Andrew Brackman Sucks

[Gom]

Taken from FanGraphs. Thanks again Cashman.

 

Before heading over to Greensboro last night to watch Andrew Brackman pitch for the Charleston RiverDogs, I checked out his line here on FanGraphs to see how he'd been pitching as of late. It was ugly - a BB/9 over 6 was the main culprit of a FIP near 5.00 in low-A ball. That's not good, but plenty of pitchers have struggled in the minors while coming back from arm surgery. More than the results, I was interested to see what he was throwing.

 

In the first inning, he sat 90-92 with the fastball, going to the outside corner against RHBs. The pitch had some decent movement down and away, and profiled as the kind of pitch that could get groundballs. His command was poor, as expected, walking the leadoff batter, but even once he got ahead in the count, it became obvious he didn't have anything else besides the fastball. On an 0-2 count, he threw a 73 MPH curve with no tilt that bounced about a foot in front of the plate. He came back with another weak 72 MPH curve that just hung in the strike zone begging to be hit. He went back to the fastball and got through the first inning, but wasn't impressive.

 

Then came the second inning. The fastball dipped down to 88, but he still popped 92 occasionally, but the breaking ball was just awful, and the Greensboro hitters were sitting on his fastball. His command went in the toilet, and the movement on his fastball ran right into LHBs wheelhouse, giving them a chance to take batting practice. Kyle Skipworth, who isn't exactly a good hitting prospect, launched one of Brackman's fastballs deep into the night sky. Every left-hander just pounded the fastball, and the curve simply wasn't good enough to keep hitters off balance.

 

At one point, with the bases loaded and nobody out, Brackman abandoned the fastball and threw nothing but curves. Foul, Foul, Roped down the line. That didn't work so well. His breaking ball just wasn't anything close to being a major league pitch.

 

Seven runs scored in the second, but Brackman came back out for the third. At least, until he walked a couple more hitters, and Charleston's manager had seen enough. 2 1/3 innings, 6 hits, 5 walks... and he looked even worse than that.

 

Brackman needs a lot of work. His command is a 30 or 35 on the 20-80 scouting scale, and he's currently pitching without good stuff either. He's got nothing - no velocity, no breaking ball, no ability to throw strikes. If I didn't know who Brackman was before the game, I'd have written him off as a very tall non-prospect.

 

Yankee fans hoping for Brackman to get to New York someday better hope he finds his velocity, because the current version is never going to get out of A-ball.

[jacksonianmarch]

You wouldnt happen to make a post without having all the facts, now would you? No, no way.

 

He started the yr on fire. Had the ERA in the low to mid 3 range and was striking out well more than 1 per inning. He was sitting high 90s with a plus curve. He then had a start where he was unreal. 8IP something like 1-2 hits and double digit K's. After that, he went on the DL with an "upper body injury". Ever since he came back, he has been under 90 mph and his curve and location have been suck. Either he's hurt or he's experiencing dead arm, something that a lot of post TJ guys experience in yr 1. Regardless, there is no reason to keep throwing him out there. He is barely a college pitcher with his current stuff, let alone a yankee top prospect. I have a feeling we'll find out more in the offseason, but whatever it is, it isnt good. By late May, he was being considered for promotion to Tampa, and by mid July, he's being considered damaged goods.

[Dipre]

You wouldnt happen to make a post without having all the facts, now would you? No, no way.

 

He started the yr on fire. Had the ERA in the low to mid 3 range and was striking out well more than 1 per inning. He was sitting high 90s with a plus curve. He then had a start where he was unreal. 8IP something like 1-2 hits and double digit K's. After that, he went on the DL with an "upper body injury". Ever since he came back, he has been under 90 mph and his curve and location have been suck. Either he's hurt or he's experiencing dead arm, something that a lot of post TJ guys experience in yr 1. Regardless, there is no reason to keep throwing him out there. He is barely a college pitcher with his current stuff, let alone a yankee top prospect. I have a feeling we'll find out more in the offseason, but whatever it is, it isnt good. By late May, he was being considered for promotion to Tampa, and by mid July, he's being considered damaged goods.

 

Lol the post simply said he's sucking, and he is.

 

But the post-TJ syndrome is in fact true, however, you need to stop sugar-coating things, you fanboy.

