After going 8 IP 4 H 0 ER 2 BB 2SO (10 fly balls) against Montgomery, he's given up 1 earned run in his last 23 innings, to go along with a great season this far.

 

In AA Jacksonville for the season- IP 79.2 H 67 BB 13 K 51. That's a 1.5 BB/9, 2.60 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and a 3.91 FIP for the season.

 

He's a flyball pitcher and a guy who has outstanding control. He could end up being a valuable middle reliever or spot start in the future, especially in Joe Robbie or the new ball park if its as pitcher friendly as this one.

Elih Villanueva has been an intriguing pitcher in our minor league system since 2008. He's having one hell of a season thus far.

I'm not saying he'll be a major starter on this team in the future, but those numbers from a kid in AA are mighty pretty.Might be a AAA call up for him in the horizon.

Another good night tonight. 6 innings 4 hits 1 ER 1 BB 4 k. ERA down to 2.21. Keep throwing strikes Elih!!

He's not really a prospect. His stuff is marginal, gives up way to many FB, not enough whiffs, and is succeeding based on killer control at the AA levels. I don't think he is one of the Marlins top 25 arms in the minors.

So we are looking at Graham Taylor from the right side? What pitches does Villanueva throw?

He's awesome cuz he's from Coral Springs but I think Lou is right. He'll probably get killed at the major league level.

I disagree. When you come from Coral Springs, you are destined for greatness. Just ask Robbie Widlansky (oh yeah, I said it).

Not even a top arm as a reliever?

I disagree. When you come from Coral Springs, you are destined for greatness. Just ask Robbie Widlansky (oh yeah, I said it).

 

 

At least Swarzak is pitching in the bigs, although I think he was from Plantation? (profile says Ft. Lauderdale, but I thought he went to Plantation....)

Not even a top arm as a reliever?

 

 

 

Not really.

So we are looking at Graham Taylor from the right side? What pitches does Villanueva throw?

 

 

Where is Taylor now? Still in our system?

Out for the year with TJ

 

He isn't even on Taylor's level because Teddy at least got ground balls

So NNY, is it ever good to throw a lot of fly-balls. If your at Dolphin stadium, don't you want flyballs, or is it that he straight up gives up too many.

So NNY, is it ever good to throw a lot of fly-balls. If your at Dolphin stadium, don't you want flyballs, or is it that he straight up gives up too many.

 

 

 

A flyball pitcher who doesn't strike many people out is normally not a good sign.

So Eli in the majors would be like Ricky minus the strike outs and giving up more homers?

It's basically never better to get fly balls compared to ground balls, because fly balls go for XBH so much more often. It's not just a matter of HRs, even in a park like ours that's then more doubles and triples. Certainly, in our park compared to something like Philly, fly balls do less damage, but they're never better than ground balls.

 

That's not to say a fly ball pitcher can't be successful. But they need to do other things great to make up for it. Generally speaking, only about 5 pitchers in a season will finish with a FB% higher than 45% (Last year, Ted Lilly, Jared Weaver, Johan Santana, Scott Baker, and Jeremy Guthrie all finished between 45-50%). Santana is certainly an example of a FB pitcher than can have major success, as his career rate is at 43%. 35-40% is generally where you can say "too many fly balls but shouldn't be a major issue), but you really do want 30-35%. Lower is awesome.

 

But as Erik said, Eli does not have the K potential guys like Santana, Weaver, ect have. That's why, in terms of comparison to Teddy, Teddy is better because they both have bad strike outs and supreme control but Teddy gets a massive amount more of ground balls.

Speaking of this, it could be yet another reason why Leo Nunez has improved as he has thus far this year. I don't know if it's just a small sample thing, or if he's just a much improved pitcher over the offseason (fixing the tipping of his pitches, etc.), but Leo has gone from a flyball pitcher (43.7% last year) to more of a grounball pitcher this year. His FB% is at 34.8% this year; GB% is at 48.5%, which is a great improvement over his career 38.7%. Combine that with his low walk total, and 9.47 K/9, and it explains why he's been so good thus far, this year. Hopefully he continues at these rates, or similar to these rates for the rest of the year.

13-4 2.2 era, why hasn't this guy gotten himself at least a promotion to AAA?

13-4 2.2 era, why hasn't this guy gotten himself at least a promotion to AAA?

 

 

Probably because the pitching staff there is already full, and they don't want to release those guys.

13-4 2.2 era, why hasn't this guy gotten himself at least a promotion to AAA?

 

 

Probably because the pitching staff there is already full, and they don't want to release those guys.

 

I might think that if there were lots of people in triple A putting up the same types of numbers, but there really isn't anyone. The fact is he is pitching significantly better then most of them, and considering some of the starters down there were at one time or another relievers it wouldn't hurt some of them to go down to AA to figure out how to go deep into games.

Just got back from Jacksonville where Villanueva pitched a rain shortened No-Hitter today. I didn't even realize it that he hadn't given up any hits until the game was called.

As a bonus Frank Forte was there so maybe this will bring him so notriety!

If it's all smoke and mirrors, then he must own an non-environmentally-conscious glass-cutting factory.

is there any chance u can turn this guy into a major leaguer?

Damn, he seems to have great command. Maybe he can teach Andrew Miller a thing or two down there.

If it's all smoke and mirrors, then he must own an non-environmentally-conscious glass-cutting factory.

 

You made me legitimately LOL.