Is Niemann Emerging?
I know others can and probably will do a better in-depth analysis of Niemann's starts, but outside of a bad first inning back in April, the rest of his numbers speak for themselves. Outside of that Apr 11 start, Niemann sports a 2.38 ERA, has given up more than 3 runs in a start only once, and what's better, is his control has continued to improve. Before his 9 inning gem, in his rain-shortened start, he flashed the same type of control (had 4K through 3IP as well). I think Monday's start in New York can go a long way as a litmus test for Niemann. It'll be only the 2nd time any team has faced him a twice this season (Baltimore being the other--Niemann got the win in the 2nd start as well).
Other Notes:
Congrats to the Rays for making it through a turn in their rotation where all 5 pitchers lasted 5 or more innings, all quality starts. This was only the SECOND time this year that all five starters made it through five innings, and the FIRST time all five earned quality starts. Coincidentally, the Rays are 4-1 in their last 5. Hopefully the starting rotation can keep this streak going.
Zobrist an All-Star? It was mentioned on a recent Rays broadcast, about the prospect of Maddon making BenZo one of his reserves, honoring the Utility role Zobrist has played so well. It sure helps that Zobrist is putting up numbers to make this an interesting thought. A .303 average, 10 HR, 32 RBI in only 132 at bats. His walks have him t-19th (only 3 bb away from top 10) despite 30+ at-bats less than the players above him. Only Kevin Youkillis has a higher OPS than BenZo in the AL. Right now only 7 players in the AL have a .300 avg, 10+ HR, and 30+ RBI (Miguel Cabrera, Adam Jones, Justin Morneau, Aaron Hill, Evan Longoria, Torii Hunter). That puts Zobrist in pretty impressive category. And of those, only 1 player has more walks and oh yeah, all have at least a 70 At-Bat (or roughly 33% more at bats) than BenZo. If he can continue this pace, it sounds like an All-Star season to me.
More Reasons Why 2 weeks or months cannot define a trade:
While E-Jax is stealing all the headlines, Rays fans cannot forget the trades that got them to that point. A trade with the Dodgers sending Lance Carter and Danys Baez netted them Edwin Jackson, who in turn became Matt Joyce. All in all, if Baez led to the Rays getting a couple of seasons of a SP who in turn becomes 6 seasons in RF, one of Friedman's first deals still looks like a winner. Oh, and remember Aubrey Huff departing to Houston in exchange for utility player and pitching prospect? That one looks better by the day.
0 recs |
19 comments
Comments
Who would have guessed...
Zobrist would hit for this much power… Or Niemann would throw this many strikes… Forget Price, Niemann, Cy Young 2010. You heard it here first. lol
by LodeStar on Jun 4, 2009 2:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Not that I had any idea this would happen...
But Benzo has always been a big kid, pretty big for the shortstop position. He’s 6’3 200#. Cal Ripken Jr was 6’4 220#, not that much bigger than Zorilla.
Whoever taught that kid to swing in the offseason needs a little bonus pay. I said it before and I will say it again. Benzo has the sweetest swing of any Ray except for Longoria. Of course with BJ starting to heat up, he’s right there too.
by RayFanNY on Jun 4, 2009 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why don't you just say "Everyone who hits well has a pretty swing."
Since you obviously mean that anyways, given the “Now that B.J. is heating up…” qualifier.
by R.J. Anderson on Jun 4, 2009 10:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually I played the game through college
I know what a good swing is, and I know I didn’t have one. And the qualifier holds. BJ’s swing is much better now than it was 2 weeks ago. There is clearly more lift to his swing. He’s not chopping balls into the ground as much.
Go back to your spreadsheets.
by RayFanNY on Jun 5, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So "Everyone who hits well has a pretty swing."
His swing wasn’t good two weeks ago, but now that he’s hitting again his swing is good.
by nolesblogger on Jun 5, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, that's what you wrote and what RJ wrote.
Why are you being argumentative about this? Are you suggesting BJ was swinging the bat well in April and the first half of May? No, not everyone who is hitting well happens to swing well. BABIP and luck can play a role.
A few of us actually played organized baseball at a fairly high level, and can recognize batters who have very good swings. Actually participating in sports might help out those of you who bury your head in spreadsheets
It is clear watching MLB.TV replays, which I just did to verify my argument, that BJ has tweaked his mechanics. There is more arc/lift in his swing now. Yeah, his swing is better. Happy?
by RayFanNY on Jun 5, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Spreadsheets?
I don’t use them, and nobody even mentioned a stat at all. Everybody you mentioned as having a good swing is either hitting well right now or thought of as a good hitter. Nobody even disagreed with your assertation that they have good swings. It was just pointed out that there was a correlation between people hitting well and who you thought had good swings. In fact, they could be hitting well cause they have good swings.
by nolesblogger on Jun 5, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This would be better if:
A) Your original statement wasn’t ambiguous.
B) You didn’t resort to spreadsheet jokes, despite quoting Shander like a God.
C) I didn’t attend games with professional scouts.
Either write more clearly, or don’t get pissy when someone takes the wrong message from your comments.
by R.J. Anderson on Jun 5, 2009 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Quality starts
Price hasn’t had a quality start yet this year, but the starting pitching has been much better recently.
by nolesblogger on Jun 4, 2009 9:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Did that 11k
5 2/3 inning outing not count or something? Sure, he could have been more efficient, but still.
by BrokeBearMountain on Jun 4, 2009 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Quality Start is a stat defined as pitching at least 6 innings and allowing 3 or less runs.
So , yes that was an amazing performance, but not technically a quality start.
by nolesblogger on Jun 5, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can't stand the MLB definition of "QS"
BaseballHQ has their own definition, and break it down into levels of Domination and Disaster. They base theirs on peripherals. It’s main use is for looking at a starting pitcher and quickly gauging his consistency and quality from start to start. I don’t look at it much, but it’s 10x better than QS
by RayFanNY on Jun 4, 2009 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is extremely pre-mature (TWSS), but
Niemann is eligible for the ROY award right? With Wieters and Price only coming up recently, by the end of the year, his number could exceed Porcello, and with the other 2 playing shorter seasons he may be able to sneak in there.
Rays Win!
by Sandy Kazmir on Jun 4, 2009 11:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That would be pretty funny
Rays baseball + Colorado Football= amazing
by raysfan81 on Jun 4, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd be happy to eat my words on Niemann
I’m still waiting for him to look back at second base a few times though.
by RayFanNY on Jun 4, 2009 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Smells like 2003
Coming into the 2003 College season Jeff Niemann was not mentioned as one of the top pitchers in college. His teammate Phil Humber was coming off a great freshman season and was expected to win national awards. However, Niemann emerged and was named Player of the Year by one group and runner-up to Weeks in another. Could he shine again as everyone focuses on another rookie shining star? We shall see. It’s not impossible.
by Suckerpunch on Jun 8, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

by 


















