Posted March 23, 200718 yr Haven't heard too much.. but he is definitely one that HAS to step up this year in the rotation. How's he looked? Commanded the fastball? What should we expect out of him this year?
March 23, 200718 yr I went to his last start against the Nats. From what I saw it looked like his curve ball was working that day.
March 23, 200718 yr I always thought Nolasco's problem last year was he didn't know how to properly waste pitches. He'd either be throwing too many strikes (yes folks, that's possible) or burying his curveball. 9 times out of 10 he hit his spots, and he best pitch is his curve so that's always a plus, but he just didn't "pitch" as well as his stuff would allow...at least that's how I saw it. And with that as the problem, it's a little tough to get a good look at a guy in the spring.
March 23, 200718 yr I went to his start against the astros a week ago , and like the previous poster indicated Ricky was/is around the plate too much , he got hit hard against the astros a week ago 4 runs in 5 innings i believe but it could have been a lot worse
March 23, 200718 yr I always thought Nolasco's problem last year was he didn't know how to properly waste pitches. He'd either be throwing too many strikes (yes folks, that's possible) or burying his curveball. 9 times out of 10 he hit his spots, and he best pitch is his curve so that's always a plus, but he just didn't "pitch" as well as his stuff would allow...at least that's how I saw it. And with that as the problem, it's a little tough to get a good look at a guy in the spring. problem with that is his fastball is weak enough where he doesnt have much of a choice. if his fastball isnt in the strikezone he cant properly set up his plus curve
March 23, 200718 yr I don't think Nolasco's fastball is that weak. He's got good velocity (91-94 consistently, topping out at 96-97). I think Swift is right. He throws too many strikes sometimes. I think he needs to be a little wild at times... throw fastballs inside and miss the plate a little bit. If he does that I think he'll be fine. His ERA will be 4.00-4.25 this season, IMO.
March 23, 200718 yr I always thought Nolasco's problem last year was he didn't know how to properly waste pitches. He'd either be throwing too many strikes (yes folks, that's possible) or burying his curveball. 9 times out of 10 he hit his spots, and he best pitch is his curve so that's always a plus, but he just didn't "pitch" as well as his stuff would allow...at least that's how I saw it. And with that as the problem, it's a little tough to get a good look at a guy in the spring. I agree with you 100% here. Nolasco started off as being a great pickup and I think people started to just discount him last year (maybe from predicting his potential compared to Olsen/Sanchez). I think he can be like a right-handed Barry Zito as long as he locates and spots his pitches, especially when you can't throw 95+. He may not have the great win-loss record but he should at least keep the team in most games.
March 23, 200718 yr I don't think Nolasco's fastball is that weak. He's got good velocity (91-94 consistently, topping out at 96-97). I think Swift is right. He throws too many strikes sometimes. I think he needs to be a little wild at times... throw fastballs inside and miss the plate a little bit. If he does that I think he'll be fine. His ERA will be 4.00-4.25 this season, IMO. I think you overstate his velocity by a couple of mph.
March 23, 200718 yr I don't think Nolasco's fastball is that weak. He's got good velocity (91-94 consistently, topping out at 96-97). I think Swift is right. He throws too many strikes sometimes. I think he needs to be a little wild at times... throw fastballs inside and miss the plate a little bit. If he does that I think he'll be fine. His ERA will be 4.00-4.25 this season, IMO. I think you overstate his velocity by a couple of mph. No I don't. He's consistently 91-94mph. Low 90's fastball. And I've seen him top out at 96-97. I remember him getting his fastball up to 96-97 against the Cubs early in the season.
March 23, 200718 yr I don't think Nolasco's fastball is that weak. He's got good velocity (91-94 consistently, topping out at 96-97). I think Swift is right. He throws too many strikes sometimes. I think he needs to be a little wild at times... throw fastballs inside and miss the plate a little bit. If he does that I think he'll be fine. His ERA will be 4.00-4.25 this season, IMO. I think you overstate his velocity by a couple of mph. No I don't. He's consistently 91-94mph. Low 90's fastball. And I've seen him top out at 96-97. I remember him getting his fastball up to 96-97 against the Cubs early in the season. I agree it's low 90's but I would say he's consistently 90-92 topping out at 95... pretty similar to our other starters. None of them throw as hard as the old batch (Beckett, Penny, AJ).
March 23, 200718 yr I don't think Nolasco's fastball is that weak. He's got good velocity (91-94 consistently, topping out at 96-97). I think Swift is right. He throws too many strikes sometimes. I think he needs to be a little wild at times... throw fastballs inside and miss the plate a little bit. If he does that I think he'll be fine. His ERA will be 4.00-4.25 this season, IMO. I think you overstate his velocity by a couple of mph. No I don't. He's consistently 91-94mph. Low 90's fastball. And I've seen him top out at 96-97. I remember him getting his fastball up to 96-97 against the Cubs early in the season. I agree it's low 90's but I would say he's consistently 90-92 topping out at 95... pretty similar to our other starters. None of them throw as hard as the old batch (Beckett, Penny, AJ). Let's put it this way... Nolasco throws 96-97 as often as Beckett touched 99-100. It was almost never, but it happened.
