Thread: Baseball America on Alex Meyer and Span Trade

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today...2/2614398.html

Click over. It's not behind their firewall...

They're fans of Alex Meyer, though they recognize the risk. If you want to get excited, here's the money quote....

"Meyer said in a September interview that he throws mostly two-seam fastballs now and still gets that mid-90s velocity, putting him in Kevin Brown territory for a power sinker. His fastball touched 99 in the Futures Game."

There's no question that there is risk with Meyer or any prospect. I just feel that the key was getting a high ceiling, big upside guy in the deal. I wouldn't have been happy with an MLB-ready #4 starter.

Agreed. Ryan summarized it best when he said by the time these guys hit AA/AAA they are virtually unattainable. If you want a shot at a guy with his stuff you have to make a deal when they are still in A ball.

summarized quite well I thought.

Great summary. I like that we traded from a strength to fill a weakness. I like Revere more than Span and with Hicks and Buxton in the pipeline this was the right deal to make. The Twins still need to spend some serious money on starting pitchers for the 2013 ballclub. Every arm they acquire now can be used as an asset down the line, either at this year's trade deadline or in 2-3 years.

He has got to fix his mechanics, if he is able to do that we very well could be looking at an ace type potential pitcher. That is very exciting to me.

Judging solely by his stats, I'd say this isn't a mechanics fix like Guerra was... it's more of a "finding a consistent release point" kind of thing, which comes with repetition. I don't think Meyer is nearly the project as some seem to think, and judging by the numbers, I'd say he has gotten a bit closer each year.

Originally Posted by diehardtwinsfan

Judging solely by his stats, I'd say this isn't a mechanics fix like Guerra was... it's more of a "finding a consistent release point" kind of thing, which comes with repetition. I don't think Meyer is nearly the project as some seem to think, and judging by the numbers, I'd say he has gotten a bit closer each year.

I would be careful making any judgements using stats. He was a college pitcher with an upper 90's fastball playing in A ball. he could have been missing his spots by a mile but still getting swings because he was flat out better than the competition. It wouldn't surprise me if the walks rose quite a bit as he moves up in the minors.

FWIW - I like Meyer more everyday and I'm going to try not to get carried away but I also can't wait to see what he does in AA and hopefully AAA this season.

Originally Posted by kab21

Originally Posted by diehardtwinsfan

Judging solely by his stats, I'd say this isn't a mechanics fix like Guerra was... it's more of a "finding a consistent release point" kind of thing, which comes with repetition. I don't think Meyer is nearly the project as some seem to think, and judging by the numbers, I'd say he has gotten a bit closer each year.

I would be careful making any judgements using stats. He was a college pitcher with an upper 90's fastball playing in A ball. he could have been missing his spots by a mile but still getting swings because he was flat out better than the competition. It wouldn't surprise me if the walks rose quite a bit as he moves up in the minors.

FWIW - I like Meyer more everyday and I'm going to try not to get carried away but I also can't wait to see what he does in AA and hopefully AAA this season.

Would you be surprised at all if he didn't start in AA this year?

Originally Posted by ThePuck

Originally Posted by kab21

Originally Posted by diehardtwinsfan

Judging solely by his stats, I'd say this isn't a mechanics fix like Guerra was... it's more of a "finding a consistent release point" kind of thing, which comes with repetition. I don't think Meyer is nearly the project as some seem to think, and judging by the numbers, I'd say he has gotten a bit closer each year.

I would be careful making any judgements using stats. He was a college pitcher with an upper 90's fastball playing in A ball. he could have been missing his spots by a mile but still getting swings because he was flat out better than the competition. It wouldn't surprise me if the walks rose quite a bit as he moves up in the minors.

FWIW - I like Meyer more everyday and I'm going to try not to get carried away but I also can't wait to see what he does in AA and hopefully AAA this season.

Would you be surprised at all if he didn't start in AA this year?

I'm not sure I would. High-A would be a distinct possibility to start. However, I would be shocked if he saw no time at AA at all. (Barring injury, of course.)

I hope he does but I am not completely sure.

