[Mick]

Luis Matos is doing well in Sacramento. Could he break the streak of Giants OF prospect development futility? He’s just 21 and raking at AAA. I like his odds. Just hope when they play OKC (Dodgers) next week he doesn’t get completely neutralized.

I have to pinch myself at potential of three prospects being called up and staying in MLB this year. 

Sure would be nice if some pitching prospects were coming. Harrison is letting everyone down with his control issues. The good news is he doesn’t give up hits, but will he ever stop walking guys so much?

Harrison - you are not taking into account the Automatic Ball-Strike system. Last year was the first in which ABS was utilized in the PCL.  To introduce the system, strikes were called on all pitches within one inch of the strike zone.  This year, ABS does not give any leeway.  Only pitches over the plate are called strikes.  This has caused all pitchers in the PCL to have to make adjustments.  I read an article that suggested Harrison’s control issues are, in part, a result of having to deal with this system.  Heck, across the league walks are up 22% (5.0 v. 4.1) over last year. 

I have no doubt that Harrison will soon string together some effective starts which will lead to a promotion to SF.

Giants, you're right on the money--Harrison's dad said the very same thing to me this evening. The ABS has changed pitching and really has tightened up the zone, where before, nicking the corner was a strike, now 3/4s of the ball has to be over the plate. FWIW, knew little of the kid until tonight, and became a fan. Really nice family, and his little brother is a stud catcher (and perhaps closer), winning the 49er Cal Hi Sports NCS Baseball Player of the Year.

I also read that the ABS system will not call the high strike, and that there is an appeals process, of sorts, which seems to be effective. In the minors, they're limited to three challenges in a game, both for batters and for pitchers. Current data suggests that pitchers challenge called balls successfully 42% of the time and batters challenge called strikes successfully 44% of the time.

Explaining ball-strike challenge system (mlb.com)

[Mick]

Luis Matos is doing well in Sacramento. Could he break the streak of Giants OF prospect development futility? He’s just 21 and raking at AAA. I like his odds. Just hope when they play OKC (Dodgers) next week he doesn’t get completely neutralized.

I have to pinch myself at potential of three prospects being called up and staying in MLB this year. 

Sure would be nice if some pitching prospects were coming. Harrison is letting everyone down with his control issues. The good news is he doesn’t give up hits, but will he ever stop walking guys so much?

Harrison - you are not taking into account the Automatic Ball-Strike system. Last year was the first in which ABS was utilized in the PCL.  To introduce the system, strikes were called on all pitches within one inch of the strike zone.  This year, ABS does not give any leeway.  Only pitches over the plate are called strikes.  This has caused all pitchers in the PCL to have to make adjustments.  I read an article that suggested Harrison’s control issues are, in part, a result of having to deal with this system.  Heck, across the league walks are up 22% (5.0 v. 4.1) over last year. 

I have no doubt that Harrison will soon string together some effective starts which will lead to a promotion to SF.

Giants, you're right on the money--Harrison's dad said the very same thing to me this evening. The ABS has changed pitching and really has tightened up the zone, where before, nicking the corner was a strike, now 3/4s of the ball has to be over the plate. FWIW, knew little of the kid until tonight, and became a fan. Really nice family, and his little brother is a stud catcher (and perhaps closer), winning the 49er Cal Hi Sports NCS Baseball Player of the Year.

I also read that the ABS system will not call the high strike, and that there is an appeals process, of sorts, which seems to be effective. In the minors, they're limited to three challenges in a game, both for batters and for pitchers. Current data suggests that pitchers challenge called balls successfully 42% of the time and batters challenge called strikes successfully 44% of the time.

Explaining ball-strike challenge system (mlb.com)