Felix Rodriguez, Cliff Floyd, Tom Davey, Beetle Bailey
Wed, Jun 20, 2001
by Geoff Young
- Felix Rodriguez. Cliff Floyd. I’ve watched these guys on televesion the last couple nights, and man, did they look impressive. Rodriguez was pumping 96+ MPH fastballs with movement last night and spotting it on both sides of the plate. He also showed a nasty slider and a surprisingly effective changeup. I’m not sure what Robb Nen’s contract status is, but this is about the fourth or fifth time I’d seen him and he sure looks like a dominant closer-in-waiting to me.
- As for Floyd, I see a lot of Ryan Klesko, and he hits the ball as consistently hard as anyone I’ve ever seen. But Floyd a couple nights ago was hitting the ball just as hard. Against lefties, no less. His bat speed is ridiculous. Makes you wonder what kind of career numbers he’d have by now if he hadn’t gotten into that nasty collision with Todd Hundley back in ‘94. The guy is scary good.
- Check out Tom Davey sometime. He’s a dead ringer for Beetle Bailey.
- Sterling Hitchcock and Damian Jackson are at Portland on rehab. Hitchcock pitched okay last night. Hopefully he’ll be back in the rotation fairly soon.
- Mark Kotsay is on the verge of a breakout. Maybe second half, maybe next year. The guy never gives away an at-bat. I can’t believe the Marlins were sticking him in right. He doesn’t have Ruben Rivera’s speed but he gets a quick first step, takes good paths to the ball, and has a strong and accurate arm. Reminds me a lot of Steve Finley. I really like the way he plays the game.
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