Kontos takes a beating in Arizona

November 8, 2010 by Mike Axisa 26 Comments

Keith Law provides a little blurb on Manny Banuelos from his outing in Saturday’s Rising Stars Showcase (Insider req’d)…

… a ridiculous changeup that had plus arm speed and hard, late fading action, and he touched 94 as well. I don’t see much physical projection with Banuelos, who is already pretty maxed out physically (unless he gets taller — he is just 19), but his feel for pitching and fastball command are extremely advanced and tightening his curveball would give him three above-average or better pitches too.

Sounds good to me.

AzFL Phoenix Desert Dogs (16-8 loss to Peoria) this team stinks, seriously
Brandon Laird, DH: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 K
Joe Pirela, 2B: 0 for 5, 1 K – .175/.224/.206 … it’s a hitter’s league!
Craig Heyer: 2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 5-0 GB/FB – 24 of 42 pitches were strikes (57.1%)
George Kontos: 0.2 IP, 5 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, 2-0 GB/FB – half of his 34 pitches were strikes … allowed two homers too, but at least one of the walks was intentional … this is bad George, very very bad
Ryan Pope: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1-2 GB/FB, 1 E (throwing) – 19 of 29 pitches were strikes (65.5%)

http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

Kontos’s line is impressively bad.
- FIPster Doofus
  
  Bad AJ-esque
http://yankeesseeds.wordpress.com Dennis

manny did more then “touch” 94 he sat 94-95 on every pitch. I guess if lord casey kelley ever did that law would slirp that up.
- All Star Carl
  
  Yep.
- Doug
  
  maybe, just maybe, on his own gun, he touched 94
- Samuel
  
  Manny was consistently 94 and did touch 95 on two occasions.
  
  Change up to strike out Iglesias in 2nd inning had sick movement.
  
  Batter was looking for it, but could only foul tip it into Romine’s glove.
  
  Romine had another passed ball, and it is a big issue with him. He also had an RBI single, but still is not a real good hitter as he is unable to hit an inside fastball.
http://www.richardiurilli.com Richard Iurilli

That has to be one of the worst lines in DotF history, no?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Yeah it’s up there. Alan Horne had a 1 IP, 11 R outing a few years ago I believe.
  - http://www.richardiurilli.com Richard Iurilli
    
    That must have been fun. I should try and find it.
Kevin G.

Hopefully ManBan is a late bloomer.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  ?
  
  He’s 19.
  - Kevin G.
    
    (unless he gets taller — he is just 19)
    
    Albiet a VERY late bloomer.
    - http://www.richardiurilli.com Richard Iurilli
      
      I’m 21 and 5′ 7″ – maybe I’ve got another inch or half coming?
      
      /Kidding myself
    - http://www.twitter.com/ngoral Jake LaMotta’s Left Hook
      
      He has a good 2-3 years left to grow.
      - Accent Shallow
        
        I was under the impression that only one of the sexes continues growing until 21 or so, and that’s women, whereas men typically stop at ~18.
        
        Kevin G.
        
        I would think that would be the opposite because of the fact that women begin to grow earlier than men
        
        http://www.yfsf.org AndrewYF
        
        I was under the impression women stopped getting taller at around, like, 14.
        
        S
        
        Its the opposite, women typically max out height wise between 13-16 (It’s why young girls are typically taller than boys there age) Boys continue to grow until age 22, which is why they don’t like putting a ton of innings on young pitchers because they are still growing.
        
        http://www.teamnerdrage.com dr mrs the yankee
        
        I’m not sure where you learned that but us women folk are generally done growing after our 16th year. This is why so many female figure skaters who are successful on the junior circuit get derailed–they have a growth spurt around 15-16 and everything goes boom.
Jeremy

I’m just excited to hear that one of our guys has a “ridiculous changeup” after seeing the Yankees go down weakly against almost anyone who could throw an average one.
- nucchemist
  
  That “ridiculous changeup” made Ackley look like a fool in the first inning…I actually laughed when I saw it! He probably could be ready to pitch out of the pen late next year and with that combo he could be very effective too.
masonflint

always a great sign when a 19 year old lefty has a “ridiculous changeup”. hard part is done. improving the breaking ball should be a piece of cake, although growing to about 6’5 might be a little more difficult.
- Accent Shallow
  
  HGH.
  
  Make it happen, Cash.
Accent Shallow

How much stock should we place in Kontos getting rocked? I know no pitchers (non-Tommy Hanson division) put up good lines in the AzFL, but yikes.
Accent Shallow

And Jose Pirela isn’t exactly making Robbie quake in his boots.
- Samuel
  
  Pirela is not very good.