I had a great time with Mario at the Futures Game today, a ton of fun. Finding Mario's house was a lot easier than I thought, and after struggling to parallel park, we were on our way. We got to our seats and looked through our Futures Game packets, which were pretty nice. Ring's picture there is absolutely hysterical, you can't see his face nose up. I guess Mario and I must have pissed off God or something, because we got stuck in front of the most annoying "minor-league aficionado" I've ever seen. He was this 13-14 year old Cubs fan who just wouldn't shut up. The game started, and he went on and on about how Cotts "wasn't impressive" and wondered "how he had a 1.97 ERA". I wanted to backhand the kid. He also said that Joe Mauer "sucked" because he couldn't throw out Nivar at 3rd base (have to admit, awful throw by Mauer). Then, the kid nearly has an orgasm watching Rick Harden pitch. "Man, he's going to be so awesome in Oakland, his split finger is great." Several times the kid thought a straight four-seam fastball was his split finger. The only split finger Harden threw was garbage, went about 60 feet, but the batter swung at it. Instantly, Mario asked if I wanted some food, but we mainly just wanted to move as far away from the kid as possible (he was drooling about Nic Jackson, David Kelton, Felix Pie. he said that Kelton would take over for Sosa....right).

 

When I was watching Cotts, I saw some positives and negatives out of him. Positives are that he was almost always ahead of the hitter, or at laest close to the plate in the early part of the count. The two batters he K'd had no chance against his fastballs. His changeup had a really nice natural motion to it, looked like it dropped off a table. Only negative I saw was when he would get to two strikes, he just couldn't put the batter away. He was nibbling just a bit, which resulted in a ton of foul balls which sent his pitch count soaring. That's the only negative I saw, and I believe Neal can easily address the problem and fix it. Also, Cotts was hitting the mid to upper 80's on the gun at The Cell.

 

Some things I liked out of the prospects I saw:

 

John VanBenschoten's curveball is filthy. Looked great out there. Grienke looked OK, but it appeared to me that he slowed down his arm a lot as he threw his curveball. Nagoette looked great except for that first pitch homer. His slider was just filthy.

 

Royce Ring got the save, but the only batter he faced drilled the ball right at the shortstop.

Thanks for the report and glad you had a great time.

 

At the risk of sounding like a 14-year-old Cubs fan, I wasn't terribly impressed with my first look at Cotts. He had a lot of Josh Stewart in him from what I saw. I found myself thinking that I don't see him getting ML hitters out yet. When he hit the low 90s on his fastball, it seemed flat. Didn't look like it had any jump. He did seem poised out there, and worked all the angles fairly well ( up/down, in/out ). Just didn't blow me away as I would expect from the most-hyped prospect on this board.

At the risk of sounding like a 14-year-old Cubs fan, I wasn't terribly impressed with my first look at Cotts. He had a lot of Josh Stewart in him from what I saw. I found myself thinking that I don't see him getting ML hitters out yet. When he hit the low 90s on his fastball, it seemed flat. Didn't look like it had any jump. He did seem poised out there, and worked all the angles fairly well ( up/down, in/out ). Just didn't blow me away as I would expect from the most-hyped prospect on this board.

Cotts is the kind of pitcher you will appreciate much more after watching him several times. He only threw one inning today and the hitters battled very hard, fouling many balls off. The RBI single was on a great pitch (actually a ball) down and away. He can look shaky one inning and then you look up and it is the 5th inning and he hasn't allowed another hit. He is by no means overpowering, but no one ever claimed him to be.

Rex, if you ever run into Neal, tell him to get a haircut. Sheesh, that hair is long.

Cerb, what is the highest you saw Cotts register on the gun? The TV gun showed him at 92 once or twice and 90, 3 or 4 other times. I have generally seen him in the 87-89 range, but I know there are variations in different guns.

 

Also, Ring hit 90 mph 3 or 4 times in the two batters he faced, so I am wondering if the TV gun was a couple miles an hour fast.

Rex, if you ever run into Neal, tell him to get a haircut. Sheesh, that hair is long.

I noticed that recently. Did you see him with his hat off? He definitely is sporting some curly locks.

I noticed that recently.  Did you see him with his hat off? He definitely is sporting some curly locks.

I saw him when he was playing long toss in left field. It looked bad with his hat off.

Rex, if you ever run into Neal, tell him to get a haircut. Sheesh, that hair is long.

I like his hair, not many people can pull it off, but I think it looks alright on Cotts. It's much better than the shaved head and ugly goatee sported by Billy Botch. Not that it has anything to do with his pitching.

Cerb, read back a few posts. I asked about Cotts radar gun readings. I think you missed that one..

Cerb, what is the highest you saw Cotts register on the gun?  The TV gun showed him at 92 once or twice and 90, 3 or 4 other times.  I have generally seen him in the 87-89 range, but I know there are variations in different guns. 

 

Also, Ring hit 90 mph 3 or 4 times in the two batters he faced, so I am wondering if the TV gun was a couple miles an hour fast.

