Author Topic: Matt Grace, LHP  (Read 995 times)

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Offline monkeyhit

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Matt Grace, LHP
« Topic Start: November 20, 2014, 08:38:34 PM »
Will be 26 in December, but had a good year and we need lefties.
5 and 1, 1:17 ERA and 1:10 WHIP between AA and AAA, 77 innings.

Welcome to the 40-man, Matt.

Offline Slateman

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Matt Grace, LH Pitcher
« Reply #1: November 20, 2014, 09:22:31 PM »
The next Zach Duke?

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Matt Grace, LH Pitcher
« Reply #2: November 20, 2014, 10:57:53 PM »
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/wp/2014/11/18/lefty-reliever-matt-grace-is-on-the-nationals-radar/

Quote
If Grace reaches the majors, it will be because of his fastball, evaluators say. He used it almost exclusively during the season, even against left-handed batters. The low 90s fastball has such heavy sink and life. “You can’t teach that,” one scout said.

But in order to reach that point, Grace has to keep working on his secondary pitches. Grace’s command of his slider and change-up have improved, and he was sent to the AFL to further develop both pitches. The Nationals wanted Grace to use his slider more as a “go-to” pitch that he can bounce in the dirt with two strikes for a punchout or use even when behind in the count.

Offline Clever

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Matt Grace, LHP
« Reply #3: July 20, 2015, 12:21:04 PM »
Seems to have it turned it around at Syracuse after some troubles early this year. Decreased K  rate and slight increase and walks a cause for concern though. Only 5.4 K/9 with 3.3 BB/9. Still getting guys out though, but that may not translate to the majors, as his cup of coffee would have indicated.

Offline Elvir Ovcina

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Matt Grace, LHP
« Reply #4: July 20, 2015, 01:23:14 PM »
Seems to have it turned it around at Syracuse after some troubles early this year. Decreased K  rate and slight increase and walks a cause for concern though. Only 5.4 K/9 with 3.3 BB/9. Still getting guys out though, but that may not translate to the majors, as his cup of coffee would have indicated.

I saw absolutely nothing from his time in the majors (and I saw several appearances, including one with good results) to suggest he is a major league pitcher.  His stuff is the same as Jason Bergmann from the other side.

Offline HalfSmokes

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Matt Grace, LHP
« Reply #5: July 20, 2015, 01:33:03 PM »
I saw absolutely nothing from his time in the majors (and I saw several appearances, including one with good results) to suggest he is a major league pitcher.  His stuff is the same as Jason Bergmann from the other side.

and that could result in a nice career for him

Offline Elvir Ovcina

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Matt Grace, LHP
« Reply #6: July 20, 2015, 01:52:58 PM »
and that could result in a nice career for him

The point was that being lefthanded isn't an advantage if you don't have a pitch to get lefties out. Grace barely has any handedness split at all in the minors, and both sides killed him in the majors.  It's just a fastball that sinks a bit, isn't particularly hard, and isn't located well.