When Mike Leake takes the Bump this afternoon in Cincinnati, we will be making his first regular season pitch at any professional level.
the 9th pick overall in the first round of last year's draft. Leake will be the first pitcher since Darren Dreifort for the Dodgers to completely skip the minor leagues and start in the big show. Xavier Nady was the last position player to go straight from amateur ball to the big leagues.
Leake, is a small right handed pitcher (I've seen listed heights range from 5'11 to 6'1) He throws a fastball that sits mostly at 91 but can touch mid 90's. You gotta figure he is going to be throwing a bit harder with the adrenaline of his pro debut today.
he also throws a slider, curve, and change. the change being the closet to a plus pitch. His best attribute seems to be his command. This is somthing that he might lose with the adrenaline and nerves in this game.
Last year as a junior at Arizona st, the righty went 16-1 1.71 ERA and tiny .84 WHIP in 141 innings punching out 162 batters and only giving up 4 aluminum bat homeruns.... so he must keep the ball down.
Leake did pitch 19 innings 6 games in the arizona fall league. Giving up 20 hits, 3 earned runs, striking out 15 while walking just 3.
Leake will be facing Tom Gorzelanny from the Cubs, aquired last year from their minor league squad...ahem... traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The left-handed, illinois native, has had 2 rough years after his 2007 break through with the Buccos where he went 14-10 with a 3.88 ERA over 201 innings.
The over might be the play here today....
you never know how these never before seen rookies fare. But the cubs at + money (+108 at matchy) seems like a decent play.
the 9th pick overall in the first round of last year's draft. Leake will be the first pitcher since Darren Dreifort for the Dodgers to completely skip the minor leagues and start in the big show. Xavier Nady was the last position player to go straight from amateur ball to the big leagues.
Leake, is a small right handed pitcher (I've seen listed heights range from 5'11 to 6'1) He throws a fastball that sits mostly at 91 but can touch mid 90's. You gotta figure he is going to be throwing a bit harder with the adrenaline of his pro debut today.
he also throws a slider, curve, and change. the change being the closet to a plus pitch. His best attribute seems to be his command. This is somthing that he might lose with the adrenaline and nerves in this game.
Last year as a junior at Arizona st, the righty went 16-1 1.71 ERA and tiny .84 WHIP in 141 innings punching out 162 batters and only giving up 4 aluminum bat homeruns.... so he must keep the ball down.
Leake did pitch 19 innings 6 games in the arizona fall league. Giving up 20 hits, 3 earned runs, striking out 15 while walking just 3.
Leake will be facing Tom Gorzelanny from the Cubs, aquired last year from their minor league squad...ahem... traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The left-handed, illinois native, has had 2 rough years after his 2007 break through with the Buccos where he went 14-10 with a 3.88 ERA over 201 innings.
The over might be the play here today....
you never know how these never before seen rookies fare. But the cubs at + money (+108 at matchy) seems like a decent play.
