Chatwood letting it fly, July 4th, 2009
5) Tyler Chatwood, 12/16/89 - RHSP, High A, AA, AAA
13 wins, 9 losses. 155.1 IP, 152 hits, 2.84 ERA, 109 K/63 BB. +20 runs saved, 3.94 WAR
Chatwood began the season dominating California League hitters, posting an impressive 64% groundball percentage and 7.5 K's per nine with Rancho Cucamonga. Those peripherals plummeted to a 52% groundball rate and 4.7 K's per nine in AA, though he did maintain a decent 3.82 ERA as one of the youngest players in the league. Basically, he's in the same situation that Trevor Reckling was a year ago: he proved everything there is to prove in A-Ball as a twenty-year old; but at the same time, he walked too many hitters while the rest of his peripherals sagged, pointing to some control issues that he needs to clean up in AA. I think the Halos play it safe this year and keep Chatwood in Arkansas in 2011, where he can focus on commanding his very good heater, inducing empty swings with his big-bending curve, and improving his change-up. My hope is that both Trevor Reckling and Garrett Richards join him in the safe confines of the Travs' cavernous home park, where the three can work out their respective issues and compete for the Angels "starter of the near future" mantle under similar conditions. One of them will no doubt separate from the pack by the allstar break.
0 recs | 8 comments
Do you think Richards will be joining Chatwood and Reckling in AA?
It didn’t seem like he logged much time in the California League. Then again, neither did Reckling. Richards’ H/9 skyrocketed when he got to the Cal League but his BB/9 went down and his K/9 went up. I guess that would be a judgement call on the Angels part. What do you think?
Halowood - November 8, 2010
With a good spring training, I think so
I think there’s no sense in waiting to see how he fairs against upper minors competition. Hope they assign some extra pitching coach resources to Arkansas (though I have this strange dream sequence in my head where they somehow induce Mathis to accept assignment in AA after passing though waivers, and he guides those guys along as they take their upper minors knocks).
rghan - November 9, 2010
Having Richards in AA would be ideal, he's somewhat behind the age curve.
I never thought of sending Mathis down to AA to help those guys along. Makes sense though, for whatever reason Scioscia’s love affair with Mathis is never-ending and were he to be non-tendered and not picked up by another team, we’d probably snatch him up and put him down on the farm.
It seems as though it’s been forever since the Angels managed to develop a permanent fixture in the rotation. I guess it was only 2007 with Joe Saunders, which still seems like it was so long ago. It would have been much sooner if Nick were still around, I have to remind myself to refrain from saying what-if mostly because it gets me nowhere but from a purely baseball standpoint, that may have been a determining factor is bringing in Kazmir.
Having Richards, Chatwood and Reckling in AA would give me hope, though they’d still be a year or two away. By the time they arrive, it will have been literally 5 years since we last developed our own arm for the rotation. Guess you can’t really plan for drunken careleness. And sure, we’ve had guys along the way that log some innings like O’Sullivan and Bell, but no one that we can count on every 5 days.
For an organization that is known for it’s development of pitchers, that’s pretty alarming.
Halowood - November 9, 2010
And perhaps a good reason to can mr. bane?
the huge gap from when we last developed someone worth a damn is really hurting us. Sure Morales has been amazing, but we got lucky to get him. Who have we really brought up in the last few years that has helped us?
Balls and Strikes - November 9, 2010
It's been five years for offense and defense both.
Saunders and Mathis made their MLB debuts in 2005. Weaver, Morales, Kendrick, Aybar, and Napoli in 2006.
Other than Nick Adenhard (rest in peace) and a string of middling relief candidates, there has not been a single prospect of note to touch the MLB club since mid-2006, so yeah, almost five years ago. We’re basically hoping against hope that Conger and Bourjos stick.
Five years of desert. That’s some player development fail.
Turks Teeth - November 9, 2010
Saunders didn't take over a rotation spot full time until 2007.
Halowood - November 9, 2010
I didn't say otherwise. I said debut.
Saunders had his MLB debut on August 16, 2005 at age 24.
Turks Teeth - November 9, 2010
Adenhart. (sp)
Turks Teeth - November 9, 2010
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Halos Heaven to post a comment.