Count me in the minority I guess, but I've liked this trade from day 1. Meyer just looks like an absolute stud, and I haven't read anything to change that opinion: more the contrary actually.

I couldn't care less about next year if the Twins can field a great young team in a couple years with some real chops. Meyer will track nicely with the rest of the goodies on the farm at this point.

Originally Posted by SpiritofVodkaDave

He has got to fix his mechanics, if he is able to do that we very well could be looking at an ace type potential pitcher. That is very exciting to me.

OK. So Good News, on at least one aspect of Alex Meyer's future, Cameron and Dave have reached Common Ground.

Originally Posted by kab21

Originally Posted by diehardtwinsfan

Judging solely by his stats, I'd say this isn't a mechanics fix like Guerra was... it's more of a "finding a consistent release point" kind of thing, which comes with repetition. I don't think Meyer is nearly the project as some seem to think, and judging by the numbers, I'd say he has gotten a bit closer each year.

I would be careful making any judgements using stats. He was a college pitcher with an upper 90's fastball playing in A ball. he could have been missing his spots by a mile but still getting swings because he was flat out better than the competition. It wouldn't surprise me if the walks rose quite a bit as he moves up in the minors.

FWIW - I like Meyer more everyday and I'm going to try not to get carried away but I also can't wait to see what he does in AA and hopefully AAA this season.

This is shaping up to be that kind of year for Twins fans. Many, if not most nights in 2013, it's going to be far more interesting finding out what's happening in New Britain and Rochester (and even the A level teams for that matter). When is the last time for the Twins that there was a collection of guys with these kinds of high ceilings who are either knocking at the door or are possibly a season or two away? Since the Twins have essentially admitted that 2013 is a throwaway, I am strongly in favor of more trading and signings with an eye focused on 2014-5, heck, it might be worth it to get the MiLB video package

Originally Posted by roberallen

Agreed. Ryan summarized it best when he said by the time these guys hit AA/AAA they are virtually unattainable. If you want a shot at a guy with his stuff you have to make a deal when they are still in A ball.

or maybe draft them?

Originally Posted by johnnydakota

Originally Posted by roberallen

Agreed. Ryan summarized it best when he said by the time these guys hit AA/AAA they are virtually unattainable. If you want a shot at a guy with his stuff you have to make a deal when they are still in A ball.

or maybe draft them?

Should have thought about that a long time ago :-)

Originally Posted by johnnydakota

Originally Posted by roberallen

Agreed. Ryan summarized it best when he said by the time these guys hit AA/AAA they are virtually unattainable. If you want a shot at a guy with his stuff you have to make a deal when they are still in A ball.

or maybe draft them?

R.I.P Shooter Hunt

I'm still hoping the Twins will be somewhat competitive next year ... even if it's just like the Vikings to tease us enough to make the season worthwhile to follow (yet not succeeding). However, it's all prospects and minors for the most part in 2013. If we're out of it before the trade deadline, we'll be monitoring that big time ... what vets could bring us what prospects?

I'm very excited for Meyer. It's nice to see us finally have a pitcher with high upside instead of hearing the usual pieces we have outside of Gibson. I have to wonder if this kid knows how starved the fans are for a big time ace like pitcher?

Boras worries me as his agent, but that's not for years down the road. He's cost controlled for a while and we'll cross the Boras bridge much later on. For now, we can just smile we have hope with one pitcher who hopefully will turn into more good ones to follow. Hope is a big thing these days!

I already tuned out to the MLB team last season and spent more time following the prospects. it's just going to get better next season since very few disappointed and now they have added meyer and the #4 pick in addition to full season ball for several that were in rk ball last year.

"Meyer said in a September interview that he throws mostly two-seam fastballs now and still gets that mid-90s velocity, putting him in Kevin Brown territory for a power sinker. His fastball touched 99 in the Futures Game."

The good news: Kevin Brown's power sinker was fierce.

The bad news: Kevin Brown got that power sinker by using his upper body and back, which caused him to break down in quite an ugly fashion.

Hopefully Meyer can use his height and the leverage that comes with it to get that kind of power from his legs instead of his torso.