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Friday, June 29, 2007

STL Post-Dispatch: Cardinals face a decision with Reyes

With Braden Looper returning from the disabled list to start Sunday, the Cardinals have to make a roster move and have to remove a member of the rotation. [Anthony] Reyes does not have another start scheduled.

“He pitched well enough (Wednesday) night that you would hope that he could get another opportunity,” Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said. “But he may not because of the numbers. We think very highly of Anthony and we believe he can have consistency and success at the major-league level. We have to decide how best to help him achieve that.”
...
Reyes said he continues to be troubled by why he throws with better velocity in Class AAA than he does in the majors. The reports the Cardinals got from his three minor-league starts this season confirm that feeling. The radar gun there reads him at 93-94 mph consistently. He touched 93 mph several times Wednesday but has consistently thrown between 88-90 mph in the majors.

Other pitchers have seen a similar dip in velocity from Triple-A Memphis to the Cardinals, leading the possibility it’s the guns, not the arm. But Reyes feels like he’s throwing with less sizzle.

NTNgod Posted: June 29, 2007 at 05:18 AM | 6 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. A One-Shoed Craig K Posted: June 29, 2007 at 05:25 AM (#2421863)

Reyes said he continues to be troubled by why he throws with better velocity in Class AAA than he does in the majors. The reports the Cardinals got from his three minor-league starts this season confirm that feeling. The radar gun there reads him at 93-94 mph consistently. He touched 93 mph several times Wednesday but has consistently thrown between 88-90 mph in the majors.

Because he's being forced to throw a two-seamer (his worst pitch) to pitch to contact even though he's a "blow you away" type of guy?

2. Sparkles Peterson Posted: June 29, 2007 at 06:25 AM (#2421874)

Going by the G/F ratios in the big leagues and minors, he's probably throwing about the same mix of 2- and 4-seam fastballs now between the Majors and minor leagues. This is either psychological, as a result of his strained relationship with Duncan, or an issue with the guns (And his feeling is just a result of big leaguers being better equipped to handle his fastball). I really think it's time for the organization to just clear the air and let him know they won't change him until he's tried and failed his way.

Much as I just generally dislike the "pitch to contact" philosophy Duncan has been espousing with Reyes, Duncan's act has worked with a lot of pitchers. What I really hate is that Reyes came up as a blue chip prospect, had success in his first look in the big leagues, and still got the reclamation project treatment from Duncan. As long as Reyes is convinced he'd be better off throwing his 4-seamer and changeup, he's never going to commit to the gameplan Duncan crafted around a 2-seam fastball and breaking pitch.

3. Halofan Posted: June 29, 2007 at 07:15 AM (#2421878)

Could atmospheric conditions - specifically humidity and temperature - have any effect near 4-6 mph?

4. mgl Posted: June 29, 2007 at 08:13 AM (#2421887)

It would if the pitch speed were measured near home plate, but readings like that are consistent with pitches being measured out of the pitcher's hand, which they usually are.

You'd think that with all the resources an MLB club has, they might try using the same type of gun in both places, at least in this instance.

5. KJOK Posted: June 29, 2007 at 03:50 PM (#2422216)

The Cardinals need to realize they are NOT in any race, and just leave Reyes in the rotation for the year, instead of worring about getting journeymen veterans like Looper or Wells into the rotation. Wells should be the obvious choice to get some bullpen work.

6. NTNgod Posted: July 02, 2007 at 09:14 PM (#2426605)

AP: Cardinals send struggling Reyes to minors

Anthony Reyes, who has lost 12 straight regular-season decisions, was optioned to the minors by the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday to make room for Braden Looper in the rotation.

Reyes' losing streak matched Bill Kissinger's franchise record set from 1896-97
...
Manager Tony La Russa expects Reyes, who allowed two runs in five innings in a rain-shortened loss at New York on Wednesday, to start "soon" for Triple-A Memphis. The team does not anticipate recalling Reyes before September, when rosters can be expanded.

"His ceiling is very high and he's on an uptick," La Russa said. "But he's got to go back and go to work."

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STL Post-Dispatch: Cardinals face a decision with Reyes

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