Kevin Pucetas
by GrizzliesRich on Apr 19, 2010 10:31 AM PDT
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via www.grizzlies-baseball.com
I had a great opportunity to watch Giant’s prospect Kevin Pucetas in action yesterday afternoon in Fresno. I’ve got friends with seats 8 rows behind the plate, and they gave me their tickets. So here is what I saw:
Pucetas is aggressive. He goes right after everyone. In six innings, he threw 88 pitches and 55 were strikes. I counted 15 first pitch strikes on 25 hitters. His velocity is only average. Occasionally he’ll hit 93 on the gun, but mostly he’s around 89-90. He works fast, which I like. I hate a guy who acts like he’s afraid to throw the ball. Pucetas tries to work inside. It seemed to me that he was up in the zone more than he’d like. I’d like to see more of a difference in speed between his fastball and off-speed stuff. The difference looks to be about 8-10 mph; not enough to really fool anybody. He’s a little slow to the plate. The opponents were running every chance they got. I’m not sure how much of that is due to Pucetas, and how much to Posey. Buster is not going to win any gold gloves behind the plate any time soon. His skills are still pretty raw. But back to Pucetas; he allowed six hits and three walks, striking out two. One earned run. That makes back-to-back decent outings, which is a relief after he finished last season poorly. I’ll be at Friday’s game to watch his next outing.
The guy who impressed me the most yesterday was Denny Bautista. He’s 27, so not much of a prospect. But what an arm. He hits 95-98 consistently, and it was hard for the Triple-A guys to catch up to it. His off-speed was about 82, and that made some hitters look foolish. It didn’t look like his pitches had much movement, so that may be why he gets hit at the Major League level.
Tonight I’ll take in another game, and try to get the first hand scoop on what’s going on with Madison Bumgarner. Look for info tomorrow at www.grizzlies-baseball.com
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I’m surprised that Bautista isn’t on the team yet, considering Boch’s love of veterans and Joaquin’s struggles to start the year. Not a bad idea really, as I’d rather a kid like Waldis pitched regularly in the minors instead of sporadically in long relief. As for Pucetas, how many Wellemeyer losses before he gets a chance (or move Welley to long relief and put Pucetas in the fifth spot). Looking forward to seeing Pucetas in the rotation.
Chris Gloor: my lefty is bigger than your lefty
by crazedcrustacean on Apr 19, 2010 10:39 AM PDT reply actions
I’d like to see Joey before Pucetas.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
Either instead of Wellemeyer
I’d bring up both if they would lose Meh’dders.
WHY IS BENGIE?!
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Apr 19, 2010 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions
I'd like to see Wellemeyer in one more start before I make up my mind
Proudly adopted Aubrey Huff. You can't beat that!
im in this line
Wellemeyer had one really good start and one really bad one, i’d like to see if he can work out the kinks and go 6-7 IP and 2-4 ER, what I Would expect out of a good 5th starter.
Honorary parent of Duane Kuiper, beloved broadcaster and power hitting coach for the Giants.
by Giant Voodoo on Apr 19, 2010 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions
This is exactly right.
I’ll repeat what you said using different words and in a different order.
Bochy is a moron.
Jaymee Sire is my adopted wife.
by positiveuphemism on Apr 19, 2010 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions
I never thought his first start was “really good”.
The opposing hitters didn’t capitalize on the mistakes, he wasn’t getting ground balls, and there were some hard-hit balls at people and ones that missed going out of the yard.
Rooting for Jose Casilla to take his K- and GB-inducing skills to the majors and join his brother.
The Kids: Lewis, Posey, Sandoval, Bowker, Schierholtz, Frandsen, Ishikawa, Amezaga... CHONE WAR projection= 12.7
Current Team: Rowand, Sanchez, DeRosa, Sandoval, Huff, Molina, Renteria, Schierholtz... CHONE WAR projection= 12.6
Same here.
I think Wellemeyer deserves a spot on the roster-either as the #5 starter or the long reliever,
Adopted Giant: Mike Krukow.
Grab Some Pine, Meat
Kevin Frandsen: Better than any SS on the Giants roster
Hoping for BowkerMania to hit AT&T Park in 2010
Actually I would rather see Brad Penny
…but that ship sailed.
by E Ticket on Apr 20, 2010 6:40 PM PDT up reply actions
I must admit that I’d like to see Pucetas, but Joey is a close second.
by FireBrianSabean on Apr 19, 2010 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions
Have no fear, I suspect you’ll see them both before the year’s over. I can see the 5th starter spot being a real ulcer before the summer’s out.