[jacksonianmarch]

I think he has a torn labrum or rotator cuff actually, but I am hoping for the best

[Dipre]

I think he has a torn labrum or rotator cuff actually' date=' but I am hoping for the best[/quote']

 

Or he's simply a mess mechanically after the operation.

 

It's not always injury, you know.

[Gom]

Why does Cashman draft pitchers who have TJ surgery? It just doesn't seem all that smart. It's like buying a car that was totaled.

 

So far, we've gotten Humberto Sanchez and Andrew Brackman. They both are s***. They both had TJ. Coincidence?

 

I've come to the conclusion that Cashman and my grandmother are equal when it comes to pitcher evaluation. Considering my grandmother is dead, that might be a compliment to Cashman.

[jacksonianmarch]

your idiocy continues to amaze me. We have Joba, Aceves, Coke, and Hughes filling big roles yet you continue to harp on him. Just stupid. FYI Gom, TJ has a high success rate and Brackman was considered a top 3 pick before his injury was diagnosed. To get a player of that talent level in the 30 slot is not common

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

your idiocy continues to amaze me. We have Joba' date=' Aceves, Coke, and Hughes filling big roles yet you continue to harp on him. Just stupid. FYI Gom, TJ has a high success rate and Brackman was considered a top 3 pick before his injury was diagnosed. To get a player of that talent level in the 30 slot is not common[/quote']

A talent that fell to the 30 slot because of major elbow surgery. Also, the 'elbow surgery' part nullifies the 'talented' part, in many cases.

[Dipre]

A talent that fell to the 30 slot because of major elbow surgery. Also' date=' the 'elbow surgery' part nullifies the 'talented' part, in many cases.[/quote']

 

I contend that Jacko lives in la-la-land.

 

I hate siding with Gom, but he's right on this one.

[Spudboy]

I don't know who these Yankee prospects are and really don't care. Drafting damaged goods would not seem to be a very good idea. I guess it would come down to the prognosis for long term health of the individual player. Once in a while these guys work out. Didn't MDC have TJ surgery?

 

In football the name Curtis Martin comes to mind. I believe he blew his knee out in college. The Pats drafted him and he had a great NFL career.

[Rdsxmbnt]

Jacko I don't know why you bother responding to these people. Yanks took a chance on high-risk high-reward guy and have gotten burned.

 

MDC was a TJ guy and he came back and has done well for himself. Prospect Nick Hagadone was a TJ guy last year and looks great this year. Personally I think the Yanks should shut Brackman down and convert him to a MR. His secondary stuff is lacking badly and he's almost 24.

[jacksonianmarch]

Unfortunately, this is what happens when people who have no clue how the draft works make post draft inferences. Brackman was being considered with Price as a top pick. When he went down with his injury, he was still considered a top 10 pick, but Boras' demands dropped him out of the first 29 picks. Cashman got the best talent available and met his bonus demands. He had TJ, which has an incredible success rate and now has something wrong with him, either structurally or mechanically. I agree on the move to middle relief. But something needs to be rectified. We'll see how he responds. He has a Bard type fastball, so maybe this will be his calling.

[Dipre]

Unfortunately' date=' this is what happens when people who have no clue how the draft works make post draft inferences. Brackman was being considered with Price as a top pick. When he went down with his injury, he was still considered a top 10 pick, but Boras' demands dropped him out of the first 29 picks. Cashman got the best talent available and met his bonus demands. He had TJ, which has an incredible success rate and now has something wrong with him, either structurally or mechanically. I agree on the move to middle relief. But something needs to be rectified. We'll see how he responds. [b'] He has a Bard type fastball,[/b] so maybe this will be his calling.

 

No he doesn't.

 

Don't over-hype.

[jacksonianmarch]

He did before this recent downturn in performance. Prior to that 8 inning performance I post above, he was sitting mid to high 90s as a starter. That is a Bard fastball. Granted, the location is way off.

[Dipre]

He did before this recent downturn in performance. Prior to that 8 inning performance I post above' date=' [b']he was sitting mid to high 90s as a starter. That is a Bard fastball. Granted, the location is way off.[/b]

 

Bard sits high 90's, not mid to high's, and if the location is way off, that means the pitches are not comparable, so how can you make it sound like they are?

