Phillies Nation

40 Responses to “Scouting Bastardo Before His Big Game”

1. todd Says:
   June 2nd, 2009 at 10:57 am

   seems like every rookie pitcher the phils put in the game gets a win, so let’s hope that trend continues!

2. Justin Says:
   June 2nd, 2009 at 11:03 am

   That’s not true, Happ didn’t get the win when he was brought up against the Muts, and I don’t think Zach Segovia did anything spectacular in his start, as he’s not even with the organization anymore.

   I’m hopeful he’ll have a good start, I saw his only game in Lehigh Valley, the other was on the road in Buffalo. He has the stuff to make at the next level and he gets a better team to face than Happ or Kendrick did, Happ faced the Muts his first 2 MLB games, and I think Kendrick started with the White Sox who were a decent team.

3. Richie Says:
   June 2nd, 2009 at 11:05 am

   I have to say though I wasn’t excited about any of those other guys, but I have a great feeling about Bastardo. It is weird I’m telling ya, it is not as good a feeling as Hamels, but similar. I don’t know. Here is saying Antonio is here to stay!!!

4. Tim Malcolm Says:
   June 2nd, 2009 at 11:07 am

   Some say Bastardo’s ceiling is – wait for it – Johan Santana.

   You can’t throw that name out there for anybody. Not even a Stephen Strasburg. Santana is a Koufax-level Hall of Fame talent. That said, Bastardo has the stuff and size of Santana. The comparison ends there for a while.

5. Mike D Says:
   June 2nd, 2009 at 11:10 am

   I wonder if there will be a “Bastardo’s Bastards” section at PETCO. Plenty of Phillies fans seemed to have made the trip…

6. NJ Says:
   June 2nd, 2009 at 11:15 am

   The kid has the perfect name for a major leaguer. Hopefully his stuff will translate up a level but lets not get ahead of ourself. The Phils are creeping towards a very good dilemma with our starting pitching prospects.

   On a sideline here’s a Q: Who would you rather have on your roster- Lincecum, Hanson or Strasburg? For some reason the middle name scares me the most.

7. Manny Says:
   June 2nd, 2009 at 11:17 am

   I’ll be more than happy if he can become a Myers, Tim. Can’t wait to see him pitch tonight… and I hope the bats back him up.

8. NJ Says:
   June 2nd, 2009 at 11:20 am

   Bastardo’s Bastards… Love it!

9. christopher Says:
   June 2nd, 2009 at 11:22 am

   ha, i wish hamels could consistently throw his curve for a strike. i love the guy as a player, but let’s be real.

10. Steve-o Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 11:26 am

    NJ, i think it’s Lincecum. He’s the only pitcher that’s proven himself at the big league level. Don’t hand out Cy Young’s to those who haven’t played yet. With that said, i’m having a hard time tempering my hope for this kid tonight. Tim i’ve also heard the Johan Santana comparisons, I just hope Bastardo hasn’t. Hamels was fun to watch in his debut, without looking up the stats, I want to say he pitched 5 innings, stuck out 6, but also walked 4 or 6. I’m expecting better control from Bastardo tonight, with similar numbers in the innings pitched and strikeout numbers. He’s got a good lineup to face, (sans Gonzalez) and a great ballpark to throw in, so I think that helps him tonight.

11. Greg B Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 11:28 am

    I think the Name party should call themselves “Bastardo’s illegimate children”.

12. NJ Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 11:29 am

    Remember Cole throws 2 kinds of change-ups and he hasn’t had to work the curve into his repertoire as more than a mix it up pitch. As with Lidge and his cutter experiment a couple of years ago sometimes what a pitcher has is all he needs.

13. joedad Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 11:30 am

    Lincecum, Hanson or Strasburg?….. Seriously?

    Let’s not compare Bastardo to any major leaguer, let alone Santana. Let’s hope he gets through 5 and gives the Phils a chance to win the game. That is all you can ask for. Anything more is gravy.

