High Heels On The Field

John Dreker: Reports On Phillies Watson, Greene, Mets Nimmo

Brandon Nimmo

Before getting into Brandon Nimmo's performance against Lakewood, let me preface by saying he went 4-for-4, with a triple and a walk in the game I didn't see. I heard the triple was a nice line drive the other way off the left-center field wall. It's also important to note that Nimmo is hitting .414 on the year.

But in the games I saw, he wasn't overly impressive. He has the looks of a toolsy player, showing good speed on the bases, excellent range in the outfield and for the most part, he was patient at the plate.

Nimmo went 1-for-10 in the three games I watched, walking four times and striking out four times. The one hit was a well-struck line drive triple into the right-center field gap. The five outs that weren't strikeouts, were not hit hard. One left the infield, a lazy fly ball to left field. The other four were soft ground balls, one to the pitcher.

With four ground balls and four walks, plus the triple, I saw Nimmo run a few times. If you see his stats, three career steals (including one on Sunday) in nine attempts, you would assume he wasn't fast, but he certainly showed good speed in this series. He seems to be slightly above average, and the stolen base rate and lack of steals overall, can be explained by the lack of experience he has coming from Wyoming and out of high school just two years ago. I would expect the stolen bases to increase as he progresses. [Ed. Note: Nimmo also lost weight this off-season to improve his footwork in the outfield, and his speed on the basepath]

In the outfield, he made plays in each direction and showed good range. He made a spectacular diving catch on a sinking liner hit at him. It was the best defensive play of the series between both teams. He also got back quickly on a deep fly ball directly over his head. Nimmo ran down some hits that looked liked they could roll to the wall, but he cut them off and held the runners to singles or doubles, when they looked destined to be doubles or triples. His arm might be a problem for him. On a grounder up the middle with a man on second, he charged the ball and made an off-target throw that was not strong and didn't reach the catcher, who stopped it slightly up the third base line. He also made a throw to second that also wasn't strong or accurate. On another chance to throw home, with a slow runner going home from second base on a soft liner hit to Nimmo's right, he caught then ball on one hop and didn't attempt a throw.

Overall, the hitting I saw left something to be desired. He had plenty of swing and misses and soft contact, but he has been great the rest of the season. He should be a good hitter, who eventually adds some power as he fills out and also gains experience. The tools are there, he has some plate patience, the ability to drive the ball and the speed to beat out some hits. His running and overall defense won't hurt either. You can see the makings of a decent prospect, who just needs time to develop. Nimmo just turned 20-years-old this March, so youth is on his side.

Larry Greene Jr

On Thursday night, Larry Greene Jr made his debut in full-season ball. The 39th overall pick in the 2011 draft, he played last season in the New York Penn League for Williamsport. Greene hit .272 in 70 games, with 22 doubles, two homers and a .754 OPS. Including his four games with Lakewood, the 20-year-old from Nashville, Ga has played every single game of his pro career in left field.

Greene has had conditioning problems throughout his career and it could be something he is continuously battling. He is listed at 6'0" 235 pounds, though he looks a tad bit heavier, with a very stocky build. Greene went 2-for-14 in the four game series against Savannah, walking three times and striking out in seven of those AB's. In the one game I didn't see, he walked twice and struck out twice.

Greene has the swing of a pull hitter from the left side. It looked like he tried to pull everything and every swing he took was big. The problem was that every swing he took was late. He didn't pull one ball in any of the three games, not even a foul ball. His two hits were both opposite field, but as I mentioned, that was unintentional, so there was a bit of luck on his part with each of his hits. I mentioned to colleagues that his swing is reminiscent of Prince Fielder, and two of them agreed. In batting practice he crushed a long homer, but once the game sped up, he was behind. He showed some patience at the plate, working the count, though some of that could be explained by a lot of swing and misses, or balls fouled into the third base side stands.

His running is what you would expect from a big man. Greene is limited to corner outfield, or possibly first base in the future and it is doubtful he will ever be more than average in the outfield, so his bat must carry him. He had some trouble with a line drive that landed right in front of him, which drew some boos from the crowd, who thought he should have caught it. The couple throws he made seemed accurate, but average at best. He tried two steals in the series and was caught both times, the first time rather easy. The second time, on a hard pitch to handle and a left-handed batter to throw over, Kevin Plawecki was still able to throw him out.

