ChiefsPlanet - Cardinals BFIB give ovation for Skenes

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BFIB give ovation for Skenes (https://chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=353733)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vladimir_Kyrilytch (Post 17550004)

The only difference between Skenes being some dude and Skenes being the legit GOAT is health and longevity. Two variables working against him big time absolutely, but you can't buy a ticket to watch health and longevity in person. You can watch Skenes pitch now at GOAT levels of pitching. He doesn't touch 102 he averages it. There has never been a pitcher with better stuff with command than him. You could argue that 3-5 ever have had as good of stuff but no starter (or reliever) has ever averaged more than 102mph on their 4 seamer in baseball history.

I think the best comp in terms of velocity and control is de Grom, and de Grom at his peak has been the most dominant SP I've ever seen. Definitely exciting and we'll see if he can get past the injury history of de Grom/Prior/Wood/Strasburg.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwistedChief (Post 17550392)

He can't. He won't.

Anyone that throws like that has been to those 'performance optimization camps' that teach them how to get max velo and spin on every pitch they throw.

Those guys break. Twice. If you're lucky, they come back relatively quickly and almost completely intact.

But Skenes isn't going to hover at 102 mph for 5 seasons. I doubt he makes it 3. He'll break down, miss a year (nowadays they bring them back so slowly it's almost 2), give you 4-5 healthy seasons and probably break down again. Then by 32 when he comes back from the 2nd implosion, he will probably be working around 95-96 and be more like Garret Cole who's made efforts at finding the line between his peak stuff and staying on the mound.

There are no unicorns in these scenarios. We're working the body in a way that gives no heed at all to the fact that ligaments can only take so much strain. And every mechanical tweak designed to increase stuff does so by creating more strain on those ligaments. It's a Sophie's choice.

For me, Skenes should be dialed back. He should be throwing 97/98 with less aggressive mechanics that allow him to throw 200+ innings and get outs with natural movement and stuff that's still damn good.

But MLB teams have decided otherwise. They're willing to grind these guys into powder and if they're not willing to come along for the ride, they tend to get left behind.

Remember Noah Syndergaard bulked up one offseason and came out firing with triple digit heat in Grapefruit League play? That was when he was in his prime and he didn't last too long.

I heard Ron Washington in a radio interview recently and they have a reliever Ben Joyce that can dial it up to 104. Washington said his advice to Joyce has been to try to locate his fastball at 98 and only use the 104 when he really needs it in a pressure situation.