 

*head explodes*

[Rdsxmbnt]

Brackman doesn't have the consistent high-90's fastball that Bard has (I could probably count on one hand the pitchers who do) but his fastball was legit coming into the draft. The reason he was so high profiled also was that his knuckle-curve looked like a wipeout pitch. He hasn't shown that at all for a number of years and judging by the 'scouting' at the top of the page it appears it's no where close.

[jacksonianmarch]

As it turns out, just as Gom posted this, he turned around. Thanks Gomer!

 

Brackman and Bard may end up in the same category after all. Big, tall guys from NC schools who have minimal command out of the starters role, but then find it in the pen.

 

Brackman as a reliever: 21IP 17H 6ER 12BB 24K - Not great, but not bad.

 

But in his last 10 innings, he was really good.

 

4G 10IP 6H 0ER 0BB 9K

 

From the sounds of it, the yankees are going to promote him to Tampa in 2010 and keep him in the rotation for one more try as a starter. If that fails, he'll be converted to relief for good. But it is good to see the command and the power is back for Brackman after inexplicably losing it after his 8IP 1H performance in May

[jacksonianmarch]

As it turns out, Andrew Brackman does not suck. He started last night and was lights out...

 

6IP 5H 1ER 0BB 11K

 

That continues a run for Brackman as he starts to turn up the dial on his velocity and get his mechanics straightened out. He started off the yr poorly, but has been avoiding the walk the entire season. Over the past half dozen starts, he has seen his FB velocity rise and his effectiveness come with it. Recently, Brackman was sitting 95mph with his FB, which is much better than the 89-91 he was sitting at early in the yr. The most impressive thing about Brackman is his walk total. For a guy who walked 76 batters through 109IP last yr, he was only walked 7 through 55IP. And his numbers over the last 6 starts have been stellar...

 

34.2IP 27H 9ER 38K 5BB 2.33ERA 0.92WHIP 7.6K/BB 9.9K/9IP.

 

In short, we all knew he has the stuff. It was all about how he recovered from his surgery and how he mastered his mechanics. Last yr was an inconsistent mess. This yr, he started out locating well, but with minimal velocity. Now that all his stuff is going and he is locating everything, he might start to move through the system. I see him in Trenton after the ASB and where he goes from there depends on his health. I am very pleased right now

[26 to 6]

I agree Jacko. Since he was drafted we've all heard about his stuff and potential, but unfortunately the TJ derailed him for a while, virtually thrusting him into "non-prospect" status. Now that he's recovered more fully and really getting back into the swing of things, it's good to see him slowly starting to live up to the expectations associated with him upon being drafted. I just read an article on him yesterday (I don't recall who wrote it off-hand, but I'll try and find the link), and it seems like mechanically he's come a long way, and aside from some control struggles and other inconsistencies, especially with his velocity, he could be well on his way to reclaiming his status as a top prospect in the Yankee organization and living up to to the expectations associated with him upon his being drafted. I hope he does well the rest of the season, gets that velocity up consistently, and works his way through the system. We could use that type of 6'10" power pitcher in the Bronx in the near future.

 

Better late than never. I just hope he proves all his doubters over the past few years wrong.

[jacksonianmarch]

Well, he should be in Trenton in a week or so. Trenton has an opening with Bleich out for the yr that they havent filled yet and Banuelos is due back in a week, so it works perfectly. Banuelos to Tampa, Brackman to Trenton.

[riverside sluggers]

Gom dont you get it haha, all the Yankee prospects are touched by the hand of god per Jacko

[Meh]

Well' date=' he should be in Trenton in a week or so. Trenton has an opening with Bleich out for the yr that they havent filled yet and Banuelos is due back in a week, so it works perfectly. Banuelos to Tampa, Brackman to Trenton.[/quote']

 

Brackman to Double-A, finally. Hope he continues to mow em down up there. Hopefully as well, Warren will be moved to Double-A and Noesi will be promoted to Triple-A.

[jacksonianmarch]

Noesi isnt going to AAA anytime soon. Phelps is next in line for AAA. Warren, IMO, is the next logical choice for a callup to AA, but that would be when Phelps moves up

[jacksonianmarch]

Noesi isnt going to AAA anytime soon. Phelps is next in line for AAA. Warren' date=' IMO, is the next logical choice for a callup to AA, but that would be when Phelps moves up[/quote']

 

Wow, I was right.

 

Well, Brackman threw a gem today. 6.1IP 4H 0ER 2BB 8K. ERA down to 3.54 in AA.