Dove hits 97 on the gun today.

fewgoodcards · Post by **fewgoodcards** » March 16 07, 8:56 am

in 2004 when danny haren came back up and was throwing out of the pen he was hitting 95 and 96

Cronos · Post by **Cronos** » March 16 07, 8:57 am

Jocephus wrote:

How can u just leave me standing?
Alone in a world that's so cold?
Maybe I'm just 2 demanding
Maybe I'm just like my father 2 bold
Maybe you're just like my mother
She's never satisfied
Why do we scream at each other
This is what it sounds like
When doves cry

Phyrkrakr · Post by **Phyrkrakr** » March 16 07, 9:13 am

Dennis Dove Profile
By JM Barten
Posted on Mon Jan 15, 2007 at 04:07:33 AM EDT

If you're looking for a deep sleeper, here's your Rip Van Winkle. Let start off with point, counterpoint.

Point for- He pitched exceptionally well in the Florida State League after being moved to the bullpen. He struck out more than a batter per inning and didn't give up walks or home runs.

Point against- He should have done well in a HiA league. He was 24 years old.

Another Point Against- He only has one pitch worth talking about.

For- If you were to pick one pitch and have it as your only weapon, a mid/high 90's fastball would be a pretty good choice.

The Cardinals think enough of Dove that they added him to the 40 man roster in the offseason. It was probably a good choice since guys with his stuff tends to be attractive to teams looking for cheap relief help with upside in the Rule 5 Draft.

I don't put a lot of weight in his Arizona Fall League performance or his rough stretch in Springfield. The sample sizes are too small. Expect him to start 2007 back where he finished 2006, rural Missouri.

Dove really hasn't changed since being drafted out of Georgia Southern. He was a live arm then and he's a live arm now. He isn't a groundball machine, but he isn't a flyball factory either There really isn't much more to be said about him. Sometimes these guys work out. Sometimes they don't. If he does work out, then he's your standard issue power reliever. If he doesn't then he'll be selling insurance or coaching high school kids in a few years.

From Beyond the Box Score

Also, quick note: He had ankle surgery after the 2004 season, but other than that, he's been healthy, apparently.

Hungary Jack · Post by **Hungary Jack** » March 16 07, 9:30 am

myersli wrote:When was the last time that ANY Cards pitcher threw 97? I actually agree with the organization's emphasis on groundball pitchers, but it's always been strange to me to see most Cards starters and relievers topping out at 90-93 when there are teams like the White Sox that have multiple relievers who can come close to 100. All I can say is hooray for speed! Bring on Dove. With Kinney out, I'd love to see a reliever in the 8th that can get a strikeout when needed.

Carmen Cali threw 97 pretty regularly.

robbotis · Post by **robbotis** » March 16 07, 9:37 am

So the Pitching Staff will consist of:

Carpenter
Reyes
Wainwright
Wells
Looper

Johnson
Hancock
Thompson
Springer
Dove
Rincon or Flores
Isringhausen

That looks pretty good to me. Was I missing someone?

Phyrkrakr · Post by **Phyrkrakr** » March 16 07, 10:22 am

robbotis wrote:So the Pitching Staff will consist of:

Carpenter
Reyes
Wainwright
Wells
Looper

Johnson
Hancock
Thompson
Springer
Dove
Rincon or Flores
Isringhausen

That looks pretty good to me. Was I missing someone?

Instead of "Rincon or Flores" I'd have TJ going back to Memphis. He has options left and he's been less than impressive this spring training. And Ryan Franklin is still kicking around, as well.

GatewaySnayke · Post by **GatewaySnayke** » March 16 07, 11:19 am

Uhh...I'm pretty sure Jeff Fassero was consistently sitting at 98.

Donnie Ebert · Post by **Donnie Ebert** » March 16 07, 11:24 am

GatewaySnayke wrote:Uhh...I'm pretty sure Jeff Fassero was consistently sitting at 98.

98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. CONSISTENTLY.

GatewaySnayke · Post by **GatewaySnayke** » March 16 07, 11:26 am

Donnie Ebert wrote:
GatewaySnayke wrote:Uhh...I'm pretty sure Jeff Fassero was consistently sitting at 98.
98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. CONSISTENTLY.

Well, that was his temperature when the bases were loaded, no outs and the Cardinals leading 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning. Nails, baby.

Jocephus · Post by **Jocephus** » March 16 07, 1:39 pm

JUPITER, FLA. — Reliever Dennis Dove had just thrown a fastball clocked at 97 mph, struck out two of the three batters he faced with gnarly sinkers, and got the third batter to pop up weakly to first base.

It was the kind of outing that turns a prospect into a contender pitching for a big league job, and when pitching coach Dave Duncan was asked about him, his answer was a shock:

"I would think that we're probably going to send him out tomorrow. You can't pitch like that in the big leagues."

Duncan paused.
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Then revealed his sarcasm. "That's too good. We don't like those guys that throw 95, 96."

Dove has been lauded as one of the finer arms in the Cardinals' organization for several years, but a move to the bullpen has improved his command, and Dove is vying for a shot in the big league bullpen. Several days ago, Duncan said he was worth watching for "the future." After a save this week and a perfect ninth Thursday, Dove has done more than rev his fastball. He may have sped up the future.

His spring stats: 5 1/3 innings, one run, three hits, no walks and four strikeouts.

"You can see how he's being used and see when he's being used and know he's already made an impression," manager Tony La Russa said. "What he's done means he's getting an extensive look. We'll see what happens after that."

The Cardinals appear in need of a strikeout righthander to augment their bullpen with Josh Kinney lost for the season after Tommy John surgery. The current righthanded relievers have the stuff to get outs but not the sizzle Dove has on his two-seam, sinking fastball. A strikeout arm like that is a weapon.

Dove, 25, started his first 42 professional games. Only last spring training did then-farm director Bruce Manno and pitching coordinator Mark Riggins move him to the bullpen. He was powerful, sporting a fastball that regularly ran at 93-96 mph. But he was erratic. He would have high pitch-count innings and was inconsistent from start to start. After three pro years, his blazing fastball had topped out at Class A.

The move to the bullpen goosed his career. "Early in my career, I was just trying to strike everybody out and get the glory numbers instead of getting outs any way I could get them out," said Dove, who struck out 71 in 65 2/3 innings in the minors last summer. "In the bullpen, you go right after guys and let it fly."

That's what he did Thursday, striking out one of the hottest hitters this spring, LA's Tony Abreu. Dove's fastball has "good sinking movement when it's down and it looks like it's alive when its up," Duncan said. Every swing taken at his pitches Thursday was late.

Dove has to prove consistency, but with the 97 mph fastball, he clearly has an arm built for the bullpen. "I'd like to have five of them," Duncan said. "One would be a good start."

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