It was a disappointing debut from Greene, who gets a bit of a pass due to it being his first series of the season. He needs to increase his bat speed, or any hard thrower will eat him alive.

Roman Quinn

This wasn't the first time I've seen Quinn play this year, so I have a little better idea on him than the others. I really like the way the 20-year-old shortstop plays. He was the 2nd round pick of the Phillies in the same draft they took Greene, but the 5'10" Quinn is definitely ahead of his teammate.

The good points with Quinn are numerous and they're the skills Phillies fans can dream on. He isn't a perfect player, not someone who will skip any levels on his way to Philadelphia, but if he continues to improve, he'll be worth the wait.

Quinn's best assets are his two plus tool, his speed and his arm. In a prior game, he hit an inside-the-park homer, and didn't draw a throw from the cutoff man because Quinn had already crossed the plate. The ball was a gap shot that simply split the center fielder and right fielder, rolling to the fence where it stopped.

In this series, Quinn hit a home run, though there was likely a little help from a brisk wind. The left-handed hitting Quinn, likes to bunt, or at least show bunt each AB to draw the infielders in at the corners. That is something that's been very common with lead-off hitters in Lakewood over the years. He has a low success rate with getting down bunts in games I've seen him.

He likes to work the count, something I've seen in almost every AB in which he didn't get the bunt down on the first pitch. Quinn fouls off a lot of pitches and has drawn some walks just by working the count with two strikes. He hasn't looked bad on any pitches yet.

In the field, Quinn needs work. He has all the skills to be a shortstop in the majors and at the pace he should move up the minor league ladder, I see no reason he won't stay there. His range is excellent and his arm, while not always accurate, is very strong. In Sunday's game, he had a backhand stop in the hole and made a nice long accurate throw from the lip of the outfield grass. In the first game I saw him play this year, he made a tougher play from the same spot. On a grounder up the middle in an earlier game, he got in front of a ball that I thought was a sure hit and made the play. At best, off the bat, it looked like he may have been able to knock the ball down with a dive. He also made a play where a hard grounder ate him up, but he committed and didn't rush the throw, recording the out.

So the range is good both ways, the arm is very good and he gets rid of the ball quick, therefore the problems with throwing should be rectified with repetition. The plate patience is there at a young age, he has a little pop, but will never hit many homers. There are signs that he will be able to put up a strong on base percentage that will play well at the top of the order. He had the speed to steal plenty of bases and has shown good base running skills.

Shane Watson

The Phillies took Watson 40th overall in last year's draft and let him pitch briefly in the Gulf Coast League, allowing him to go seven innings over five outings. He has a nice four-pitch mix, showing an above average curveball and the ability to throw it for strikes. He took the mound in the final game of the series.

Watson was throwing in the 88-91 MPH range, twice hitting 92 on the radar. Interestingly enough, both of those 92's came against Brandon Nimmo in different plate appearances. The curve was coming in at 75 MPH and had a huge break that fooled batters, keeping them off-balance, while mixing in a low 80's change-up. Watson worked Nimmo carefully, but against the rest of the lineup he attacked the batters. He gave up just one hit, a solid single up the middle by Jayce Boyd. He walked three batters on the day, two of them were to Nimmo in their only two meetings of the game. Watson struck out two batters.

BlueClaws manager Mickey Morandini hooked Watson after the fifth inning, despite his throwing only 10-12 pitches in the 4th and 5th innings combined. Watson had to work a little in the 1st and 3rd, but his total pitch count seemed low at the time. The weather was cold, so it's possible that contributed to Morandini's decision. This start wasn't typical for Watson this season. He has been inducing a healthy number of ground balls and getting more strikeouts as well, but he held the Sand Gnats to just one hit and really, just one hard hit ball, so you take that effort any day. Overall, a strong outing from the 19-year-old righty.

Related articles

Mets Brandon Nimmo Breaks Out Early

High School Baseball: Kellen Brown Commits To Florida Atlantic

Giants Top Prospect Joe Panik Making Adjusting To Double-A And Second Base

Spring Training Report: Mets Prospect Brandon Nimmo Arrives At Camp Leaner

Jarah Wright: Roundup of MiLBers in World Baseball Classic

John Drekker is a guest contributor to HHOTF. He regularly writes for Pirates Prospects. You can follow him on Twitter @JohnDreker.

