Mike Morin

[Scott34]

Has been promoted to Arkansas.

 

I, along with AW, are huge fans of this guy.  Future set up man.

[Second Base]

It's about time.  Both and and Alvarez needed to be promoted. 

[Dave Saltzer]

Congrats to Morin for earning this. With his changeup, he could become a very valuable late innings guy. I won't be surprised to see Alvarez too far behind him either.

[Inside Pitch]

It's about time.  Both and and Alvarez needed to be promoted. 

 

 

Agreed

[Tyler]

Nice to see, usually AA is the proving ground for prospects. Time to see what he really has going on.

[rafibomb]

I've been waiting for this guy to climb the ladder. A 43 to 5 strikeout to walk ratio is ridiculous. I can't wait for he and Alvarez to make their way to Anaheim. 

[rafibomb]

Morin just put on the mound in the 7th making his AA debut.

[Scott34]

2 IP 1 H 0 R 0 BB 2 K

Great AA debut!

[rafibomb]

Recorded his first AA save yesterday. Gave up one hit while striking out 3.

 

He continues to put up great numbers.

 

15 IP

1.20 ERA

2 BB

14 SO

 

Loving that control!

[HaloMilliVanilli]

I don't want to rush him, but he seems like he'll be up to the MLB level sooner than later.

[Scott34]

I don't want to rush him, but he seems like he'll be up to the MLB level sooner than later.

 

Absolutely.  He's very close.

[m0nkey]

When's Alvarez going to AA?

[Scott34]

When's Alvarez going to AA?

 

He's been dealing with some injuries/bad outings so probably next year.

[Angel Oracle]

How soon could Frieri be dealt, if he was the center piece to a deal to bring back a #3/#4 piece in the rotation?   Like say a Drew Smyly, who has been talked about on the main board as a potential target including Frieri in a deal?

 

Is Morin a better 8th inning fit and Alvarez a future closer fit?

Or is Morin an eventual closer?

[Second Base]

There's really no such thing as a specific fit for a specific inning, sometimes it just shakes out that way.  The only thing that matters for a reliever in his role is can he get hitters out in clutch situations at the major league level.  Now obviously guys with a better fastball tend to get away with more mistakes so they project into late inning relievers, but look at Scott Downs.  great reliever, never really threw harder than 89. 

 

Morin's fastball can sit 93-94 on a good day but mostly sits around 92, but his change up is otherworldly.  Same motion and everything it's just 13 mph softer, has all the movement in the world (like a Rodney change up) and he can spot it.  I haven't seen anyone really pick up on Morin yet, of course he's facing lower competition.  

 

As for Alvarez, 96-98 mph with movement and a deceptive release.  The ball just jumps on hitters.  A really tight wipeout slider too.  He just doesn't have Morin's control. 

[Angel Oracle]

So Morin sounds like Joakim Soria before the TJ surgery?

[Scott34]

K-Rod, Shields clones.

[Second Base]

Morin?  Oddly enough I see a ton of Ryan Madson in him.  Similar size, similar change up, both have good fastballs except Madson's was a bit better in his prime.

[Scott34]

I think it might be time to waive/DFA Gutierrez or Stange and give Morin a try.  I think he's ready.

[Angel Oracle]

His numbers are off the charts, as is his fastball/changeup combo.

Overall:  56.1 innings, 0.88 WHIP, 1.60 ERA, 60/7 Ks/BBs ratio

AA: 17.1 innings, 0.82 WHIP, 1.04 ERA, 17/2 Ks/BBs ratio 

 

No Halos relief prospect has pitched in the minors like he has, going back quite a few years.

Only question is, future standout closer, or future standout key setup man?

Best part is, he's close to the bigs at just age 22.

[Scott34]

I still see Morin as a set up guy just because the lack of power stuff.  He very well may be our best relief prospect since K-Rod.

[Angel Oracle]

If Alvarez could harness his control enough, Morin/Alvarez is potentially one nasty 8th/9th inning combo.

Even better, if Frieri could harness his control just enough and throw a 2nd pitch just often enough, those 3 would be a nasty 7th through 9th innings combo, with hopefully Maronde eventually slotted in as the lefty guy. 

[Inside Pitch]

I still see Morin as a set up guy just because the lack of power stuff.  He very well may be our best relief prospect since K-Rod.

 

 

 

Trevor Hoffman was lucky to break 85 MPH with his fastball, he managed 601 saves for his career. 

Change-ups may be the most underrated pitches in MLB currently.

[HaloMilliVanilli]

IP, are you referring to Hoffmans velocity in the last couple of seasons (85 mph)?  I'm pretty sure, based on years of watching him, that he threw harder than that through his prime years.  Maybe my memory is failing me though.

[HaloMilliVanilli]

And I completely agree with you on the changeup being vastly underrated, and underutilized.  It puts quite a bit less stress on the elbow/shoulder than constantly throwing a slider/curve.  I've always maintained that I would teach my son (who is 5 now) to throw a fastball and change-up, and to focus on command of those two.