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Dr. K · 06-17-2021, 10:00 PM

As much as I wanted to jump into free agency and get moving towards opening day, I think it’s time I do a deep dive throughout the Bravos as well as the minor leagues. I like categorize all of this by positions, so first up the pitchers.

Pitchers

Starting Rotation

Pedro Rivera
Coming off of a SuBOTA Pitcher of the Year Award, Rivera has been the Bravos shining star amidst a terrible year. He had an incredible year posting a league leading 3.78 ERA (129 ERA+) and also started a league high 34 games. He boasts a devastating cutter, above average circle change and curveball, with a below average changeup. He is under team control for a few years, so he will be someone to build around for the immediate future. Quite a bargain for 1.5 mil.

Eric Williams
The second pitcher left standing after the season (I’ll get to injuries in a second). He has a 5 pitch repertoire with a great sinker. He has had some issues with walks with 7.1/9 vs. his 5.9 K/9. He will likely settle into a long relief/spot starter role, but I don’t want him in the rotation if we can help it.

Ivan Andrade
Now here is the first of the injuries for the starting rotation. 30 year old starter Andrade suffered a Torn UCL in July, and will be out for another 8 months. He has 3 different pitches but will likely have a problem with walks and the longball. Scout doesn’t see him more than an emergency starter.

Jose Ponce
Unfortunately the second of the UCLs… Jose Ponce is a 29 year old starter who tore his UCL 3 days before Andrade. He boasts a 5 pitch mix with his best pitch as an above average forkball. His stock has plummeted and he really needs to improve his stuff and control if he wants to be a pitcher in the bigs.

Leen Luijsterberg
The 28 year old Dutchman tore a rotator cuff back in April, and will be returning to the fray soon. Unfortunately, he also had 2 Tommy John surgeries, so I don’t have great hopes for him being able to return to form.

Luckily, the starting rotation is incredibly cheap right now with the highest salary being Rivera at only 1.5 mil. Unfortunately, I’ll need to get a lot of help in here. Beyond Rivera, it’s a bunch of replacement level guys.

Bullpen Arm

Bill Braddock
The 29 year old southpaw has done well in AAA, but hasn’t had a significant shot at the majors with only 10 games. He has an excellent change up, with some room for growth to the other pitches. He probably deserves some time in the majors in the bullpen with the potential of becoming an emergency starter.

German Flores
The 28 year old Nicaraguan reliever boasts a 4 pitch repertoire including a plus fastball, although it tops out at 92-94 MPH. He has had some up and down years, but I think he can continue in the bullpen

Mike Lindquist
Mike Lindquist is probably the most promising bullpen arm that the Bravos have. He is 27 and has basically a 2 pitch mix, with a horrendous changeup. He has fantastic movement on his slider and fastball.

Jose Ortez
28 year old Jose Ortez has a 3 pitch mix featuring a plus plus curveball and a plus fastball. If his changeup ever develops (it won’t) he could be a devastating reliever. Coming off of 2 fantastic years, he will likely be our middle relief anchor.

kiyoyuki Takasaki
The towering 6 foot 8 pitcher has three plus pitches. Walks and dingers will likely be an issue for Takasaki, but could be a borderline emergency starter. If he could gain some control and up his movement he would be incredible.

Danny Vazques
The old man in the bullpen clocking in at 37 years old with only 2 years of major league service time. Borderline major league bullpen arm, still in arbitration so he is super cheap.

Adam Hunter
The Bravos’ Closer had a rough year with an ERA over 10 and a WHIP over 2. He has a three pitch mix, produces groundballs and can touch 98 mph. He has had a couple of rough years, so I am hoping that he can pull it together moving forward, but he will be on a short leash. He is probably more of a middle relief arm who probably can’t handle the high leverage.

06-17-2021, 10:00 PM	#8
Dr. K Minors (Single A) Join Date: Apr 2021 Posts: 69	Pitching Retrospective As much as I wanted to jump into free agency and get moving towards opening day, I think it’s time I do a deep dive throughout the Bravos as well as the minor leagues. I like categorize all of this by positions, so first up the pitchers. Pitchers Starting Rotation Pedro Rivera Coming off of a SuBOTA Pitcher of the Year Award, Rivera has been the Bravos shining star amidst a terrible year. He had an incredible year posting a league leading 3.78 ERA (129 ERA+) and also started a league high 34 games. He boasts a devastating cutter, above average circle change and curveball, with a below average changeup. He is under team control for a few years, so he will be someone to build around for the immediate future. Quite a bargain for 1.5 mil. Eric Williams The second pitcher left standing after the season (I’ll get to injuries in a second). He has a 5 pitch repertoire with a great sinker. He has had some issues with walks with 7.1/9 vs. his 5.9 K/9. He will likely settle into a long relief/spot starter role, but I don’t want him in the rotation if we can help it. Ivan Andrade Now here is the first of the injuries for the starting rotation. 30 year old starter Andrade suffered a Torn UCL in July, and will be out for another 8 months. He has 3 different pitches but will likely have a problem with walks and the longball. Scout doesn’t see him more than an emergency starter. Jose Ponce Unfortunately the second of the UCLs… Jose Ponce is a 29 year old starter who tore his UCL 3 days before Andrade. He boasts a 5 pitch mix with his best pitch as an above average forkball. His stock has plummeted and he really needs to improve his stuff and control if he wants to be a pitcher in the bigs. Leen Luijsterberg The 28 year old Dutchman tore a rotator cuff back in April, and will be returning to the fray soon. Unfortunately, he also had 2 Tommy John surgeries, so I don’t have great hopes for him being able to return to form. Luckily, the starting rotation is incredibly cheap right now with the highest salary being Rivera at only 1.5 mil. Unfortunately, I’ll need to get a lot of help in here. Beyond Rivera, it’s a bunch of replacement level guys. Bullpen Arm Bill Braddock The 29 year old southpaw has done well in AAA, but hasn’t had a significant shot at the majors with only 10 games. He has an excellent change up, with some room for growth to the other pitches. He probably deserves some time in the majors in the bullpen with the potential of becoming an emergency starter. German Flores The 28 year old Nicaraguan reliever boasts a 4 pitch repertoire including a plus fastball, although it tops out at 92-94 MPH. He has had some up and down years, but I think he can continue in the bullpen Mike Lindquist Mike Lindquist is probably the most promising bullpen arm that the Bravos have. He is 27 and has basically a 2 pitch mix, with a horrendous changeup. He has fantastic movement on his slider and fastball. Jose Ortez 28 year old Jose Ortez has a 3 pitch mix featuring a plus plus curveball and a plus fastball. If his changeup ever develops (it won’t) he could be a devastating reliever. Coming off of 2 fantastic years, he will likely be our middle relief anchor. kiyoyuki Takasaki The towering 6 foot 8 pitcher has three plus pitches. Walks and dingers will likely be an issue for Takasaki, but could be a borderline emergency starter. If he could gain some control and up his movement he would be incredible. Danny Vazques The old man in the bullpen clocking in at 37 years old with only 2 years of major league service time. Borderline major league bullpen arm, still in arbitration so he is super cheap. Adam Hunter The Bravos’ Closer had a rough year with an ERA over 10 and a WHIP over 2. He has a three pitch mix, produces groundballs and can touch 98 mph. He has had a couple of rough years, so I am hoping that he can pull it together moving forward, but he will be on a short leash. He is probably more of a middle relief arm who probably can’t handle the high leverage.