Game Thread (7/26/2022): Twins (Bundy) at Brewers (Small) - 7:10 PM CDT

[Brewcrew82]

That was one of the worst throws I've ever seen on a play like that. 

[Simba2020]

Is it possible for a RF to make a worse throw?

[nate82]

Just now, Simba2020 said:

Is it possible for a RF to make a worse throw?

Yes, but Yelich, Soriano or Ozuna would have to be playing RF.

[bulldogboy0733]

Now we need to discuss the fact that in two starts small is not the answer. Looking like a replacement for Suter that's about it. If someone is interested, he can be had.

[Simba2020]

Just now, nate82 said:

Yes, but Yelich, Soriano or Ozuna would have to be playing RF.

Don't forget Khris Davis.

[Simba2020]

1 minute ago, bulldogboy0733 said:

Now we need to discuss the fact that in two starts small is not the answer. Looking like a replacement for Suter that's about it.

I got lit up for saying I had seen enough of him in his first start. Seems like quite a few have come around to that feeling. No velocity, no command, no movement, no third pitch. Just don't see anything to get behind.

[dlk9s]

5 minutes ago, bulldogboy0733 said:

Now we need to discuss the fact that in two starts small is not the answer. Looking like a replacement for Suter that's about it. If someone is interested, he can be had.

He's pitched a grand total of 6.1 innings in the majors after tearing through the minors. Let's give him a little time. Last year's Cy Young Award winner was the worst pitcher in baseball three years ago.

[tonyei31]

6 minutes ago, Simba2020 said:

I got lit up for saying I had seen enough of him in his first start. Seems like quite a few have come around to that feeling. No velocity, no command, no movement, no third pitch. Just don't see anything to get behind.

I think there is enough there (especially with the change-up) to be a serviceable starter.  Being 25 and truly not having developed consistent location is cause for concern.  You can get away with that at AAA but it shows at the MLB level.  It's way too early to dismiss him but I think in the short sample size (as well as his work come June in AAA after his first MLB start) is enough to temper expectations for the time being.  I think he has shown enough that he can't be a middle of BP addition for the stretch run once Houser and Peralta are back.  I was hoping he could be that additional arm come September but those hopes are gone.  That's as far as I am willing to go.  

[bulldogboy0733]

2 minutes ago, dlk9s said:

He's pitched a grand total of 6.1 innings in the majors after tearing through the minors. Let's give him a little time. Last year's Cy Young Award winner was the worst pitcher in baseball three years ago.

Fair but given where he was drafted you can't help but be a bit underwhelmed. Even then Burnes appeared to be a stuff monster. This guy appears to lack stuff and pitches. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

30 minutes ago, Hopper said:

I think he was still pissed about the other ball that was called a strike..

I think he saw the 2-0 strike call to Adames & knew it was going to cause a chase on anything up & slightly out of the zone. Which it did. In situations like that where there's nowhere to put the runner, a 2-0 pitch is going to be called a strike unless the umpire absolutely can't. That's just the way it's been for years, umps often "call the count" rather than the pitch.

[Jim French Stepstool]

33 minutes ago, bulldogboy0733 said:

that was not a strike.

Looking at the replay, I think it may have been. The problem was the horrible way it was received. That usually takes a strike away. Very oddly called AB.

[Jim French Stepstool]

21 minutes ago, nate82 said:

Yes, but Yelich, Soriano or Ozuna would have to be playing RF.

Don't forget Kris Davis.

[phnxcrew]

21 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

That was one of the worst throws I've ever seen on a play like that. 

I just threw it from That distance to home in my sons practice as an overly bulky 37 year old.  Mccutchen had a horrible break towards home as well.  hopefully that dude hits well enough to DH….

[BruisedCrew]

29 minutes ago, Robocaller said:

I think it was more like 330'.  Good call.

Actually, I think it was less than 300 feet. 

The posted distance to the RF corner is 345 feet and this looked more than 50 feet short of the wall. 

[Jopal78]

23 minutes ago, bulldogboy0733 said:

Fair but given where he was drafted you can't help but be a bit underwhelmed. Even then Burnes appeared to be a stuff monster. This guy appears to lack stuff and pitches. 

I guess you can say he’s been rushed with less than 150 minor league innings since being drafted in ‘19.

But he was walking 4.5/per 9 in the minors. In the big leagues, where players are more selective,  he will have no margin for error unless he improves his command significantly 

[Robocaller]

4 hours ago, dlk9s said:

He's pitched a grand total of 6.1 innings in the majors after tearing through the minors. Let's give him a little time. Last year's Cy Young Award winner was the worst pitcher in baseball three years ago.

Small doesn't come close to Burnes's stuff. I believe his ceiling is significantly worse than current Lauer, but more than Suter. I'd trade him if another team valued him appropriately.

[willie key]

Nice to wake up to a win.  And a walk off win at that

[DuWayne Steurer]

Regardless of what anyone thinks Small's ceiling or floor is, 6 innings isn't enough to come to any kind of conclusion yet. Like most young guys, he'll probably flame out, but given the Brewers recent track record of success with developing their pitching, I'm not ready to write Small off yet, either.