:03
What is the best drink name, in your opinion, at that coffee shop? Or did they not lean into the Halloween theme in the drink names?
Eric A Longenhagen
1:04
I ordered a cortado as soon as i walked in so i could sit down with you guys asap. Lemme peek at the board and see if they have themed drinks
Phil
1:04
So, the coffee shop has pumpkins and ghosts and whatnot, but year-round? That seems like an odd choice. Do they have pumpkin-spice beverages also?
Eric A Longenhagen
1:05
Year round. Goth girls need a place to read and do art.
No spooky drink names. Let's think of some
Adam
1:05
Is it a common situation for Extended Spring games to be cancelled due to roster issues?
Eric A Longenhagen
1:06
It happens once in a while, but three of your first four games? Your very first game? C'mon Florida orgs.
The Florida orgs have always seemed a little less organized to me.
And less creative
Wood
1:06
If you were to relocate Boston and Minnesota, which cities would you move them to?
Eric A Longenhagen
1:07
I'd rather have a new complex in Chandler than a data center or chip factory
East of the 101 would be cool, too.
Bucs
1:07
Seth Hernandez is pretty good huh? How far can he realistically get this year. Is his MLB ETA still years off, or can he be a fast riser?
Eric A Longenhagen
1:08
That's where I was gonna hustle after learning of the Orioles cancellation but I would have had to miss chat entirely and juuuust gotten up to Tampa for first pitch. He's awesome, he needs to be promoted at least one time before hitters will be able to confidently wait him out. These A ball kids have no shot.
Adam
1:08
Has one performance ever completely changed your mind about a prospect?
Eric A Longenhagen
1:10
Hmmmm. I can think of situations where I wish it had (Michael Harris) and some where I left unenthused (Kevin Gowdy) but I'm struggling to think of a guy who I didn't like who flipped the script on one look.
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