14. Steve-o Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 11:31 am

    I was close on Hamels, he threw 5 scoreless innings, striking out 7 but walking 5 in his debut, getting a no decision. I found this on Wikipedia so you know it’s true haha.

15. Jason Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 11:50 am

    The pitch count is way to low.

    I am not saying you are wrong Tim, I am saying if he is in a groove –in THAT park — then lets get him some real confidence.

    I wish that the ceiling was 90 pitches instead.

    Lets hope he gets quickly through the first couple so they can maybe extend him to six. So long as Ruiz has him pitch around Adrian Gonzalez’s sweet spot, he should be able to go relatively unscathed against that anemic offense they have in SD.

16. Don M Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 12:01 pm

    not sure if it’s not posting on my end or what.. i tried to post the new group name as Bastardo’s B a b y D a d d i e s

    it didn’t go through and im sad about it

17. Bruce Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 12:13 pm

    Echoing the late Harry Kalas’ favorite song, “High Hopes”, we all like to see and hope for instant success with Antonio Bastardo. Personally, I think it would be unrealistic to expect Bastardo to be dominant or overwhelming hitters at this level of play especially after such short duration of time in AA and AAA minors. Be alert and see what adjustments the Padres’ hitters make when getting second ABs against him (if Bastardo is still pitching) tonight.

    I laughed when I read Tim’s comments..”..Some say Bastardo’s ceiling is – wait for it – Johan Santana..”. I wonder who are those “some” people making that comparison.

    Anyway, we shouldn’t get carried away with any such comparisons and lets just observe and enjoy the possibilities with a rather raw rookie going against the ace (and much discussed in trade winds) of the Padres’ staff, Jake Peavy.

18. Chuck P Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 12:16 pm

    Bastardo has drawn comparisons to Johan but many experts project him as a reliever. With that being said, this might be the proverbial fork in the road for him… Yogi Berra once said that “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” I hope that Bastardo is a Bastard tonight… I hope that he proves to the nay sayers that he’s capable of being a starter in this league.

    Lets leave it at that…

19. The Little Guy Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 12:19 pm

    I hope they rock Peavy.

    75 pitch count? Too low. Hasn’t he been starting games all year? Let’s see how he’s doing. If he’s doing well in the 5th, leave him in.

20. CZ Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 12:20 pm

    actually those ’some people’ would be Jayson Stark and his sources around the league.

21. The Little Guy Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 12:22 pm

    On the pitch count thing…

    My little brother is 13, and pitches for his CYO team, and their pitch count is 75. I think a major leaguer can exceed 75 pitches.

    Pitch counts are ridiculous

22. Colin_K Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 12:38 pm

    My vote for the fanclud is the “Old Dirty Bastards”. They will walk around the Cit with canes, thick rimmed glasses, orthopedic shoes and socks, and Scoliosis, constantly saying, “What was that sonny?” and “technology, schmechnology”.

23. Colin_K Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 12:39 pm

    fanclud = fanclub

24. Chuck P Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 12:42 pm

    Some people would be Jayson Stark…

    Bastardo has risen to every challenge… he’s been successful at ever level and has really climbed the ladder in short order. My two questions are, “Why was he undrafted?” and “Can he command his breaking stuff/offspeed pitches enough to keep guys at the major league level from sitting on his fastball?” He has good movement on that pitch and it can be devastating, however, he has to command the offspeed pitches (especially his changeup) otherwise, the fastball might not be enough.

25. Don M Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 12:53 pm

    CYO teams have pitch counts??

    I know that some little leagues have INNINGS LIMITS.. but not PITCHES.. who counts them? Umpires have too much going on to count the pitches

26. Jack Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 1:22 pm

    Inglorious Bastardos… In reference to the bad ass soldiers in the upcoming Quentin Tarrantino film coming out, starring Brad Pitt.