The highest the Cell Gun was showing Cotts at was 87. I think it was a bit slow, but not as slow as ESPN's made it out to be. I got kind of curious when Nagoette was only hitting 92 or so. Ring did not hit 90 at the Cell, I think his highest fastball was 85 or 86. He was nowhere near 90, IMO.

Cerb, what is the highest you saw Cotts register on the gun?  The TV gun showed him at 92 once or twice and 90, 3 or 4 other times.  I have generally seen him in the 87-89 range, but I know there are variations in different guns. 

 

Also, Ring hit 90 mph 3 or 4 times in the two batters he faced, so I am wondering if the TV gun was a couple miles an hour fast.

The highest the Cell Gun was showing Cotts at was 87. I think it was a bit slow, but not as slow as ESPN's made it out to be. I got kind of curious when Nagoette was only hitting 92 or so. Ring did not hit 90 at the Cell, I think his highest fastball was 85 or 86. He was nowhere near 90, IMO.

So thie big question is......... Which is right or more accurate?

 

Cotts hit 88 a lot and got to 90 or above 4 or 5 times. Ring was consistently at 90 on the few fastballs he threw.

 

The readings I have seen this year were more 87-88 for both.

I'd say just take the average of both and you get the actual MPH.

John VanBenschoten's curveball is filthy. Looked great out there.

that's what i said at the time, too. he was the most impressive pitcher i saw, nobody had a chance against that curve.

Grienke looked OK, but it appeared to me that he slowed down his arm a lot as he threw his curveball.

 

The Grienke I saw was unhitable with NASTY s***. I saw him for an inning on TV and i was most impressed with him. I've never seen a 19 year old with that much control with all that movement. He's gonna be a stud. Too bad he's with KC.

I was there also, but I was bored of the game and I will tell my day in the separate post.

yeah mike, that kid was annoying as hell. he was very interested in baseball, I'll give him that and I respect the fact that he knew some players, but he was very immature and bothered the s*** out of me.

I noticed that recently.  Did you see him with his hat off? He definitely is sporting some curly locks.

That's actually how it looked when he pitched at ISU too! And it is, well, um...sexy! I don't think he's gonna change it any time soon.

Cotts is the kind of pitcher you will appreciate much more after watching him several times.  He only threw one inning today and the hitters battled very hard, fouling many balls off.  The RBI single was on a great pitch (actually a ball) down and away.  He can look shaky one inning and then you look up and it is the 5th inning and he hasn't allowed another hit.  He is by no means overpowering, but no one ever claimed him to be.

I completely agree, Rex. His lack of power is easily compensated by the location of his pitches. He's got a nasty changeup, and when he's in command, everybody better watch out! I'm not too worried about him right now. He will excel at these levels.

I'm much more excited about Cotts than I am about almost any other Sox pitching prospect. A 94 mph moving fastball does not a good pitcher make. Look at how Wright has struggled, and he can hit 95-97 (or so I hear). It sounds as though Cotts just needs to work on some fine-tuning of his control, and I'm sure that will come as he throws more. I'm not too worried about injuries with him either, because it sounds as though he doesn't put a whole lot of strain on his arm (aside from the high pitch counts, which are suspect as a measurement tool anyway.) I wouldn't be surprised to see him earn a spot (or at least a cup of coffee) next year, and be a strong candidate for a starting job out of '05 Spring Training.

that's what i said at the time, too. he was the most impressive pitcher i saw, nobody had a chance against that curve.

I still liked the Asian kid from the Rockies a whole lot. That kid will be good, mark my words on that.

 

Vandebotsch was definately as impressive and I liked Cotts. Rich Harden didn't impress me. No movement on the heater and just like I noticed in the higlights they showed on BA a long time ago, he gets guys out by chasing terrible pitches (Pitches that don't get chased in the majors)

 

Guiterrez or whatever his name from the Dodgers organization really impressed me.

VanBenschoten, Jason say it with me, VanBenschoten.

Cerb, read back a few posts.  I asked about Cotts radar gun readings.  I think you missed that one..

I know I'm late on this one but he didn't get over 87 and I think he only tossed one at that. Most were in the low to mid 80's and we did gasp when he hurled one at a stellar 69 mph!!

I know I'm late on this one but he didn't get over 87 and I think he only tossed one at that. Most were in the low to mid 80's and we did gasp when he hurled one at a stellar 69 mph!! 

Did you gasp because you thought it was a fastball or because you just like the # 69?

 

It is quite obvious that the gun used for TV was faster than those at the ballparks.

Did you gasp because you thought it was a fastball or because you just like the # 69?

 

It is quite obvious that the gun used for TV was faster than those at the ballparks.

LOL..

 

I gasped because it looked like he threw his hardest to get it there.

 

Overall, he looks good though. Got a chance to talk to him before the game and he seems like a really nice guy. Very grounded. Extremely humble. Let's hope he stays that way.