Pitchers and Catchers Preview: Tigers RHP Guido Knudson

In 2011, pitcher Guido Knudson spent most of his time in Rookie level Gulf Coast League. While a lot of players take their time getting used to the workload and pace, Knudson took right to it.

"I didn't really struggle with it," he said Wednesday. "I enjoyed the travel. Being in a comfy hotel and eating good food was nice. The season didn't wear on me. It's definitely a grind, but I can't complain about playing baseball."

In 23 innings of relief, he posted a 2.74 on the season, giving up 18 hits and walking just 4 batters. He also got in 5 games in the New York Penn League, but that wasn't so easy right away.

"My first outing was rough. But I came back from it, and just got better and better."

In the course of the season, it wasn't so much his mechanics, but his approach that improved.

"My aggressiveness, got better. And my ability to get ahead of hitters. I was able to manage my pitches, rather than simply control them."

The Tigers 2011 28th round pick headed into 2012 armed with an improved grasp of what he needed to be successful.

He started the season with Class-A Lakeland where he pitched twenty-seven innings, allowed 13 earned runs, walked 6, and struck out twenty-seven for the Flying Tigers. He got an end of season promotion, pitching 3 innings for the West Michigan Whitecaps. Overall, he finished with a 3.86 ERA.

"I was executing one pitch at a time. I can keep that mentality throughout my outings."

The Tigers drafted him out of UCSD, where he developed into a pitcher after playing shortstop throughout high school.

"I knew then. And it was good just to focus on that one thing. There was no question I was going to be a pitcher."

He went 29-12 with a 3.63 ERA in his time with the Tritons, where he was All-West and All-CCAA in 2011. That same year he put up a career best 2.80 ERA. In 2010, he won five straight, and finished the season with 10 wins and 10 saves.

With 2012 in his rear-view, the lessons are simple looking forward.

"I learned how to pitch. I just need to keep executing my pitches and throwing that first pitch strike."

Pitchers And Catchers Preview- Part One: Pirates LHP Joshua Poytress

Last season was big for Pirates lefty Joshua Poytress.

After coming out of short-season ball in 2011, where he pitched thirty three innings for the New York Penn League State College Spikes, Poytress, 22, had to be ready to take on a heavier workload. He did a fine job, splitting time between High-A and Low-A, as well as recovering from an early-season injury to his forearm.

He began the season in the Low-A South Atlantic League, going 2-0 with a 0.79 ERA in eleven innings for the West Virginia Power. He spent the majority of the season with the Bradenton Marauders of the Advanced-A Florida State League. In 41.2 innings of relief, he gave up 36 hits, 26 walks, with 29 strikeouts, and picked up a save.

Here's what he had to say about last season, the off-season, and what he's focused on heading into Spring Training.

"I've always started out slow getting command of my change-up. It's a good pitch for me, but I struggle with it starting out. I have to show it off while I'm [at spring training]."

"I struggle to get finger command of [the changeup]. It still has life and movement starting out, but the command part takes time. I had a little injury [early in season], and then I lost it again. Lately, it's been easier to get a feel for it."

2012 Reflections

"Adjusting was [the most difficult]. Hitters that I faced more would catch on and I had to counter that. I got the hang of it. But it was good experience for me. I was only in Low-A [short time]. High-A was a little bit tougher. They were seeing me more often."

"I was able to work my off-speed pitches off of my fastball. Even when I wasn't ahead, then I could drop a cutter or curveball in and keep hitters off balance. I used all of my pitches in any count."

"My fastball averaged about the same speed or a little bit higher. But the difference was that I could maintain it longer, it didn't drop [in velocity] as far. My command was better with my fastball and all of my pitches."

Biggest key for 2013

"Fastball location and more consistency. I can hit that spot, but I need to get it to where I can hit it ten times out of ten. That's what will get me the farthest."

Also read this interview with him from April 2012- http://www.highheelsonthefield.net/my_weblog/2012/04/pirates-joshua-poytress-makes-early-jump.html

Follow him on Twitter @Poys_Tres_29

St. Lucie Mets, Best Record In Minor Leagues

While most eyes are on Wilmer Flores progress, St. Lucie overall has been a solid unit to start 2012.