March 23, 200718 yr I don't think Nolasco's fastball is that weak. He's got good velocity (91-94 consistently, topping out at 96-97). I think Swift is right. He throws too many strikes sometimes. I think he needs to be a little wild at times... throw fastballs inside and miss the plate a little bit. If he does that I think he'll be fine. His ERA will be 4.00-4.25 this season, IMO. I think you overstate his velocity by a couple of mph. No I don't. He's consistently 91-94mph. Low 90's fastball. And I've seen him top out at 96-97. I remember him getting his fastball up to 96-97 against the Cubs early in the season. I agree it's low 90's but I would say he's consistently 90-92 topping out at 95... pretty similar to our other starters. None of them throw as hard as the old batch (Beckett, Penny, AJ). Let's put it this way... Nolasco throws 96-97 as often as Beckett touched 99-100. It was almost never, but it happened. How often do you think Beckett hits 100 mph? The one time I remember him hitting 100 mph was the Sammy AB. If a radar gun shows Nolasco hitting 97 mph I woudl question the gun's accuracy.
March 23, 200718 yr I don't think Nolasco's fastball is that weak. He's got good velocity (91-94 consistently, topping out at 96-97). I think Swift is right. He throws too many strikes sometimes. I think he needs to be a little wild at times... throw fastballs inside and miss the plate a little bit. If he does that I think he'll be fine. His ERA will be 4.00-4.25 this season, IMO. I think you overstate his velocity by a couple of mph. No I don't. He's consistently 91-94mph. Low 90's fastball. And I've seen him top out at 96-97. I remember him getting his fastball up to 96-97 against the Cubs early in the season. I agree it's low 90's but I would say he's consistently 90-92 topping out at 95... pretty similar to our other starters. None of them throw as hard as the old batch (Beckett, Penny, AJ). Let's put it this way... Nolasco throws 96-97 as often as Beckett touched 99-100. It was almost never, but it happened. How often do you think Beckett hits 100 mph? The one time I remember him hitting 100 mph was the Sammy AB. If a radar gun shows Nolasco hitting 97 mph I woudl question the gun's accuracy. That's my entire point. The only time I saw Beckett hit 100 was when he gassed Sosa during the NLCS, and he hit it a few times in that particular count. I'm sure nobody can recall more than one time last year Nolasco topped 96...
March 23, 200718 yr Vargas's problem was that he couldn't throw strikes anymore. So, I rather Nolasco get hit sometimes for throwing too many strikes, than walking 5 guys in a row and then leaving an 85mph fastball that doesnt move in the middle of the plate on a 3-0 count.
March 23, 200718 yr Vargas's problem was that he couldn't throw strikes anymore. So, I rather Nolasco get hit sometimes for throwing too many strikes, than walking 5 guys in a row and then leaving an 85mph fastball that doesnt move in the middle of the plate on a 3-0 count. agreed. very good observation
March 23, 200718 yr the bulk of nolasco's pitches are in the low 90's , the highest radar reading i have seen for nolasco is 94mph, the issue of his velocity is moot i think we all would agree if nolasco is throwing 97mph he is not pitching he is just thowing it up there as hard as he can without purpose
March 23, 200718 yr He was hitting 96-97 against the Cubs in May when he was in the bullpen. I believe he struck out 4 in 2 IP.
March 23, 200718 yr I don't think Nolasco's fastball is that weak. He's got good velocity (91-94 consistently, topping out at 96-97). I think Swift is right. He throws too many strikes sometimes. I think he needs to be a little wild at times... throw fastballs inside and miss the plate a little bit. If he does that I think he'll be fine. His ERA will be 4.00-4.25 this season, IMO. his fastball hovers between fringe-average to average...meaning it's weak enough (command not good enough to nibble yet) that he needs to stay around the strike zone because it likely wont fool too many hitters outside the zone. but, I agree too many of his fastballs catch too much of the plate...but that doesnt mean he needs to start throwing more balls.
March 23, 200718 yr I don't think Nolasco's fastball is that weak. He's got good velocity (91-94 consistently, topping out at 96-97). I think Swift is right. He throws too many strikes sometimes. I think he needs to be a little wild at times... throw fastballs inside and miss the plate a little bit. If he does that I think he'll be fine. His ERA will be 4.00-4.25 this season, IMO. his fastball hovers between fringe-average to average...meaning it's weak enough (command not good enough to nibble yet) that he needs to stay around the strike zone because it likely wont fool too many hitters outside the zone. but, I agree too many of his fastballs catch too much of the plate...but that doesnt mean he needs to start throwing more balls. Ok, I see what you're saying, then. He basically doesn't have the command to nibble. I agree. I guess this comes with time and experience. One guy on our staff that knows how to nibble is Sanchez, but it also means he walks a good number of batters. I suppose when you nibble you run the risk of walking a ton of guys. Sanchez has been fortunate so far that his walks (and lack of strikeouts) haven't resulted in a higher ERA.
March 23, 200718 yr yep...it's a skill on another plane that some young pitchers achieve, but more do not. He either needs to improve his command to absolute pinpoint or gain a few ticks/movement on his fastball. He cant get away with walks like a Sanchez can because he gives up too many homers. Hopefully he takes that step forward
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