Marcell Ozuna Watch - (Update: Traded to Cards Pg. 13)

[Big Amoco Sign]

Of all the top chips we had in the upper minors, Alcantara was the one I was happy to see go. His archetype just has such a variance in track record.

Connor Greene, for instance, is not a large amount away from Alcantara as far as prospects go.

No way you still feel this way.

I’m curious what you didn’t like about Sandy. He was gas at age 20.

[phins]

Of all the top chips we had in the upper minors, Alcantara was the one I was happy to see go. His archetype just has such a variance in track record.

Connor Greene, for instance, is not a large amount away from Alcantara as far as prospects go.

No way you still feel this way.

I’m curious what you didn’t like about Sandy. He was gas at age 20.

Nope. Of course not. I got that one way wrong and own it all the time.

I sort of answered this question in my original comment, but his archetype has a huge swatch of variance and on the looks I had of him I hated his command and didn't think he would progress it to this point.

It's not so much being "gas" that clicked with him. There are literally hundreds of pitchers who throw as hard as he does. It was the athleticism allowing him to develop command and he improved his breaking pitch from a meh offering that hitters spit on because he never threw it for a strike to one he commands and plays off of.

He reached his 90th percentile outcome and because of it I was way wrong.

[phins]

I thought Alcantara would be a reliever because of his command.

[Big Amoco Sign]

I thought Alcantara would be a reliever because of his command.

I admittedly did too, but I thought he'd be a mainstay reliever of the Chapman/Diaz mold. One that sticks for 6-8 years. And those are valuable too.

I didn't like losing him because I love having as many 99+ arms as possible. I know many throw hard without command but you can't have too many. One of them is bound to get coached up to potential. We may be late on Hicks, but kind of hoping he comes around and it clicks. Especially since the TJS is out of the way and he has a set path.

Regarding Ozuna, I was okay with the trade. Never cared for Sierra or thought he had any real future outside of a Terrance Gore pinch runner for a playoff team.

[dmarx114]

It’s a heist.

I thought it was a great trade as well. But there are plenty of times when giving up prospects is a mistake.

[MrCrowesGarden]

It's the exception, I can live with it

[MrCrowesGarden]

Also LOL at this trade being the one that broke y’all’s brains.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Didn't find it in this thread, but pretty sure I'm on record somewhere on here agreeing with phins.

Saw Alcantara a time or two live. He looked the part. Tall, lanky, loose, decent velocity. But, his command was terrible, he didn't fool hitters, and in general looked like a thrower more than a pitcher.

That's obviously changed. Good for him.