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Brief report on State College v. Batavia, July 8

by azibuck on Jul 9, 2011 1:24 AM EDT

I didn't take notes, and I was with three kids, and it was an awful game. But here are some observations.

I knew the team couldn't hit much, and they didn't, umm, disappoint. Matt Skirving looks like he can hit a bit, and Alex Fuselier had two lineouts and good at-bats. Otherwise, no one stood out.

Nick Kingham sat around 91 but didn't generate many swings and misses. He didn't get rocked but walked 3 in 3 innings. He just wasn't sharp.

I wonder if anyone can explain this because I can't really believe it. The box score and recap have Rinku Singh pitching an inning for the GCL Pirates this afternoon, and I saw Singh throw 2.1 innings and take the loss tonight for State College. What gives? Regardless of that, I have no idea why Singh went out for the 9th against Batavia, though he deserved a better fate. He threw 86mph by the way, and generally looked surly in the bullpen and on the mound. Maybe it was just the contrast with Mitch Fienemann, who looked as happy and easygoing as Crocodile Dundee. Just an observation, but I think things like this are not accidental; Fienemann sat in a chair closest to the fence that separates the bullpen from the fans. Singh mostly sat against a wall opposite all the other pitchers and catchers in the pen, sometimes alone, sometimes with one other pitcher that he didn't converse with. It's not like I watched the bullpen the whole game, but we did spend the majority of the evening in that area.

The main thing I'll take away from this game is that the State College Spikes can't play baseball. They committed 4 errors, and it could have easily been scored 6. I usually don't mind being blunt, but I feel a little sheepish saying this: Billy Nowlin is the worst first baseman I have ever seen at any level ever. He's played 5 games for SC and now has 5 errors. He looks like a recent acquisition (WTM does not even have a profile that I can find) from the Tigers org, and I can only guess he was let go because of his lead glove and a side order of declining offense. He's 24. What kind of planning went into the SC roster this year? Nowlin was indescribably bad. He missed a chest-high catch during between-inning warmups, I swear to God.

So here was the 9th:

Batavia Bottom of the 9th
*Roberto Reyes reaches on fielding error by first baseman Billy Nowlin.
Well, duh.

*With Jeremy Patton batting, wild pitch by Rinku Singh, Roberto Reyes to 2nd.
More good baseball.

*Jeremy Patton singles on a line drive to right fielder Wes Freeman. Roberto Reyes scores. Jeremy Patton to 2nd on the throw.
Well, sort of. Freeman had the ball bounce off his chest. He hit the cutoff man (Nowlin, who surprisingly caught the ball), so it was really the gack by Freeman that gave Patton (the eventual winning run), 2nd base. And it was like this all night. Jorge Bishop made a few plays at 2B, but I bet only half were fielded cleanly.

*Nicholas Martini pops out to second baseman Brian Sharp.
*David Medina doubles (8) on a fly ball to center fielder Taylor Lewis. Jeremy Patton scores.

This was a pretty comical sequence. The hit was deep (Singh had to be gassed, even if he didn't really pitch in the GCL), to the track. Lewis goes back and on the run the ball hits him in the glove, then falls to the ground, as does Lewis. He may have been shaken up, but I don't think he actually ever hit the wall (no jumbotron, no replay). I think he just fell down. Well, game over, right, because who can't score from 2nd on a hit to the wall in dead center besides Adam Laroche? Jeremy Patton, almost. Patton must have gone half way to third, because after Lewis dropped the ball Patton scrambled all the way back to second to tag up. Lewis is laying on the ground. Freeman comes all the way over from right and throws the ball in and after the relay there was very nearly a play at the plate. But Patton scored standing up, game over.

I don't know what their slogan is this year, but having watched one game I'd go with "State College Spikes: Not much fun to watch! (Unless Stetson Allie's pitching)!"

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.

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Comments

Nowlin.

You're entitled to your own opinions. You're not entitled to your own facts.

by WTM on Jul 9, 2011 1:38 AM EDT reply actions

This is what you want.

