Through out the season, I will be posting my observations from the games I attend from a scout’s perspective. It will not always feature positive reviews, but they will be what I gather from my years of watching the game.
Here’s a rundown of a few of the top players in yesterday’s game:
Mike Trout photographed for BodyArmor sports drink by Monte Isom
TJ Santiago:
It was the first time I’ve watched him in-person. He was every bit of the hype. He has a 3/4 delivery but is no gimmick. Velocity was 87-89, his splitter is a true weapon at 82 MPH and his slider was 77 MPH.
He sustained his velocity through 7 innings–which is even more impressive that it’s his first outing of the season and it was February 28.
Santiago also showed a lot of fire. There was a lot of intensity after his big strike outs. The one downside was that intensity bordered on disrespect when he ran halfway to the dugout after what he thought was strike three, which was called ball 2. He ended up striking out Dingcong, but you’d rather not have your pitcher show up the umpire like that. For what it’s worth, I thought it was a strike but I was a pitcher and I think a lot of pitches are strikes.
He’s also a complete pitcher. He did a few things that I really liked outside of his pitching:
a) He called off all the infielders and caught a pop-up on the mound, showing that he wants to be considered an athlete.
b) He picked off a runner at second with a perfectly executed daylight play. Not many pitchers are comfortable with this throw, but he fired a strike to the bag and it was not even close.
c) He didn’t pick off anyone at first base, but he showed quick feet, quick release and an accurate throw. That combination will curtail the running game almost every time.
Frankie Moscatiello:
The first time I watched him was at LIU Post two years ago when he was a freshman.
He came in relief that day and was phenomenal. You could see he had no business coming out of the bullpen, his stuff was that of a starter. Now, the 5’8″ RHP has asserted himself as a starting pitcher and he really belongs. He was 89-91 MPH but has gotten it up to 95 MPH last summer. His curveball is a devastating 12-6 hook but he did have the propensity to slow his delivery up and telegraph it. It’s still good enough that hitters have difficulty picking up the spin, but I am grading him on a higher scale–considering he has the make up of a professional pitcher.
In the first inning, he struck out Eric Hassell on a pitch that nobody could’ve hit–a true hammer that ended up on home plate.
He throws a change up, but it is not as advanced as his curve ball in my opinion.
Kory Cassara:
He has the reputation of being a red-light for base runners but it was not a great day behind the plate. He had one base stealer dead-to-rights but he short-hopped the second baseman and it went into center field. On the next stolen base attempt, he threw to the SS side of the bag, which allowed the runner to be called safe again.
Cassara has a cannon and he earned his reputation based on merit, but it was not his best defensive showing.
Eric Hassell:
It was a strong showing from the Massapequa native. Despite striking out on his first at bat, he did everything right after that.
He blooped a single to shallow right-center field in his next at bat. The center fielder bobbled it slightly and he did not hesitate to take second base. He dove head first and wound up scoring when the next batter hit on into right center as well.
Hassell also smoked a two-run single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh. It was a huge hit, because it opened up a 5-0 lead and the game wound up ended 5-2. He took an inside fastball and ripped it over the second baseman’s head.
He also played a good right field, taking charge on a shallow pop up to avoid a collision with the second baseman and then he ran down a flyball down the right field line.
