Author Topic: Balester to depart Syracuse, convert to reliever (Read 22400 times)

tomterp · « **on:** May 10, 2010, 12:25:11 pm »

According to Zuckerman this morning:

http://natsinsider.blogspot.com/2010/05/big-stretch-ahead.html#more

Quote

Collin Balester, once thought of as the top pitching prospect in this organization, has struggled mightily, so the Nats are going to covert him to a reliever. Balester will actually go to Viera first to ease his way into that new role, then conceivably he'd had back to Syracuse at some point to join the Chiefs' bullpen. Seems like a last-ditch attempt for Balester, who just hasn't been able to pitch with any consistency at the big-league level.

Best of luck Collin, hope you can put it together.

CatsEye · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2010, 12:42:59 pm »

I have said for a while that I thought Collin would be excellent as a reliever, instead of a starter (on both boards). I think he will do an excellent job in that role. I wish him best of luck in his new adventure, and hope to see him back soon in the Nats (Major League)line-up.

KnorrForYourMoney · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2010, 01:06:34 pm »

Is someone replacing him in the Syracuse rotation?

hammondsnats · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2010, 01:07:08 pm »

hopefully he can make the most of the opportunity.

hammondsnats · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2010, 01:07:18 pm »

Quote from: KnorrForYourMoney on May 10, 2010, 01:06:34 pm

Is someone replacing him in the Syracuse rotation?

cheeks

Kevrock · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2010, 01:24:55 pm »

Best of luck to him. I hope he makes the most of this new opportunity.

Vega · « **Reply #6 on:** May 10, 2010, 01:29:16 pm »

This was kind of expected, wasn't it? It was obvious that he didn't have a future with the Nats as a starter.

shoeshineboy · « **Reply #7 on:** May 10, 2010, 01:37:30 pm »

I was just reading that. Good luck to Balester. He's got good stuff, and this could be the thing that gets him to stick in the bigs. Ironically, he seemed to struggle out of the stretch to get the bite on his pitches he had out of the windup. Perhaps with a focus on a Fastball and curve and brief appearances he can find success. He's a talented kid and has plenty of years ahead of him. Very durable as well.

Lintyfresh85 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 10, 2010, 01:40:12 pm »

Still a young guy... plenty of time to get it together!

I wonder if a new motion is in the works? I'm not sure what they'd expect to change from his results if they simply just switched him from starting to the pen.

Good luck Bally!

PANatsFan · « **Reply #9 on:** May 10, 2010, 01:42:49 pm »

Bally, Storen, and Capps at the end of the game, and maybe Clip back to the rotation. So much talent to go around!

Spinman, you are a positive guy and everything always works out for the best!

Lintyfresh85 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 10, 2010, 01:45:40 pm »

Please no to Clippard as a starter. Lets just keep him where he's at, and where he's successful.

hammondsnats · « **Reply #11 on:** May 10, 2010, 01:57:24 pm »

I agree Linty, must keep Clippard where he's at. He looks very comfortable in that role and you don't mess with that.

I know Bally was a drop and drive kinda pitcher and changed his wind-up. I haven't seen him pitch this year, so I'm not sure what kind of style he's using now. Wish the best of luck to him, good kid with a live arm ... hopefully he can piece it together.

JMUalumni · « **Reply #12 on:** May 10, 2010, 01:57:48 pm »

I've seen Balester hit 96 on the radar with his fastball before. I expect him to pick up a few ticks in his velocity with the move to the pen, much like Clippard did.

cmdterps44 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 10, 2010, 02:02:04 pm »

Quote from: Lintyfresh85 on May 10, 2010, 01:45:40 pm

Please no to Clippard as a starter. Lets just keep him where he's at, and where he's successful.

freak the rotation idea (nothin against you PA). He's solid in the pen so leave him there! Again, why mess with something thats 'perfect', in this case, working.

tomterp · « **Reply #14 on:** May 10, 2010, 02:30:03 pm »

Quote from: hammondsnats on May 10, 2010, 01:57:24 pm

I know Bally was a drop and drive kinda pitcher and changed his wind-up. I haven't seen him pitch this year, so I'm not sure what kind of style he's using now. Wish the best of luck to him, good kid with a live arm ... hopefully he can piece it together.