I hate to say it, but this is what you want. The Pirates had to go out and get a guy from the Tigers scrap heap so someone could play first base. Justin Howard was the first baseman last year at the GCL and he made the jump to WV. So, that left no one for State College this year.
All this means is that the Pirates are drafting the best available player during the draft. They are not looking to fill spots on minor league rosters. If the best guy available is a hard sign or a high school pitcher, they do it. Occasionally it means a draft with only 4 seniors, and most of them real late round guys. That translates to a bad State College team. I’ll still take it.

By the way does anyone know why Dan Gamache is not playing at any level right now?

by SojourningPirate on Jul 9, 2011 1:55 AM EDT reply actions

I don't know

but Gamache had hand surgery that was described as finishing him for the year, so that might be it. That’s the college season, which is over now anyway, but he might still be out.

Not actually affiliated with whygavs.

by WHYG Zane Smith on Jul 9, 2011 7:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, get what you're saying

SC can be a no-man’s land because of the draft, and being a level most likely to get skipped by talented younger players.

And maybe this is evidence that baseball orgs feel 1B is not such an easy position. I’m thinking have a spare OF put on a 1B mitt. It was just shocking how Bad News Bearsish they all looked.

by azibuck on Jul 9, 2011 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Kingham

Can you say a little more about Kingham? Specifically, I’m wondering about his secondaries and the movement on his FB. Coming out of the draft, he supposedly had a good CH but there were concerns that he wouldn’t be able to spin a curve. I heard somewhere recently that his curve was looking pretty good, though. What do you make of the CH and CU? Also, he supposedly has good movement on the FB; how did it look to you?

by epoc on Jul 9, 2011 2:53 AM EDT reply actions

Can't really say with authority

The one inning I went behind the plate was only for two batters. I got the velocity from getting a peek at the SC pitcher’s chart and watching the gun he held. He threw a hard slurvy thing at 80mph. I’m guessing it was a curve not a slider but did not have a lot of downward movement. If the fastball had much movement it was late because I didn’t see any.

I watched Poytress warm up in the bullpen and his fastball was arrow-straight. I know that’s no help, just saying.

by azibuck on Jul 9, 2011 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions

thanks anyway

It’s not too surprising that the curve didn’t look so great, but I had my hopes up because of some things I’d heard elsewhere. The lack of FB movement is disappointing, too.

Still, I really like Kingham. Ideal pitcher size, good pitchability, smart, good makeup, a little room for projection still, and already sitting 91 as a 19yo. I think he’s easily as exciting as any of the ’09 pitchers.

by epoc on Jul 9, 2011 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I wanted to get there earlier

And watch him warm up from, like, 5 feet away, which I could have. But… kids. So, don’t take the no-movement on the fastball to the bank. You’d have to see the stadium, but they don’t have a scoreboard gun so I had to crouch down next to the kid doing the charting. I was actually not in great position to see any late break because I was so low the pitch finished “behind” the catcher (as I was looking at him).

He was every bit 6’5" though, and… not thin, but not stout either. Somewhat pear-shaped, but thin in the hips, so I can see him putting on 30 pounds over the next few years easily. I was discouraged necessarily, and I can see some projection with him.

If that description didn’t make any sense how about this: he had a wide hips, but no bubble. He’s listed at 220, and I think that’s somewhat light for 6’5". He has the frame to carry 250 once he matures.

To answer another poster indirectly, I like to think I didn’t “judge” his pitching, but rather wrote down some observations with a critical eye. I’ve done it several times in Fanshots on BD before, mostly when Indy comes to Rochester.

by azibuck on Jul 9, 2011 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Gah, was NOT discouraged necessarily.

by azibuck on Jul 9, 2011 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice write-up.

I’m hoping to see them when they play Hudson Valley, the Rays minor league affilliate.

What does that mean?!

by Trogluddite on Jul 9, 2011 9:36 AM EDT reply actions

I'll repeat this -

It’s hard to judge pitching at this low MiL level. The Bucs org stresses FB command, not results. If you don’t have command of your FB, no matter what else you have, you don’t advance. This FO doesn’t value great records at the low levels, they value development. I’m grateful for that.

My heros have always been Steelers...

by wozzle on Jul 9, 2011 12:32 PM EDT reply actions