Chris Hayes was an undrafted free agent from the indy leagues. He is 25, but has a 1.98 ERA in 36...

Chris Hayes was an undrafted free agent from the indy leagues. He is 25, but has a 1.98 ERA in 36 1/3 innings with AA Northwest Arkansas with just seven walks.

In 174 minor league innings, all in relief, he has struck out 120 while walking just 37. He's a smart kid, out of Northwestern University, and he's a submariner, which I love.

Top prospect? Hardly. A guy to keep an eye on? Yep.

5 months ago RoyalsRetro Comment 17 comments 0 recs |

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Quiz 2.0

by djk royal on Jul 2, 2008 2:32 PM EDT 0 recs

may be better than Gobble at this point

by royalsreview on Jul 2, 2008 2:37 PM EDT 0 recs

he probably is better than gobble at getting righties out....

but thats not why gobble is on this team. Gobble is on this team to get lefties out, which he is doing to a tune of like 550 OPS against. I said this last night, putting gobble in to face righties is as smart as putting billy in to pinch run

TPJ...you're dead to me

by billybeingbilly on Jul 2, 2008 2:47 PM EDT up 1 recs

next chad bradford?

i’ll take it

Never giving up on your team is what makes you a good fan.

by kcisbetterthanstlateverything on Jul 2, 2008 2:55 PM EDT 0 recs

Brad Ziegler

I think Brad Ziegler is the next Chad Bradford, so maybe Hayes could be the next Brad Ziegler. This, of course, begs the question “Who is Brad Ziegler?” He’s a sidearm reliever that the A’s brought up about a month ago that is doing very well. I follow him because he’s from my hometown (Odessa, MO) and pitched collegiately where I now live (Missouri State in Springfield, MO).

I don't fight extra players.

by paleblueeyes on Jul 2, 2008 3:53 PM EDT up 0 recs

We could use more...

...Northwestern grads in the KC area. I’m not an alum, but they’re smart kids.

Walking 37 in 174 total innings makes you a top prospect, no matter what the so-called experts say. Plus, that’s a mighty fine AA ball ERA. – TL

by timlacy on Jul 2, 2008 3:13 PM EDT 0 recs

isn't there a translations site somewhere?

I’d like to see what that equals…agreed, AA isn’t chopped liver

by royalsreview on Jul 2, 2008 3:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/oracle/discussion/zmle_worksheets/

His ERA translates to 4.09 according to MERA.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jul 2, 2008 3:43 PM EDT up 1 recs

I had no idea...

...there was a AA-to-MLB ERA translation site. What a fantastic post-postmodern world we live in! – TL

by timlacy on Jul 2, 2008 4:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

Dude is from Lake Forest, Illinois

My girlfriend’s hometown. But that’s not the point. He doesn’t throw strictly submarine. At times he will deliver from a 3/4 angle as well. Here’s a video:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vjKsNC9X2JY

True. Blue. Third Place in 2008.

by DC Royal on Jul 2, 2008 4:53 PM EDT 0 recs

potential fan favorite here

"So whattya say, should we clean this place up?" - Tom Cruise

by DyeFan187 on Jul 2, 2008 5:05 PM EDT 0 recs

14 of those walks were intentional

I’m a childhood friend of Hayes, so naturally I’m a huge fan and follow his career pretty closely. I normally avoid posting anything about him since I’m clearly biased, but do want to throw in that I know for a fact 14 of those walks were intentional. Slap me for posting about him… just wanted to throw that out there. :)

by friendofplayer on Jul 4, 2008 1:30 AM EDT 0 recs

Thanks for the info

There’s nothing wrong with friends of a player posting, particularly when you recognize that you have a bias for the player. I appreciate the inside info. Do you know when he started pitching submarine style and/or why he chose that style?

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jul 4, 2008 2:14 AM EDT up 0 recs

he started in college

I believe it was his senior year of college (2005) when he started pitching sidearm/submarine.

He was a backup utility walk-on at Northwestern (was used as a catcher and defensive replacement in the infield), wasn’t getting as much playing time as he wanted, and they needed a closer. So he started throwing sidearm and doing particularly well. Over the years I’ve definitely noticed he’s been getting lower and lower in his release point, so much that now he’s officially a knuckle-scraper.

He’s a pretty modest and low-key guy, so hopefully he doesn’t mind me dishing out the inside scoop! (He’ll live.)

by friendofplayer on Jul 4, 2008 12:51 PM EDT 0 recs