Sergio Santos

[wilburaga]

When I saw this guy added to the 40 man roster I thought I'd check him out. A converted infielder, he pitched at all four minor league levels, never won a game and pitched to a cumulative ERA of over 8.00. The only positive stat was his over one strikeout per inning. So what's up with this?

Baseball America just listed the top velocities of all the pitchers in the Arizona Fall League. Santos was second overall (98.8), with only Strassburg topping him. I guess when your heater registers higher than a normal temperature, you warrant a longer look.

W

[DirtySox]

He also has a very good slider. He just can't find the plate very well.

[JermaineDye05]

Originally Posted by DirtySox

He also has a very good slider. He just can't find the plate very well.

Yeah, I believe he pitched in the AFL championship game and he was very wild.

[guillen4life13]

If he has little/no control, he's not going to pan out in the majors.

Remember the early part of this decade? Dan Wright supposedly had the best stuff in the Sox' farm system (and he really did have some great tools... good velocity, and when on, he was VERY effective).

Where is he now?

Only pitchers thrive in the majors. Throwers tend to fizzle. It's all mental and based on control. See mitt, hit mitt. 'Nuff said.

[Craig Grebeck]

Originally Posted by guillen4life13

If he has little/no control, he's not going to pan out in the majors.

Remember the early part of this decade? Dan Wright supposedly had the best stuff in the Sox' farm system (and he really did have some great tools... good velocity, and when on, he was VERY effective).

Where is he now?

Only pitchers thrive in the majors. Throwers tend to fizzle. It's all mental and based on control. See mitt, hit mitt. 'Nuff said.

Uhh, they just converted him. Everyone knows he's a project.

[wilburaga]

Originally Posted by Craig Grebeck

Uhh, they just converted him. Everyone knows he's a project.

Uhh, if by 'just' you meant last spring you'd be right.

And, uhh, maybe everyone was not aware how well he compared with his peers in terms of velocity.

W

[Corlose 15]

Originally Posted by guillen4life13

If he has little/no control, he's not going to pan out in the majors.

Remember the early part of this decade? Dan Wright supposedly had the best stuff in the Sox' farm system (and he really did have some great tools... good velocity, and when on, he was VERY effective).

Where is he now?

Only pitchers thrive in the majors. Throwers tend to fizzle. It's all mental and based on control. See mitt, hit mitt. 'Nuff said.

Unless I'm mistaken, Danny Wright also hurt his arm and never got his good stuff back post injury.

[Craig Grebeck]

Originally Posted by wilburaga

Uhh, if by 'just' you meant last spring you'd be right.

And, uhh, maybe everyone was not aware how well he compared with his peers in terms of velocity.

W

So in extended spring training. Do you really want to make this a game of semantics?

[voodoochile]

Originally Posted by Corlose 15

Unless I'm mistaken, Danny Wright also hurt his arm and never got his good stuff back post injury.

Yeah, Wright had incredible stuff, but after the injury he couldn't heat it up anymore. At one point I thought he was going to be a staff ace based on the speed and movement he generated...

[doublem23]

Originally Posted by voodoochile

Yeah, Wright had incredible stuff, but after the injury he couldn't heat it up anymore. At one point I thought he was going to be a staff ace based on the speed and movement he generated...

Maybe I'm not remembering him correctly, but I don't think Dan Wright had "incredible" stuff; this is backed up by a glance at his minor league numbers, which are good, but not GREAT. Not saying he couldn't have been an effective pitcher in the Majors if he didn't get hurt, but "incredible?" I just don't remember it.

Dude didn't have an ounce of control, though.

[voodoochile]

Originally Posted by doublem23

Maybe I'm not remembering him correctly, but I don't think Dan Wright had "incredible" stuff; this is backed up by a glance at his minor league numbers, which are good, but not GREAT. Not saying he couldn't have been an effective pitcher in the Majors if he didn't get hurt, but "incredible?" I just don't remember it.

Dude didn't have an ounce of control, though.

He had that freakish no-no going one time with like 7 walks and 125 pitches through 7 innings or something. He had a nasty curve or slider that would simply buckle guys when it was on and he could hit 96 on the gun.

I only recall seeing him pitch a few times before the injury, but I thought he was a can't miss pitcher at one point.

[DSpivack]

Originally Posted by voodoochile

He had that freakish no-no going one time with like 7 walks and 125 pitches through 7 innings or something. He had a nasty curve or slider that would simply buckle guys when it was on and he could hit 96 on the gun.

I only recall seeing him pitch a few times before the injury, but I thought he was a can't miss pitcher at one point.

AJ Burnett threw a no-hitter like that when he was on the Marlins.

[wilburaga]

Originally Posted by Craig Grebeck

So in extended spring training. Do you really want to make this a game of semantics?

Uhh, no.

W

[Hitmen77]

Article on Santos by Mark Gonzalez:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...,2752781.story

It'll be interesting to see what happens if he has some success this coming spring since Santos is out of options according to this article.

[Waysouthsider]

SOXNET posted this analysis.....

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/soxn...-pitch-fx.html


If he can throw the off speed stuff for strikes he could be wicked....the slider looks like a great out pitch for him in any event....doesn't fool anyone with the fastball, though.