April 26, 200818 yr Ryan Tucker makes my pants feel tighter. So far this season: 27.2 IP, 20 H, 4 ER, 1 HR, 9 BB, 27K. Good for a 1.05 WHIP and 1.30 ERA. He isn't 22 until December. Tucker's a different type of pitcher than Volstad. He's far more overpowering, as he's consistenly able to hit the mid to high 90's on the gun, whereas Volstad is a severe groundball pitcher in the Brandon Webb mode (not a comp, just an example). Because of his velocity, some viewed Tucker more as a future closer, and before this season it seemed that would be Tucker's career track. Tucker used to start the season slowly and then show these types of numbers later in the year, but to begin the season this way? Wow. Let's hope he doesn't still experience the severe first half/second half splits, unless this is his "bad half," in which case holy f***. Most people are championing Volstad as a mid-year callup, if not sooner. And they're right. But if Tucker can remotely sustain his early success, he'll to be a strong candidate for a 2009 rotation spot, if he doesn't get a call sometime around June or July of this year. So, whenever you hear somebody talking about Chris Volstad's MLB prospects, you should drop Ryan Tucker's name into the conversation as well. It'll make you seem smart.
April 26, 200818 yr Ryan Tucker makes my pants feel tighter. So far this season: 27.2 IP, 20 H, 4 ER, 1 HR, 9 BB, 27K. Good for a 1.05 WHIP and 1.30 ERA. He isn't 22 until December. Tucker's a different type of pitcher than Volstad. He's far more overpowering, as he's consistenly able to hit the mid to high 90's on the gun, whereas Volstad is a severe groundball pitcher in the Brandon Webb mode (not a comp, just an example). Because of his velocity, some viewed Tucker more as a future closer, and before this season it seemed that would be Tucker's career track. Tucker used to start the season slowly and then show these types of numbers later in the year, but to begin the season this way? Wow. Let's hope he doesn't still experience the severe first half/second half splits, unless this is his "bad half," in which case holy f***. Most people are championing Volstad as a mid-year callup, if not sooner. And they're right. But if Tucker can remotely sustain his early success, he'll to be a strong candidate for a 2009 rotation spot, if he doesn't get a call sometime around June or July of this year. So, whenever you hear somebody talking about Chris Volstad's MLB prospects, you should drop Ryan Tucker's name into the conversation as well. It'll make you seem smart. Tucker has been good, real good. I'll throw a comp out there just for the hell of it: Brad Penny.
April 26, 200818 yr Very good stuff. Hopefully this will br the year he puts it all togther. And the later Volstad and Tucker get called up, the better.
April 29, 200818 yr Im more excited about Tucker than Volstad at this point hinestly. Volstads just too hittable.
May 1, 200818 yr Im more excited about Tucker than Volstad at this point hinestly. Volstads just too hittable. Volstad WHIP is 1.03 Tucker WHIP is 1.06 they are both pitching great. W-L records are not so important. Tucker 6 walks in 5+ innings tonight is a concern. Not giving up any runs with those walks is lucky
May 1, 200818 yr Im more excited about Tucker than Volstad at this point hinestly. Volstads just too hittable. Volstad WHIP is 1.03 Tucker WHIP is 1.06 they are both pitching great. W-L records are not so important. Tucker 6 walks in 5+ innings tonight is a concern. Not giving up any runs with those walks is lucky WHIP probably isnt the best figure to use while trying to figure out ones hittablilty. Im just going with h/9. I was looking at W-L anyway.I know hes doing well this season, if he keeps it up, my mouths shut. Believe me, i want him to prove me wrong, someone put this on their sig or something so i can eat my words. Volstads from my nieghborhood. Ive faced him in hs. I should be his biggest fan, but im a Marlins fan first, and I don't want to follow some of the bias that goes on with some of the Marlins prospects.
May 5, 200818 yr Once again today, Tucker has another great outing: 7 IP, 3 Hits, 0 Runs. ERA goes down to 0.89 on the year. BTW: Cam Maybin goes 4-for-5 with a deep blast in this one today.
May 5, 200818 yr Once again today, Tucker has another great outing: 7 IP, 3 Hits, 0 Runs. ERA goes down to 0.89 on the year. BTW: Cam Maybin goes 4-for-5 with a deep blast in this one today. wow, he's flying through the season so far.
