re: DAT: Official 2015 Spring Training Thread

Did anyone actually watch springer in RF last year? He was terrible. Played much better when Dexter got injured and he moved to CF.

Not a ton coming out of ST. First game is Thursday. Jabroni getting the first ST start. Will get 30-35 pitches.

I'm off work until Thursday, so there will be baseball on my TV tomorrow.

Will there be a way to catch these games online?

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Not a ton coming out of ST.

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Did you see the ST video of Appel throwing a bullpen session?

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He’s trying to work on the four-seamer up, trying to get some swing-and-miss on the fastball up,” Heineman said afterward. “He’s constantly trying to get his delivery, making sure that his delivery’s short with the runner on base. It gets everything going for him and misses are a lot smaller.”

Heineman, 23, spent all of 2014 with Class AA Corpus Christi, and caught Appel at the end of the regular season when Appel joined that team from High Class A Lancaster. The two paired up again at the Arizona Fall League, giving Heineman a front row seat to Appel’s progression.

One word that Stassi and Heineman mentioned while Appel was still throwing: compact.

“Way more,” Heineman said. “I wouldn’t say he’s a different pitcher completely — that adjustment of quickening everything up, especially with his leg just made everything else fall into place.”

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I am of the mindset that Appel hits the MLB rotation after his 4th solid AAA start. Peacock returns from his surgery sometime in June and has a breakout season.

I can't wait. I picked up some first row Crawford boxes tickets for Apr 8 and up front seats behind the Astros dugout for Apr 9.

Bring on baseball weather.

ETA. ......aaaand. I'm late. thanks TXGunslinger

I think you're right. There's more urgency this year.

But it's all about where he falls in the queue.

Peacock
White
Wojo
Appel
Buchanan

All will be in line for an opportunity

I tell you something that's bothering me also. This ST has been Bryant, Bryant, Bryant.

No one mentions anything about his K rate. Sane thing happened with Springer last year on a much smaller scale. And they said he's going to have a K problem, which he does.

He and Bryant had the same K rates at the same levels in the minors, yet, Bryant is a can't miss? Nothing is said about this issue. I haven't heard the first talking head mention Bryant K percentage.

I think Springer is a better prospect than Bryant because of his speed and athleticism, IMO.

Am I missing something other than their defensive position?

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It's the team/system they're in.

Nobody minds blasting the frick out of the Astros.

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I blame LesterEarl.

Seriously, I want to see if the Media shits all over the Cubs when Epstein holds Bryant back at AAA for the first few weeks of the season to gain that extra year of control. I remember the Astros front office were blasted daily for each game they played and Springer wasn't in the MLB starting lineup.

Same thing with Singleton... yet, once he got there, he really struggled.

ETA: did you all know the Cubs have the best Farm system in all of baseball? That thread is such comedy...

All the hate towards us has been through the roof.

When we finally do break through and win it all, I vow to you all that I will get myself banned in celebration.

So keep this in the back of your mind and get me reinstated if such a thing happens.

LE will be here later to let us know that Springer's 35+ SB and speed are irrelevant because his K rate was 27.6% in the minors compared to Bryant's 27.4%. Which makes Springer a couple notches below Bryant as a prospect.