tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post6392418892994772349..comments2024-02-15T05:42:18.307-05:00Comments on Nats Insider: Fall League begins without HarperMark Zuckermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-4142446486990022422010-10-14T03:13:47.958-04:002010-10-14T03:13:47.958-04:00I just noticed the above picture of Solis--you'...I just noticed the above picture of Solis--you're right--that is a knuckle ballgrip, not a knuckle curve. He might have just been fooling around.D'Gourdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15698019917520842852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-77118984445009461782010-10-14T03:10:35.916-04:002010-10-14T03:10:35.916-04:00A knuckle curve has very little to do with a knuck...A knuckle curve has very little to do with a knuckle ball. It's simply a type of curveball grip. It looks just like a curve ball. The grip allows the pitcher to impart more spin upon release--the opposite of a knucle ball, having little to no spin.D'Gourdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15698019917520842852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-48550772503981939882010-10-12T17:43:13.923-04:002010-10-12T17:43:13.923-04:00Thanks, Anonymous!Thanks, Anonymous!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03720656948607405304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-61205683515129432852010-10-12T16:22:11.149-04:002010-10-12T16:22:11.149-04:00Chien-Ming Wang pitched two innings as planned tod...Chien-Ming Wang pitched two innings as planned today. his line: 2/0/0/0/0/0/0. 17 pitches, 10-7, faced 6 batters and touched 89 mph. 1st inning- 9 pitches, 2 GO, 1 FO; 2nd inning- 8 pitches, 2GO, 1 FO<br /><br />source http://udn.com/NEWS/SPORTS/BREAKINGNEWS7/5906886.shtmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-47524695093764895602010-10-12T16:01:07.411-04:002010-10-12T16:01:07.411-04:00I went to FIL games last Friday and Saturday. Har...I went to FIL games last Friday and Saturday. Harper did fine. He hit an oppo boppo on Friday and an oppo double on Saturday. Reached when he beat out a Baltimore chop. His most impressive at-bat was when he was down 0-2 in the count and worked a walk after fouling off 3-4 strikes. Seemed like a good kid and definitely appears to LOVE the game. Hustles, too. Oh, and he has TERRIBLE allergies!<br /><br />Stephen Souza looked like the man at FIL!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-20860769375586225422010-10-12T14:24:23.020-04:002010-10-12T14:24:23.020-04:00A lefty [Solis] throwing a knuckle curve? Wasn...A lefty [Solis] throwing a knuckle curve? Wasn't that Mike Mussina's money pitch from the right side?Steve M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-26270885804793197462010-10-12T13:19:05.365-04:002010-10-12T13:19:05.365-04:00Is Chien-Ming Wang going to pitch today?Is Chien-Ming Wang going to pitch today?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03720656948607405304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-56885056728742481482010-10-12T12:08:54.886-04:002010-10-12T12:08:54.886-04:00Anyone here planning to head out to AZ to catch a ...Anyone here planning to head out to AZ to catch a game and provide onsite reporting???markfdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-701409772229794512010-10-12T12:05:03.145-04:002010-10-12T12:05:03.145-04:00Pilcher: MLB can grant the Nats an exemption to ge...Pilcher: MLB can grant the Nats an exemption to get Harper into the AFL, and given the attention that would receive, I'm sure they wouldn't hesitate to provide it if asked.<br /><br />Anonymous: Your eyes don't deceive you: Solis does throw some sort of knuckle-curve, though he's by no means a knuckleballer. That's a secondary pitch.Mark Zuckermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-1222365727129075372010-10-12T12:03:15.963-04:002010-10-12T12:03:15.963-04:00I got to spend 3 games sitting with Solis in the s...I got to spend 3 games sitting with Solis in the stands in Viera and can tell you he is a solid kid. That was a knuckle/curve he plays with from time to time but his best pitches are a 93-94 fastball with movement and a killer change up that he throws two different ways, one as a full circle and the other a modified circle that takes 3-4 mph off the full.<br /><br />As for Harper, we were all discussing the fact that during Saturday mornings game, most guys his age would be making plans to attend their Homecoming Dance that night instead of crushing baseballs. And he can play defense in the outfield with a cannon for an arm and speed to burn. He adjusted very well as the FIL season progressed although he has a way to go picking up breaking pitches.<br /><br />I sure wouldn't bet against him.NatsJack in Floridanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-9794416598606433592010-10-12T11:24:43.428-04:002010-10-12T11:24:43.428-04:00While I'm interested to see how every does in ...While I'm interested to see how every does in the AFL, the three big ones to watch are Norris, Burgess, and Solis. <br /><br />Solis hopefully can move quickly and rise through the system to help this staff. While Norris and Burgess are our two best trade chips (non-ML variety). Though the bad news is the represent a good chunk of our system. I desperately want to see the Nats pursue a frontline starter, but know they will only get one through a trade. Hopefully Norris and Burgess have great starts to the Fall League to increase their value.Steveospeakhttp://www.fanspeak.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-85916916742115844282010-10-12T11:22:32.413-04:002010-10-12T11:22:32.413-04:00Is Solis throwing a knuckler here? Either that or ...Is Solis throwing a knuckler here? Either that or a knuckle-curve. I don't think I've seen a knuckleballer get picked in the first two rounds, ever.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-37630814086353752552010-10-12T11:15:06.321-04:002010-10-12T11:15:06.321-04:00I hope the huge hype and the Sports Illustrated co...I hope the huge hype and the Sports Illustrated cover article on Harper weren't the kiss of death for him but it certainly looks like he was rather unimpressive in Viera. He could easily turn out to be another Chris Marrero or even worse. Just goes to show once again that drafting 17 and 18 year olds is risky business.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-21189563094029698682010-10-12T11:12:54.773-04:002010-10-12T11:12:54.773-04:00I think the Nats would have to petition MLB to get...I think the Nats would have to petition MLB to get an extra non-AA player such as Harper in the AFL. But most people think that MLB would love to have Harper play in Arizona and would allow the Nats to add him as an extra player without removing one of the others.<br /><br />Still, I think the Nats will decide to keep Harper out of the AFL and start him in the spring at low-A Hagerstown.SpashCitynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-5633977941367862852010-10-12T10:25:31.351-04:002010-10-12T10:25:31.351-04:00If the Nats are using their two non-AA exemptions ...If the Nats are using their two non-AA exemptions on Norris and Solis, how could the Nats subsequently decide to send Harper to the AFL? Would they have to pull out Norris or Solis?Pilchardnoreply@blogger.com