May 5, 200818 yr He's just tearing it up right now. His last five starts he's pitched 30 1/3 IP, 13 H, 1 ER (0.30 ERA), 32/13 K/BB ratio, 0.86 WHIP Simply amazing.
May 6, 200818 yr At this point, is Tucker ahead of Volstad on his road to the majors. Atleast this since possibly replacing Badenhop or Miller. I think so.
May 6, 200818 yr Author Tucker has 40 innings above A ball, all of which have come this season. There's no need to consider promoting him to the majors until he has more AA work. Later this year, moving him up to AAA might not be a bad idea. See if his fastball is as dominant there. I'd really prefer he spends the entire year in the minors, or at least doesn't debut until August and, even then, only makes a handful of major league starts. Be patient with Tucker. He'll compete for a 2009 rotation spot, but there's no need to rush things.
May 7, 200818 yr Tucker has 40 innings above A ball, all of which have come this season. There's no need to consider promoting him to the majors until he has more AA work. Later this year, moving him up to AAA might not be a bad idea. See if his fastball is as dominant there. I'd really prefer he spends the entire year in the minors, or at least doesn't debut until August and, even then, only makes a handful of major league starts. Be patient with Tucker. He'll compete for a 2009 rotation spot, but there's no need to rush things. Do you believe Volstad is ready then?
May 7, 200818 yr Author No. Volstad did throw about 45 innings in AA last season, though, so a better case can be made for him than for Tucker.
May 8, 200818 yr No. Volstad did throw about 45 innings in AA last season, though, so a better case can be made for him than for Tucker. Your talking about the same gm that called up Vanden Hurk from Jupiter. If Tucker keeps up this dominance, at some point your going to wonder if they consider him instead of Volstad, regardless of the extra 40 innings expirence. Its worth a thought
May 8, 200818 yr Right now Tucker is out pitching Volstad. Last I checked.....The Fish were doing fine without either one of them. The Mudcat staff has established that they have the ability. We need to let them learn the mental side of pitching that only comes from maturity and experience. 2009 Marlins will probably look a lot different than the 2008 team. There are a lot of arbitration eligible players that could cloud the payroll picture. All I can say is "KEEP IT UP BOYS....YOUR LOOKIN' GOOD".
May 8, 200818 yr Author No. Volstad did throw about 45 innings in AA last season, though, so a better case can be made for him than for Tucker. Your talking about the same gm that called up Vanden Hurk from Jupiter. If Tucker keeps up this dominance, at some point your going to wonder if they consider him instead of Volstad, regardless of the extra 40 innings expirence. Its worth a thought Your question wasn't "Do you think the Marlins will recall him?"; you asked "Do you think he's ready?" My answers to those two questions differ.
May 10, 200818 yr Tucker has in a blink of an eye, made himself into the Marlins best pitching prospect leapfrogging Volstad and Gabby. Tucker will be on the Marlins by June if he keeps this up
May 11, 200818 yr Another solid outing for him last night, going 6 IP, giving up 1 ER on 4 hits and 1 walk, struck out 4. Now has a whip and era below 1. :notworthy
May 12, 200818 yr If it aint broke don't fix it but right now Tucker might be the better option for the Marlins rotation than Badenhop. However Tucker is a powerpitcher while Badenhop is a sinkerballer and He does change things up a bit for the Marlins' rotation. I just have a major desire of seeing what Tucker can do in the majors right now. Tucker can blow pitches by hitters in the majors right now
June 4, 200818 yr Author From BA's chat: Q: lantz from ca asks: do you think ryan tucker has the stuff to crack the marlins rotation or is he destined to be a bull pen guy?[ A: Ben Badler: I wouldn't send him out there this year. His fastball is a great pitch but he still needs to command it better. His slider seems to have made progress over the three or fours starts I've seen him pitch, although that could just be the time-series of the starts fooling me into think it was true improvement. I think his stuff would play up in the bullpen, but obviously you leave him as a starter now for his development. The real stud on that staff is Chris Volstad?one of the heaviest sinkers in the minors and two out pitches in his curveball and changeup. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prosp...008/266258.html FWIW. This also seems to be a consensus view among scouts - that Tucker, although putting up incredible AA numbers, might be better suited as a set-up man/closer because he really only has two pitches (fastball and slider), only one of which (fastball) is major league ready. He also has some command issues.
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