Their 28-8 record is the best in all of minor league baseball. Something they've managed without leading in more than a few categories, but areas that have made them an early force in the Florida State League.

Pitching leads the way with a league lowest team ERA of 2.67. They've collectively kept runners off base, walking just 103 batters in 313 innings and giving up the 2nd lowest number of hits in the league with 273. Their bullpen has been stellar, leading the league with 17 saves. Closer Adrian Rosario (0.00, 1.04) has the bulk of them under his belt, picking up 10 saves in 15 games.

Chase Huchingson and Cory Mazzoni have been outstanding parts of the rotation. Huchingson leads all St. Lucie pitchers with 30 strikeouts through 35.1 innings. Mazzoni hasn't lost a game yet. In 7 games he's 3-0 with a 2.55 ERA. Both pitchers have given up their share of walks, with Huchingson leading the way with 21, but the damage has been minimal. Mazzoni has allowed just 10 ER (3rd on team), Huchingson 10 (2nd).

Flores has so far done the job at the plate. His 39 hits is second to another top shortstop prospect, Daniel Muno, who has 40. Flores is hitting .315 in 34 games, and has struck out just 11 times. However, his 5 fielding errors leads the team, tied with Wilfredo Tovar and Richard Lucas. Flores defense has been a major area of concern and those results are proof he's still working on improving.

Cory Vaughn has brought the majority of the power with 8 home runs. But he's making that old tradeoff, striking out 31 times which is second on the club. Lucas leads with 33. Lucas has worked the walks though, with a team-leading 14.

Strikeouts haven't been a problem for the team, they're 246 K's is the second lowest in the league. Tovar has been punched out just 10 times in 110 at-bats. The team is also stealing at a steady rate. They're second in the league with 44 stolen bags. Outfielder Cesar Puello has been the leader there. He's got seven steals in his last five games.

St. Lucie also boasts the best home record in the league. The team is 14-3 at Digital Domain Park.

 

 

 

 

Brian Gump Thanks Phillies Fans, Talks About His Career With Team: 'I Was Aware of the Surplus of Talent In The Outfield.'

 

The minor leagues are no guarantee.

Brian Gump, a minor league Phillies outfielder, understood that as well as any of the guys fighting to get noticed everyday they take the field.

Over the weekend the 25-year old was not one of the cuts out of spring training. He was released. The Phillies selected him in the 26th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

But there were many factors over the years that would create concern for any young player trying to make it to the bigs. Injuries and system depth were issues he knew could affect him.

"When I initially broke my arm I was very concerned. But as it healed, I realized it was just a bump in the road and not something that would affect me in the long term scheme of things," he said Sunday. "Admittedly the effects lasted a little longer than I had anticipated because my wrist/arm would still get sore and a bit swollen last year, although I didn't say much about it nor am I blaming my performance on that. But after working hard on continuing to strengthen it this off season it was no longer a bother."

Then there was the talent around him and coming up behind him, making his chances tougher. He could see the writing on the wall, but also felt assured by the team's faith in him.

"I was a bit caught off guard [being released], but I know the nature of the business and I was well aware of the surplus of talent we have in the outfield so it was a realistic possibility that I knew existed. The amount of positive feedback prior to did make it a bit more of a surprise though. In the end, they did me a favor by letting me go early to give me a chance to find a better situation with more opportunity to move up if I am so lucky to find one and I appreciate that they had my best interest in mind, that speaks volumes about how we felt about each other even in parting ways."

This spring had been no different according to him. He was doing as he'd always done.

"If I had gotten a hit or two more that would have been nice, but I think I only got about 10 game at bats and walked 3 or 4 times, so I'm not sure the game at bats really factored into the decision making process, especially since I felt each game I was getting more and more comfortable and locked in which is the whole purpose of spring training, to ramp up for season and get yourself ready."

Gump's career in the Phillies organization has been fruitful and marked by celebrations.

Last year he won a championship with the GCL Phillies (where he rehabbed) and played in 86 games for the Clearwater Threshers, hitting .217 with 22 RBI.

The Phillies system has produced some of baseball's top talent, not to mention many homegrown guys that won a world championship in 2008. There's been much success in the minors as well, due in large part to the men that are guiding the players toward the ultimate goal.