27. The Dispy Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 1:23 pm

    Pitch count? For who? For what? Did he have a pitch count in the minors? Is one minor league pitch translate to 1.2 pitches in the majors hence the early hook? RE: Hamels curve. I’ve seen him through it and it loops. its not a 12 to 6 curve but more of a slurve. I think a cut fastball would be a good complement to his repetoire right now. Oh yeah, we’re gonna have a field day with Bastardo’s name. The section should be totally made up of pregnant women, 6 months due and up.

    The Dipsy

28. The Dispy Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 1:26 pm

    I like Plastered Bastards for all the drunk people in the section. Every time he gets a K you hang another child support check over the rail.

    The Dipsy

29. NJ Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 1:35 pm

    His nickname is so obvious… Ol’ Dirty

30. Jane Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 2:04 pm

    @ The Little Guy–I totally agree. I really wish everyone would stop the emphasis on pitch count. Why limit outings before they even happen?

    Remember when pitchers used to pitch complete games?

31. Justin Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 2:06 pm

    He wasn’t drafted for the same reason all domincan or other nationality players outside the US weren’t drafted, it’s an amateur draft for U.S. citizens only there has yet to be a player drafted from outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Players like Bastardo, Ruiz, Carrasco, etc for the Phillies were scouted in their home country, the scouts saw potential and signed them to contracts.

32. Kennedy Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 2:50 pm

    Just IBB Gonzalez every time, and this lineup should be at or below AAA level. I mean wow, only 4 players hitting above .240? Only AG and Hairston above .260. Only 2 players (AG and Hairston) above .750 OPS. If they came up with at least one out, I’d walk em both every time, then watch Brian Giles (hitting .193), and Kevin Kouzmanoff (.230) flail away ineffectually.

33. The Little Guy Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 3:25 pm

    Don M, the guys that to the book for each team counts the pitches for their pitchers and the opposition.

    My point was, if my 13 year old brother can pitch 5-6 innings with a 75 pitch count limit, why can’t a PROFESSIONAL pitch more?

    If Bastardo knows going into the game he has a 75 pitch limit, he is going to press in tough spots, because he knows he has a limit to fulfill. If they would just let him go out and pitch, he would be much more relaxed, and able to focus on pitching his game.

    If he has started all year…how the hell does he still have a limit? I mean 100 is usually standard, but 75?

34. Billy B Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 3:27 pm

    Wow the McFadden’s barkeep is hot.

35. Chuck P Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 3:33 pm

    Thanks, Justin… I didn’t quite understand how that works. It’s a strange process, to me. He wasn’t one of our “top prospects” largely because he was undrafted… well, it sounds to me like the “experts” don’t know their a-hole from a hole in the ground. Let’s goo Bastard-O!

36. ChaseUtleyMVP Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 4:08 pm

    the Pads hit like .212 against lefties.
    so Bastardo needs to throw strikes and not walk guys.

    He also can’t go into the game thinking he needs to match Peavy pitch for pitch.

    a run or two in the top of the 1st would go a long way

37. 4daysrest.com Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 4:08 pm

    This kid is going to be absolutely filthy tonight. Most times when a kid is making his major league debut, you expect a below-average to just-okay start. Antonio Bastardo is going to impress a lot of people tonight – watch.

    If the Phillies shit all over the Padres in this series, that could be huge for sending a message to Peavy. “Listen man, sorry we had to beat up on you, but come here to Philly and hang out with us. You can be part of our team, Jake!”

    We ran a feature about this at the site – pretty entertaining stuff.

38. Keith Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 5:58 pm

    should be exciting

39. Keith E Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 7:48 pm

    Antonio, welcome to “The Show”. Good luck tonight. GO PHILS!!!!

40. Big Frail Says:
    June 3rd, 2009 at 12:28 am

    Lets see mlb try to stop those jersey’s from gettin out. Selig will force him to change his name.

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