My Bucardo is better than yours.
A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.
I can see the 5th starter spot being a real ulcer before the summer’s out.
Yeah, talk about an understatement.
Matt Graham is an anagram for .... why don't you ask the scrabble expert!
by say hey nation on Apr 19, 2010 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions
It’s not unusual though. How many teams have the same 5th starter all year? It’s not like you become the 5th starter because you’re good.
Keeping Penny would have pushed Zito to the 5 spot. That wouldn’t have been too bad.
WHY IS BENGIE?!
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Apr 19, 2010 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Why is that?
WHY IS BENGIE?!
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Apr 19, 2010 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Which is really not smart considering Bumgarners lack of velocity was already an issue at the time.
Put it this way, Bumgarner is in Fresno, Penny is gone and the Giants still don’t have “a stick”.
WHY IS BENGIE?!
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Apr 19, 2010 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Eh, I'm not upset about re-signing Penny
He was good but I don’t think he was worth 7 Mil. A guy like Duchsherererererer or the still available Pedro Martinez would be nice though.
Adopted Giant: Mike Krukow.
Grab Some Pine, Meat
Kevin Frandsen: Better than any SS on the Giants roster
Hoping for BowkerMania to hit AT&T Park in 2010
Zito is an ace!
seriously I think if we had signed any RHP Zito would’ve been the #2 starter because he loves his L/R/L/R rotation TO CONFUZE TEH HITTERZ
Adopted Giant: Mike Krukow.
Grab Some Pine, Meat
Kevin Frandsen: Better than any SS on the Giants roster
Hoping for BowkerMania to hit AT&T Park in 2010
Who is Joey?
Warriors:Nellie needs to go! but while we suffer....John Wall or Evan Turner please!
Giants: Wheres Buster and Freddie?
you rang?
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006. Bringing you all your California League and New York-Penn League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 19, 2010 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions
Lurch?
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Apr 19, 2010 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions
YEAH JOEY!
In the end, America will be remembered for three things: the Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
I’d like to see Joey before Pucetas.
This, and it’s completely because of groundballs. They seem pretty close to the same to me, except Martinez gets more balls on the ground, which is good.
by Missing Barry on Apr 19, 2010 7:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Bautista
Saw him absolutely dominate the Royals in Surprise this spring. Mid-90s and excellent control (at least on the day I saw him). Was very impressed.
Billy Hayes: His job is better than yours.
LOL IRAN (rxmeister post)
Iranian cleric: Promiscuous women cause quakes
A senior Iranian cleric says women who wear immodest clothing and behave promiscuously are to blame for earthquakes.
Iran is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, and the cleric’s unusual explanation for why the earth shakes follows a prediction by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that a quake is certain to hit Tehran and that many of its 12 million inhabitants should relocate.
“Many women who do not dress modestly … lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which (consequently) increases earthquakes,” Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi was quoted as saying by Iranian media.
Sedighi is Tehran’s acting Friday prayer leader.
Women in the Islamic Republic are required by law to cover from head to toe, but many, especially the young, ignore some of the more strict codes and wear tight coats and scarves pulled back that show much of the hair.
“What can we do to avoid being buried under the rubble?” Sedighi asked during a prayer sermon Friday. “There is no other solution but to take refuge in religion and to adapt our lives to Islam’s moral codes.”
WHY IS BENGIE?!
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Apr 19, 2010 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions
Another reason to hate Iran
I think promiscuous women are awesome.
WHY IS BENGIE?!
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Apr 19, 2010 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions
Whatever makes them happy
WHY IS BENGIE?!
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Apr 19, 2010 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions
We were all born without Flying Spaghetti Monster inspired sexual guilt.
WHY IS BENGIE?!
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Apr 19, 2010 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions
And likely never will, amirite?
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Apr 19, 2010 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions
As a registered CA geologist, I will say this is true. They’ve been suppressing this for some time now in the U.S.. It’s unfortunate. Now you know! Thanks Lars, that was supposed to be secret.
Matt Cain: throwing complete game shutouts since 06'. No big deal.
by cain1rstballothof on Apr 19, 2010 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions
Well now there’s an interesting theory.
