John Sickels on –
18)
Anthony Kay, LHP, Grade C+: Age 22, first round
pick in 2016 from University of Connecticut; missed all of 2017 with Tommy John
surgery; went 9-2, 2.65 ERA in 119 innings in 2016 NCAA play, 111/37 K/BB; can
hit 95 although more commonly works at 90-93; mixing in impressive change-up
and inconsistent but promising slider; looks like a solid number three starter
when all is right, at least pre-surgery. ETA 2021; QUESTION MARK: health.
With
David Wright having not played since May 27,
2016, due to a variety of back and shoulder ailments, the Mets have finally
moved on, signing the 32-year-old New Jersey native Frazier to a below-market
two-year, $17 million deal. Though last year's .213/.344/.428 batting line with
the White Sox and Yankees was hardly a knockout, Frazier's 27 homers, 83 walks,
and above-average defense (+7 UZR, +10 DRS) pushed him to a respectable 3.0 WAR
-- or, roughly two-and-a-half more wins than the junk-drawer assortment the
Mets pieced together in Wright's stead. While Frazier's spiking walk rate
(14.4%, up from 9.6%) might superficially be read as a signal of a player all
too aware of flagging bat speed, he did swing at far fewer pitches outside the
strike zone and posted the highest contact rate of his career. His competence
should be welcomed in Queens even if he hits .213 again.
“When
we say ‘sweet spot’ we mean about six different things,” says Dan Russell, a professor of acoustics at Penn State.
“There’s one where it feels good in your hands, one where the ball comes off
the fastest. Those two are usually close, but they’re not exactly the same.”
The various supposed sweet spots effectively add up to a sweet zone, about two
inches wide, right on the meat of the bat. And though the term is almost always
used exclusively to talk about baseball, the scientific principles that explain
the sweet spot are actually true of tennis rackets, hockey sticks, and cricket
bats as well. (The first person to really investigate sweet spots did so on
tennis rackets.) Why? Allow Dan Russell to explain: “Any solid structure has
vibrational patterns.”
Minor Leaguers Who Touched 100 MPH -
Athletics: Wandisson Charles, Jairo Labourt*, Frankie Montas,
A.J. Puk*
Blue Jays: Nate Pearson
Braves: Mauricio Cabrera, Luiz Gohara*, Jose Ramirez
Cardinals: Conner Greene, Jordan Hicks
Cubs: Justin Hancock, Dillon Maples, James Norwood
Diamondbacks: Jhoan Duran, Rubby de la Rosa
Dodgers: Yadier Alvarez, Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsoli
Giants: Melvin Adon, Julian Fernandez, Rodolfo Martinez,
Madison Younginer
Mariners: Dan Altavilla
Marlins: Sandy Alcantara, Brian Ellington, Tayron Guerrero,
Jorge Guzman, Chad Smith
Mets: Tyler Bashlor, Gerson Bautista
Nationals: Jimmy Cordero
Orioles: Jesus Liranzo, Tanner Scott*
Padres: Miguel Diaz, Andres Munoz, Gerardo Reyes, Trey
Wingenter
Phillies: Sixto Sanchez
Pirates: Jake Brentz*, Nick Burdi, Angel German, Tyler
Glasnow, Geoff Hartlieb, Johnny Hellweg, Mitch Keller, Damien Magnifico,
Dovydas Neverauskas
Rangers: Anthony Gose*, C.D. Pelham*, Connor Sadzeck
Rays: Jose Alvarado*, Diego Castillo, Ian Gibaut, Ryne Stanek
Reds: Luis Castillo, Hunter Greene, Ariel Hernandez, Tanner Rainey
Rockies: Yency Almonte, Jairo Diaz, Carlos Estevez, Luis
Garcia, Scott Oberg, Riley Pint
Royals: Josh Staumont
Tigers: Jason Foley, Wladimir Pinto, Adam Ravenelle
Twins: Brusdar Graterol, Tyler Kinley, Fernando Romero
White Sox: Zack Burdi, Victor Diaz, Michael Kopech, Reynaldo
Lopez, Bruce Rondon, Thyago Vieira
Yankees: Albert Abreu, Cale Coshow, Jorge Guzman, Luis Medina
A
typical foul ball enters the stands at speeds between 100 and 110 miles per
hour, according to the report. That means a fan seated 60 feet from home plate
has four-tenths of a second to react -- if they are paying close attention to
the action.
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