I gotta think his mechanics are all messed up.

blue911 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 10, 2010, 02:49:14 pm »

Quote from: tomterp on May 10, 2010, 02:30:03 pm

I gotta think his mechanics are all messed up.

That's what I think. Pitching from the stretch may be the best thing for him at this point.

JMW IV · « **Reply #16 on:** May 10, 2010, 03:56:45 pm »

Quote from: PANatsFan on May 10, 2010, 01:42:49 pm

Bally, Storen, and Capps at the end of the game, and maybe Clip back to the rotation. So much talent to go around!

Spinman, you are a positive guy and everything always works out for the best!

so high on Balester, yet so down on Lannan.

PANatsFan · « **Reply #17 on:** May 10, 2010, 03:58:01 pm »

Quote from: JMW4th on May 10, 2010, 03:56:45 pm

so high on Balester, yet so down on Lannan.

Balester throws harder.

JMW IV · « **Reply #18 on:** May 10, 2010, 03:58:40 pm »

Quote from: Lintyfresh85 on May 10, 2010, 01:45:40 pm

Please no to Clippard as a starter. Lets just keep him where he's at, and where he's successful.

yeah i don't get the recent obsession with Clippard as a starter. people on Nats Insider, Twitter, and Facebook mention it all the time.

blue911 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 10, 2010, 03:59:31 pm »

Quote from: PANatsFan on May 10, 2010, 03:58:01 pm

Balester throws harder.

So does Daniel Cabrera

JMW IV · « **Reply #20 on:** May 10, 2010, 04:00:27 pm »

Quote from: PANatsFan on May 10, 2010, 03:58:01 pm

Balester throws harder.

maybe we should go get hanrahan back then.

i wasn't aware that getting the crap kicked out of you in AAA was acceptable just because you throw hard.

hopefully this move to the Pen helps Bally fix his issues and leads to success.

JMW IV · « **Reply #21 on:** May 10, 2010, 04:01:08 pm »

Quote from: blue911 on May 10, 2010, 03:59:31 pm

So does Daniel Cabrera

even better. and Cabrera is out of work too. maybe we should get him to replace Lannan.

PANatsFan · « **Reply #22 on:** May 10, 2010, 04:01:40 pm »

Quote from: blue911 on May 10, 2010, 03:59:31 pm

So does Daniel Cabrera

JMad's being a huge dork. I'm all for Balester going to Viera to get himself straightened out. I'm for Lannan going to H-burg to do the same. Complete consistency. Lannan is a major league pitcher and will pitch here or somewhere else in the majors for a while. A Doug Davis type. But this team needs to scratch and claw for every win, most especially in the division. No practice games.

blue911 · « **Reply #23 on:** May 10, 2010, 04:10:50 pm »

Quote from: PANatsFan on May 10, 2010, 04:01:40 pm

JMad's being a huge dork. I'm all for Balester going to Viera to get himself straightened out. I'm for Lannan going to H-burg to do the same. Complete consistency. Lannan is a major league pitcher and will pitch here or somewhere else in the majors for a while. A Doug Davis type. But this team needs to scratch and claw for every win, most especially in the division. No practice games.

I don't understand why the need for Lannan to have to pitch in the minors. He said his elbow felt funny and he didn't think he was finishing his pitches. Fine. Now he's missed a turn and he'll either prove that he's okay or he'll end up on the DL. Sending him down would only serve to humiliate the guy for no reason. George Steinbrenner was famous for that sort of crap.

JMW IV · « **Reply #24 on:** May 10, 2010, 04:11:46 pm »

Quote from: PANatsFan on May 10, 2010, 04:01:40 pm

Complete consistency.

bullcrap.

you've been totally crapting on Lannan all season. Balester's been getting blown up by minor league hitters much, much worse, and no comments by anyone. go look at his stats, he's arguably been the worst pitcher in our entire system so far. they decide to convert Balester and all of a sudden you are dreaming of Balester-Clippard-Capps closing out games.

complete consistency.

Lannan's been bad, Balester's been at least 4 tiimes worse. the way you've been about Lannan, you should be blowing a gasket about Balester. i guess he gets a pass because he's in AAA, but to me that just makes it completely worse. they aren't even major league hitters.

I hope for the best from Balester as a reliever, but what makes you think he'll take to it successfully enough to have a major role on the major league roster, if AAAA hitters beat the crap out of him?