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Apr 19, 2010 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions
all right, all right
I’ll wear a skirt that covers my knees next time. Sheesh.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006. Bringing you all your California League and New York-Penn League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 19, 2010 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions
It’s funny how Islam’s original philosophy with women never included covering themselves. It was just adopted from the India. Nowhere in Muhammad’s teachings does Islam say women have to cover up like this lol.
Warriors:Nellie needs to go! but while we suffer....John Wall or Evan Turner please!
Giants: Wheres Buster and Freddie?
And yet people claim it’s a fundamental tenet. Religion is flexible like that, bending to suit political whims as necessary.
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Apr 19, 2010 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions
That would never happen...
Matt Downs MLB , Now with More STATZ goodness !Matt Downs Fangraphs The Juan Uribe of 2011 !
Ironic that the guy’s name starts with “ho”
Chris Gloor: my lefty is bigger than your lefty
by crazedcrustacean on Apr 19, 2010 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Just mad cos he can't get said hoes?
Amirite?
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006. Bringing you all your California League and New York-Penn League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 19, 2010 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Women
Forcing men to be adulterous. Have you no shame?
Juan "Doesn't Cheat The Game" Perez, please keep hitting.
Eddy Martinez-Esteve
He started in RF a few games ago and was replaced around the 5th or 6th inning. Would you please attempt to find out if he is injured or the team just not want to play the guy?
Thanks.
His Agent
I’ll see if I can find out anything.
You can observe a lot just by watching. Yogi Berra
by GrizzliesRich on Apr 19, 2010 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
he must be hurt
they used Joe Martinez as a pinch hitter yesterday, I think that’s a pretty good sign that EME was unavailable (and that they haven’t replaced Downs on the roster yet)
by FluLikeSymptoms on Apr 19, 2010 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Martinez-Esteve is on the 7-day DL, eligible to return 4/22
You can observe a lot just by watching. Yogi Berra
by GrizzliesRich on Apr 19, 2010 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions
The opponents were running every chance they got. I’m not sure how much of that is due to Pucetas, and how much to Posey. Buster is not going to win any gold gloves behind the plate any time soon. His skills are still pretty raw.
I thought he looked just fine on the big squad last year. What am I missing?
by AndOnTheDrums... on Apr 19, 2010 12:28 PM PDT reply actions
You’re going to want to put your comments outside of the blockquoted text for maximum understandability.
To answer your question with a question – how much did you get to see of Busty on the big squad last year?
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Apr 19, 2010 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Do they give a Gold Glove for benchriding?
Adoptive parent of Kevin Frandsen, now stopping gaps in Boston...I mean Pawtucket.
My point is what he did on the big squad is hardly sufficient to make a judgment, especially as fans since we don’t see anything other than the in-game action (of which there was precious little).
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Apr 19, 2010 6:44 PM PDT up reply actions
I couldn’t figure out how to do that, so I finally gave up and put my comments in bold.
by AndOnTheDrums... on Apr 19, 2010 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions
His throws to second were consistently tailing toward the first base side. It also seemed like he was reaching with his glove on pitches outside, rather than moving his body to get in front. He hasn’t been catching that long. He’s learning. He’s athletic and seems smart and hard-working. MadBum gives him props for framing pitches, and he keeps after pitchers if necessary to watch their pacing. He wouldn’t embarrass himself if he played in the show right now. He’s better than, say, Victor Martinez. But Bengie is two or three steps ahead of Buster defensively.
You can observe a lot just by watching. Yogi Berra
by GrizzliesRich on Apr 19, 2010 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions
He’s also two or three trips ahead of him in the buffet line!
/rimshot
by AndOnTheDrums... on Apr 19, 2010 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions
No question
You can observe a lot just by watching. Yogi Berra
by GrizzliesRich on Apr 19, 2010 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions
I have to agree with you about Bautista.
I was at the game, as well, and he was impressive.
Horacio Ramirez, on the other hand, was not.
Adopted Giant: Clayton Tanner
by walkoff baltimore chop on Apr 19, 2010 12:48 PM PDT reply actions
I'd be surprised if Bautista is not up soon
Joaquin needs to go to AAA and get some work, Bautista was the last cut out of Spring Training and his line so far is pretty great, 5.1 IP, 2 hits, no walks, no runs, 8 Ks
by FluLikeSymptoms on Apr 19, 2010 2:45 PM PDT reply actions
Wellemeyer is fine.
