Comments on: #31 – RHP Tobi Stoner

By: Toby Hyde

Toby Hyde — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:41:21 +0000

Alex,

Thank you for your service to this country.
Maybe Stoner can use his off-speed pitches to keep batters off-balance for short stretches out of the ‘pen. I just can’t see him starting in the big leagues. Even with his recent success in AAA, his K/BB ratio is still13/12 in 27.1 IP. 1. With that few K/IP, and so many balls in play, he’ll give up hits to big league hitters. 2. That many walks at the MLB level will produce so many baserunners that the hits will turn into runs.

By: armyatc22

armyatc22 — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:17:39 +0000

Hello as a friend of Tobis growing up and having the honor of playing and throwing with this young prospect in Oakland MD I have to say he has gone a far way since when he got drafted. Last nights performance was awesome. 7 innings 1 hit. Im currently deployed overseas in afghanistan with the US Army. I listin to all his games online and about to upgrade to start watching them. what i have noticed is that he starts off in a leauge not so good then finds his grove…just like he has in AAA..the last 2 starts were awesome even though the one before last night he had a terrible bullpen outing after him to screw up his win he didnt get. The question I have for you is do you see a near future with tobi in the bigs (this year or next). And whould he be better in the bull pen or where he is at? It seems like he can go a good 7 innings some nights but others gets rocked and taken out in 3…what are your thoughts?? thanks–SSG Alexander Tressler US ARMY ATC

By: Toby Hyde

Toby Hyde — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 01:54:06 +0000

Both guys reached the big leagues with average or better fastballs. Both traded velocity for precise command over the course of their careers. Both have such good command that their fastballs “play up.”

By: Toby Hyde

Toby Hyde — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:46:25 +0000

Stoner has a fourth pitch, using a slider to go along with fb, cb and changeup. Webb’s sinker, his primary pitch is a plus plus MLB offering for its velocity and movement. You can’t just teach that to everyone.

By: stickguy

stickguy — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:06:02 +0000

So, if I am interpreting this right, the guy must have sound mechanics, and a good idea of how to pitch. That I base on having solid control and being able to throw decently 3 pitches.

To me, it sounds like a perfect guy to “webbize”. That is, teach him that 4th pitch to make him nasty. Splitter, something like that.

I seem to recall that Webb was decidely average in the minors, and didn’t take off until he learned (at a fairly late stage of development) his splitter/sinker.

Toby I am sure can confirm this, or slap me down for being delusional!

By: mark4212

mark4212 — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:48:01 +0000

Just a question… Didn’t Greg Maddox and Tom Glavine, among others probably, have very successful Major league careers with average to below average fastballs?

Not saying Stoner is as good as the are, but if he keeps retiring hitters with command and control, he has to at least be given a chance to get big leaguers out no?