"I learned at every level," Gump said. "Specifically at Lakewood, Greg Legg is a great hitting coach and gave me a lot of mechanical advice that was helpful and that I integrated into my swing. John Mizerock and Dave Henderson were also extremely helpful and are extremely skilled hitting coaches. They all have an incredible eye for hitting and understanding of it. It was a privilege to get to learn from them on a daily basis."

So what now? The end of spring training is near, but Gump ‘s eyes are firmly ahead. And he might make a big change.

“My plan is to get in touch with contacts from other teams, scouts I know and consult the wisdom of the mentors that I am lucky enough to have in my corner and see what leads we can come up with,” he said. “There is a very real possibility that I will try my hand at pitching. In my experience in pro ball, there is always a market for hard throwing lefties – I’m primarily a right fielder so arm strength has always been there. I was recruited to college to be a pitcher so it's something I grew up doing and feel comfortable and at home doing.”

He goes on to point out his results when he did pitch.

“If my two innings on the bump in pro [ball] are indicative of anything, I think it's worth a try!  2 IP 0 hits 0 walks 1 K.”

The minors are also a family, extending to the big club and all the people involved in a developing career.

“My experience was nothing short of awesome. I can't say enough about the class of the organization and the quality of each and every person within it. I will miss my teammates the most, but know I made many life-long friends and that our paths will cross on and off the field many more times.”

Phillies fans impressed him every step of the way.

“I want to say the most genuine of thank you's to each and every fan that I had the privilege of interacting with and playing in front of. Throughout my career I was constantly re blown away by the dedication, compassion, baseball intelligence and interest that the fans have shown me and the rest of the organization. The fact that they pay so much attention to our minor league levels on top of the big league team says a lot about how invested the fan base is in their organization.”

The minor leagues are no guarantee, no, but there’s work to be done and he’ll continue to do it, and with inspiration from a well-known sports figure.

“I don't have any regrets. I take care of my body and prepared myself for each day properly and attentively. That is one thing I always keep in mind, that whatever I do, I will do and prepare myself to the best of my ability so that whatever happens, I can hold my head high knowing I gave it my best effort,” he said, then adds. “I was raised on John Wooden ideals if you can't tell.”

How Twitter Changed Minor League Baseball

In the dusty bus leagues there's games with countless empty seats, kids paying more attention to the between-inning entertainment, and players whose names no one is sure of. And they will never know a lot of them.

The social media powerhouse that is Twitter has dramatically changed that.

Mid-level and low-level prospects might have struggled in years past to get noticed, lucky enough to get attention if they were part of a major league trade. In that case, their name suddenly had meaning by relationship to a far more important player. But while top prospects have become richer and more famous before they've played a lick of big league baseball, those less valuable guys have upped their status as well. Perhaps they didn't get the same bonus as the top guy in their organization, but his name, through Twitter, is often just as recognizable. Fans are now invested in the kid playing for the Class-A team and when he might be promoted. Prospects are already famous due in large part to Twitter.

The exclusive arena of fame has had it's gates blown open. Celebrities and sports figures have embraced a more open access to their lives, thoughts, and careers. The sense that we are us and they are them is no longer the same. There's tremendous value in that, but also a downside. The access gives fans the illusion that they're talking to friends. It's given writers, particularly start-ups, a relaxed attitude toward the players they cover. Twitter blurs the lines of the profession.

But for minor league players and teams, there's a broader base to reach and that's good for baseball.

Minor League Baseball saw an increase in attendance a few years back, but while it hasn't suffered as much as feared, it's still taken a hit. For all the promotional tie-ins and fireworks nights, people aren't always that interested in seeing a team they aren't emotionally invested in. If a team is near that is affiliated with their favorite major league team, it's surely more attractive. But that's not always the case. Minor league teams are often located in areas nowhere near the big club.

Enter Twitter.

The connection that Twitter gives fans to players they can't always watch (MILB.TV has certainly helped in that department) is of huge value to minor league affiliates and their parent clubs. This isn't a business piece, no predictions on a numbers increase, but it's possible it will have a far reach. Fans talking casually with a prospect are going to tune in for his major league debut. How much could a minor league team's popularity increase if fans know all the guys on the roster and are socializing with them?

