Got to see three Hooks games against the Missions.
The qoute from Lyle's about how he doesn't know if he is finesse or power is pretty interesting. He threw 88-92. His most effective weapon was his fastball command. He owned both corners, to righties and lefties. He didn't really have a swing and miss pitch. Five of the Ks were looking, four of which were fastballs. You don't often see a guy tying up hitters with low 90s fastball. His change is his second best pitch. Some have more life than others, but he commanded it well, and it certainly kept hitters off balance. In his only jam, he went to it on a full count. Totally fooled the guy. Looked like a strike to me, but was called a ball. Both his breaking pitches need work.
All in all, you got to like a 19 year old who pitches years ahead of his age. Hard to say on his upside. On the one hand, he doesn't have dominating stuff, but on the other, I could see him as one who could dominate by keeping batters off balance, assuming the breaking pitch improves.
Sampson wasn't sharp.
Meszaros gave up five without recording an out, but he was 92-95, had some bad luck, and I was actually more impressed with him than when I saw him last year.
Villar looked OK, but threw everything up in the zone. I mean everything. The Missions are horrible batters. I would have liked to see if that high stuff works against better hitters.
Shuck is defintely the most likely Hook to make contact. Clemens is the most likely to hit it hard, and to miss it. I don't think it is a problem with approach, although I think he could be better seved by being more aggresive. He just flat out misses a lot of pitches. A lot. They seem to work him with breaking balls, but he misses fastballs also.
Gaston made an exceptional over the shoulder catch, but he seemed lost at the plate, as did Steele.
Santangelo pulled a George Brett pine tar tirade over a bad call. He looked unprovoked. It was very odd actually. Rarely seen something like that.
