Link Love and Minor Musings for 10-27-09

October 28, 2009 BY Alex Eisenberg No Comments Yet

Milwaukee Brewers pitching prospect Evan Anundsen is somebody I closely watched in 2009. He was a sleeper of mine heading into the season. His GB% was tremendous, he commanded his pitches well, and he was young for his level. The problem was that he didn’t miss many bats. That surprised me because his draft video showed a guy with good life and good velocity on his fastball.

But then I found out from Baseball America he’s clocked in the 86 – 88 range. Soon after, I came across an interview with Anundsen from battlekow of Brew Crew Ball. The money quote:

BCB: That 90 to 93 vs. 85 to 88 is four-seamer vs. two-seamer, though, right?

EA: No, not entirely. I mean, when I pull out my four-seamer now, I get it up to 88, 89 usually. And back then, I’m not sure whether my arm was in better condition or just the easy schedule of starting once a week and the season only lasting two months. That, and I also just threw in high school. I mean, I had a general idea of where I was throwing it, but not nearly the kind of control I’ve obtained over the past few years.

BCB: The fact that you said your arm took a beating in high school, you feel like there’s some sort of physical cause behind your velocity loss too?

EA: Well, I’ve pretty much looked back at everything to try and figure out why my velocity dropped. All I can really think of is either throwing 85 innings in about 12 starts, with no care on how many pitches I threw per game, or just I realized that I needed to learn how to pitch and I have just lost some of those quick-twitch muscles that I need to build up again.

Despite Anundsen trying to find other reasons for his decreased velocity, there is enough research about high pitch counts and the repercussions they have on pitchers to conclude what the biggest factor was behind Anundsen’s decline. The moral of the story? Pitch counts matter! Hopefully for Anundsen’s sake, he’ll be able to find the velocity that has deserted him since high school. That he’s a been as good as he’s been without even average velocity is a testament to him.

Phil Hughes is struggling heading into the World Series. Pitching coach Dave Eiland says Hughes needs to make a minor mechanical adjustment to get back to his old self.

Matt Garza’s slider is filthy according to R.J. Anderson of DRaysBay.

Tough break (no pun intended) for Tigers second base prospect Scott Sizemore as it was revealed he’ll need surgery on an ankle he fractured in the AFL. The hope is that he’ll be ready for Spring Training, but we’ll see.

I agree with this post by radio silence at the Junkball Blues…the Brewers should look to sell high on Casey McGehee. His value is at an all time high and likely won’t get any higher. His track record should tell you he’s not likely to replicate his 09′ numbers. If he does, he’ll be a big-time exception to the rule.