Minor league teams benefit. By getting a following on Twitter, they increase fan connection and possibly their attendance. It's a wonder major league teams aren't embracing social media more. With baseball fans pouring out their passions for baseball on Twitter, they want to know everything all the time. And they want to feel appreciated enough to attend a game that's gonna cost them. The minor leagues give the baseball fan a chance to be part of their team without shelling out too much cash. Twitter gives them a closer relationship with that team and the players whose names they know as well as the big guys.

Young players must be cautious. There's a risk in that wall coming down. But major league teams are paying attention to that. Warnings have been handed out and there has been stories of players needing to be told to hold back a bit. Teams must protect their players. Journalists must not forget they aren't fans and be careful about their level of interaction.

But the bus leagues, still dusty, are looking a lot brighter with the emergence of a social tool that gives them a chance to shine.

Baseball Digest April Minor League Awards, Five Players To Watch

Five players to watch for May includes the Nationals Bryce Harper and an inclusion of the Phillies Matt Rizzotti for 'My Eye On', which insures there's always a player I've seen in person. Nothing compares to that, not even video.

Here's a link for the PTW:

http://t.co/HytcyTO

And in case you missed it, here are my selections for top players through April:

http://t.co/0nyDrka

Always feel free to comment on my choices. Either to agree or disagree!

Minor League Baseball Players On Twitter

When Phillies pitcher Ryan Madson says that his 'marketing guys' haven't been updating his Twitter account, baseball fans (hopefully) understand that many major league players are not actually doing the updating on Twitter.

If they do say anything, it's not much. Good win!!! Tough loss. We'll get 'em tomorrow!!!

Minor league players are in a unique and altogether different position. Many are not yet used to receiving a lot of attention and some are extremely young. They want to be social. And social media is a young man's game.

There's the risk of a young player not censoring himself or being too available. Teams have to warn them, but they're going to do what they want for the most part.

While there have been complaints about girls trying to get close to players, that's a little bit of an overreaction. Those guys meet girls. Whether on Twitter or elsewhere. The biggest problem seems to be fans constant need to have players respond. They shouldn't have to. Twitter is a new way for fans to experience the life of a baseball player on his journey. The wall around athletes gets higher when they make it to the majors. Fans should enjoy their openness to communicate at that stage.

The link below is a list of minor league players on Twitter. Some accounts are idle. And there are probably several players missing. But it's a good list to introduce you to quite a few guys trying to get to the big leagues.

http://twitter.com/minorleagues/players/members?page=-1360378101312915671

Please let me know any minor leaguer players on Twitter not listed at that link. Either here or on my Twitter account @heelsonthefield.

Phillies FSL Champion Lakewood OF Brian Gump Talks Results & Winning A Title

Brian Gump has gone on a long journey in his pursuit of baseball. The 23 year old has had to work hard for every opportunity and prove himself in many ways. Overcoming injury is always a good test. Though he struggled a lot this season between Clearwater, GCL, and Lakewood, he's done his best to get healthy, stay healthy, and show what he's made of. He also got to experience winning the South Atlantic League title with the Lakewood BlueClaws. He answered some questions via e-mail just days after the Claws victory.

Gump finished the season hitting .218 in 147 at-bats. He put up his best average at Lakewood hitting .255.

Movin' On Up, Not Entirely Deluxe

This year certainly threw a lot of curveballs at me. I really feel like all the level jumping allowed me to experience being in just about every role there is in professional baseball player, from being a bench/role player in High A, to being an every day starter bottom of the lineup guy in low A, to being a run producing middle to top of the lineup guy in the GCL while I was rehabbing, to being on the DL while I was injured. Although, this was definitely not the ideal year that I had in mind, the experience that it offered me is incredibly valuable. I really feel like I have a more complete perspective on minor league baseball as a result of being sandwiched between the lower and upper levels of minor league ball and seeing many of my teammates move up to AA and hear about their experiences. It certainly hasn't been all fun for me this year, but I think it has provided me with countless essential individual experiences and a wholistic experience that will serve me well as my career moves ahead.