He is an average pitcher (with the potential to be slightly above average) who does well against average/sub-par offenses. He’s a good fifth starter. Bringing up Pucetas and expecting him to start would simply be throwing him into the fire and there are risks with that. Denny Bautista and Horacio Ramirez had good springs and are probably next in line to relieve if Runzler/Joaquin/Romo messes up regularly (which I doubt). The Giants are in good shape. Here’s to Wellemeyer’s next start being a good one.
Bandwagoners are the prostitutes of fandom.
The average NL starting pitcher had a 4.32 ERA in 2009. Anyone who thinks Wellemeyer is average, raise his/her hand.
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
What’s the average ERA for fifth starters? Probably north of 4.32.
You can observe a lot just by watching. Yogi Berra
by GrizzliesRich on Apr 21, 2010 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Wellemeyer has been average once
That’s the best he’s ever been and it took Dave Duncan’s devil magic to get it out of him. Pucetas can do what Wellemeyer can do, and Pucetas is the one with some actual upside (limited as it is though).
Juan "Doesn't Cheat The Game" Perez, please keep hitting.
Pucetas can suck, but I don’t know about the “upside”. Wellemeyer actually had a good professional season once, I doubt Pucetas has that in him. Unless Bumgarner suddenly finds his fastball again, I don’t see any in-house options better than Wellemeyer.
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
You should have a look at Wellemeyer’s rather extensive minor league record. It’s really ugly from pretty much every perspective. As a prospect, no one would have thought he could possibly have gone on to the truly lackluster verging on awful major league career he has in fact enjoyed. It’s a minor miracle really.
My Bucardo is better than yours.
A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.
Wellemeyer actually seems like a good example of what you’re always saying about how high-risk/high-reward types are much more likely to become useful major-league role players than are the scrappy, get-the-most-out-of-their-tools players like Alderson & Rohlinger & Downs & Pucetas. The 96-mph fastball he started out with has been dwindling away for years, but it bought him enough time to develop the good slider that enabled him to have a career.
Yeah, I started replying to your post above and by the end of my reply I’d sort of come to that conclusion myself. He did put up quite a few 10 k/9 seasons, although some of them are mitigated by age vs. league issues (10.6 k/9 as a 23 year old in A ball) and of course he was consistently adding 4+ bb/9 to the portfolio. But yeah, you’re right, he does appear to be one of those case studies of how team’s will always give guys with live arms a shot despite their statistical record because you’ve got to have stuff to retire major league hitters.
My Bucardo is better than yours.
A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.
Tomko
WHY IS BENGIE?!
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Apr 20, 2010 8:42 AM PDT up reply actions
Proud member of The Gentlemen of Leisure.
"I been waitin' a long time for this! I been waitin' since the f**kin' amateurs!" --WILL "THE THRILL" CLARK
by Josh from Hollywood on Apr 20, 2010 4:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Wellemeyer actually had a good professional season once
I dunno about “good”, but “somewhat useful” is applicable, I guess. ~4.50 FIP/xFIP, but 4.72 tERA (because he doesn’t get GB’s)….useful, but still a below average pitcher.
by Missing Barry on Apr 20, 2010 7:01 AM PDT up reply actions
A couple of notes – Bautista might not be much of a prospect because of his age, but he IS at the highest non-MLB level right now….so if he’s performing there, it’s a pretty good bet he can at least be useful to the big league club in some fashion, so that’s a good sign.
As for Pucetas, what kind of pitches does he throw? A 10 mph FB-CH difference is nice, but curious about his full repertoire? He doesn’t strike enough guys out, so to be useful, he’s going to have to severely limit walks and possibly keep the ball on the ground at decent levels.
.. and he doesn’t really do either. Sorry, but I just don’t see anything at all promising about Pucetas.
Bautista might be a nice find though I am skeptical
Hasn’t his command limited him to 5 teams in 6 years or something?
Adopted Giant: Mike Krukow.
Grab Some Pine, Meat
Kevin Frandsen: Better than any SS on the Giants roster
Hoping for BowkerMania to hit AT&T Park in 2010
“Limited”?
My Bucardo is better than yours.
A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.
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