Game Three: Pitching Matchup

 

SNY will be broadcasting its’ first of four Cyclones games tonight at 7:10, starting with the rubber game of the Cyclones-Yankees series. Check out the Todd Privett video above.

Todd Privett, LHSP: I know a lot of people will disagree with me, but fellow Cyclones pitcher Greg Mullens deserved to be sent down every bit as much as the Southern Idaho alumni Privett.

Privett was far from a workhouse in his short time (33.1 innings pitched) with the Sand Gnats, compiling five innings of work just once, and his strikeout rate, (17.7%) was nothing to get excited about. Still, he showed advanced command, (3.5 K/BB ratio) and was ultimately able to induce enough ground balls’, (53%) despite not having a heavy sinker that should haunt him at the upper levels.

As we’ve seen the last few night’s, Privett’s ground ball tendencies probably won’t bode well for him in Rookie Ball, especially with the Cyclones infield and the mechanical J.R. Voyles at third. Still, with that being said, he’s due for some serious regression to the mean. (.384 BABIP with Savannah, 4.75 FIP ) Clearly, he’s a victim of the Jon Niese syndrome.

Zach McAllister, RHSP: In the majors, we have Chien Ming Wang, Brandon Webb, and Roy Halladay. In the minors we have Dallas Trahern, Andrew Miller, and….

Enterg  ground ball aberration number six, Zach McAllister.

McAllister is a ground ball machine, indeed, inducing a GB% of 61% with the GCL Yankees last year, but with a 6″5, 230 lb. frame, the Yankees believe McAllister can be a whole lot more than that.

The Yankees had him go to extended spring training this year, to work on what became a tremendous overhaul in his pitching style in spring training. He was reportedly hitting 93 mph, about five more ticks than he was hitting when he got drafted. He has developed a plus change, and the Yankees brass feels he could get scary if he works on his curveball, which is a top priority for him with Staten Island.

The future? Add up some phenominal command, a mid 90’s fastball with some heavy sink, and the prospect of a nice breaking ball, and his ceiling is a cross between Joba Chamberlain and Philip Hughes.