 

Seeing The (High A) Ball

Well, statistically it appears that High A was the toughest and I think I would agree with the statistics although I believe I struggled so mightily for two altering reasons. The first was that after the first week of the season, I went from being a starter and putting up decent numbers to playing every 3rd or 4th day and then every 5th or 6th day. Obviously, hitting is one of the hardest jobs in sports, and hitting when you aren't playing every day is even tougher. It took me quite a while to begin learning the in's and out's of how to establish continuity at the plate when you are not in the lineup every day. A lot of this knowledge was passed down to be by older players like Keoni De Renne who have played all the way up at the AAA level and are truly professional hitters. The second reason was that my swing needed fixing, something I sensed but wasn't sure of until I got down to Low A and our hitting coach Greg Legg sat me down and told me what he saw. We worked hard on making 3 key adjustments and I instantly began seeing results. On top of these two explanations, the pitching at the high A level is slightly better than the low A level because most of the pitchers have slightly better command of their off-speed pitches. I wouldn't say its a big difference by any means, I would say its a slight step up.

 
Many people say that the GCL is actually one of the hardest leagues to hit in, but after playing in the GCL last year I think I figured out the key to that league. The challenges are many, mainly the pitchers command isn't very refined so they often times "don't know where the ball is going once it leaves their hand", the catchers are also no very experience in the art of calling a game so you will get pitch sequences that don't have much substance or thought behind them which is very effective and lastly, the umpires are rookies too so the strike zone can be a bit erratic at times. All this being said, I have found that if you just don't think and go out there with a certain zone in mind and be aggressive early in the count so you don't have to gamble with the umpires you can generally have success because the stuff and pinpoint control isn't nearly as good as it is once you move up a level or two.
 
So after that lengthy breakdown, I would say that it is a consensus that High A is the toughest pitching I saw all year, but I would like to note that it wasn't too much better than low A. The difference is small.
 
Tough Breaks:
 
My biggest challenge was that fact that I experienced almost no continuity this season. Once I got moved to Low A and was playing every day and started to hit really well and see some continuity, I got injured and missed the next 5 weeks or so. So I came back to the GCL for rehab and got some continuity there and then moved right back up to low A and spent some more time getting settled in and refining my swing even more up there for the last week plus playoffs and then the season was already over. Granted, I was not supposed to make it back on the field this year according the initially prognosis when I broke my arm, so making it back and winning a ring with the GCL AND with lakewood was quite a reward for the hard work I put in and the steps i took to heal fast which worked well.
 
Knowing Is Half The Battle
 
I feel like I have a much stronger mental approach to the game and anything it throws at me. I also feel like I have a clearer picture of what I need to do to take care of my body during the season and what I need to improve upon in my game and more importantly I feel like I know how to make improvements now.
 
Good Taste
 
I have always thrived on "pressure" situations and big time games. For me, there is nothing more rewarding in baseball and more enjoyable than playing in the playoffs and pivotal games that make or break seasons. It just demands a level of focus and attention to detail that elicits baseball at its purist form from both teams. I have had the privilege of contributing to 3 championship titles in my 2 seasons as a professional baseball player and Im not sure I can name a time when I had more fun playing baseball. Everything is better in the playoffs, the baseball is better, the food is better, the crowds are typically better, the time spent with your teammates and the experiences you make are all better because it is a collective reward for all the hard work you put in on the field together all year. It is tough to really put a finger on, but there is something about winning again and again and then getting sprayed with champagne and beer and smoking cigars and dog-piling that is incredibly special and bonds teammates for life. Oh yea, and then getting a huge ring(s) on top of all that
 
Lights, Stealing, Action:

Im very excited for this off-season because I have a better idea of what I need to do to prepare myself now that I have been through spring training once. I will be working harder than ever this off-season, fueled by the personal struggle of this season. Im moving up to the San Fran bay area with a very good friend of mine and equally hard worker who was also my college teammate before he transferred to V Tech and got drafted by the dodgers this year in the 10th round (Steve Domecus). I wanted to move so that I wouldn't have any distractions and could be on my own. Im very excited about it. I will focus mostly on my hitting and speed aside from building up strength which is always important. I did okay on the base paths this year, but I know I am capable of stealing a lot of bags and I want to turn some heads in that department. Hitting wise, I have a clear picture of what I need to work on mechanically and mentally, now I get to do the fun part of putting in all the hours of focused repetitions in the cage (I mean fun when I say that, I genuinely enjoy working at hitting).