Durbin Feltman: Mighty Morphin' Power Reliever

Plympton91

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There are. Here’s a question in response: why don’t they have 40 rounds in the NFL, NBA, or NHL do you think?
Because they don’t have 6 levels of minor league teams to stock?

man i dont know if there could be anything more interesting than debating "is a third round mlb draft pick a high pick, low pick or something in between?"?
I know, right? But this is important!
 

ehaz

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Here’s my argument for rushing him - a short guy with a violent/max effort delivery only has so many bullets in that arm before he gets hurt. Why waste them in the lower minors? See what he can do in Portland and if he can help the team, bring him on up.

Hopefully he brings the infinite K/BB ratio with him.
 

SouthernBoSox

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Here’s my argument for rushing him - a short guy with a violent/max effort delivery only has so many bullets in that arm before he gets hurt. Why waste them in the lower minors? See what he can do in Portland and if he can help the team, bring him on up.

Hopefully he brings the infinite K/BB ratio with him.
It's hard to understand someone can have this opinion and also be the fan of a team that employees a 5'10 max effort reliever who has an incredible health tract record.
 

grimshaw

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I think if he was being fast tracked for this season he would have skipped Low A. I would think he'd jump two levels (at least) at some point.
 

uncannymanny

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Because they don’t have 6 levels of minor league teams to stock?



I know, right? But this is important!
Sure, be incredulous that someone called you on playing both sides of the coin. I should’ve known better than to engage, my fault. Continue on having it both ways! I’ll bow out of responding any further to you, because it’s worthless. If I’m smart I’ll make that permanent.
 

joe dokes

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All I know is that in the original script, Fielding Melish was called Durbin Feltman.
I hope he makes it.
 

Plympton91

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Sure, be incredulous that someone called you on playing both sides of the coin. I should’ve known better than to engage, my fault. Continue on having it both ways! I’ll bow out of responding any further to you, because it’s worthless. If I’m smart I’ll make that permanent.
Dude. I’m not sure why this is so important to you, but it’s called context.

Post one is about a guy who is being described as a potential back of the pen arm down the stretch this year. If he was widely considered to be that type, he doesn’t make it out of the first round.

Post two is about which draftees I think should have to dominate the low minors out of college to be considered by me to be a real prospect even on a normal development timeline. For me that includes pretty much any draft pick from a major college program.

Now, please if your only contribution to the thread is going to be dueling definitions of top draft pick, have the last word and drop it.
 

Sox Puppet

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Good update/profile on Feltman from minorleagueball.com

Feltman’s stellar start earned him a promotion to Single-A Greenville, where Feltman has made four appearances. In four innings, Feltman has allowed one run, while striking out eight and recording two saves.

If Feltman’s dominance continues, there’s no reason why the Red Sox should keep him in the minor leagues. While the flamethrower likely needs innings in at least one more minor league level, Durbin Feltman has done nothing but prove his readiness in his first month.
Just thought I'd bump the thread because I'm of the minority that believes we don't need to trade prospects for another bullpen arm. Brasier has looked great in limited appearances and Feltman is in the pipeline.
 

chrisfont9

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There are. Here’s a question in response: why don’t they have 40 rounds in the NFL, NBA, or NHL do you think? Is baseball talent just 5 times stronger?
Kind of an interesting question in the midst of your debate about what's a high draft pick. I can only guess that the infrastructure of baseball is so radically different from every other sport, thanks to its historical significance, that you have multiple levels of minor leagues where the teams can support themselves, because people will come out to watch. You certainly don't have any place to stash a 40th round football or basketball player. Probable non-coincidence: basketball and football have HUGE audiences for college teams. Baseball traditionally did not.
 

charlieoscar

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It wasn't all that long ago that the June draft continued until no team drafted anyone. For example, the first amateur draft (1965) lasted 72 rounds. Prior to that, according to Baseball Almanac, there were:

Originally, three separate drafts were held each year. The June draft, which was by far the largest, involved new high school graduates, as well as college seniors who had just finished their seasons. It started in 1965, and continues to this day.

A second draft was held in January for high school and college players who graduated in the winter. Finally, there was a draft in August for players who participated in amateur summer leagues. The August draft was eliminated after only two years, while the January draft lasted until 1986.
 

SouthernBoSox

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I don't know if hes gonna make the majors, but there is no reason not to have him at AA.

He has like a 40% swing rate.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Another strong outing. Have to think another move up is coming. What more can he gain from low-A? As SBS suggests, I think you have to get him to Portland and make a genuine effort to find out if this guy can make the jump.
 

joe dokes

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Another strong outing. Have to think another move up is coming. What more can he gain from low-A? As SBS suggests, I think you have to get him to Portland and make a genuine effort to find out if this guy can make the jump.
They have the time to take some time. He could play out the minor league string for the next 5 weeks and still have September in the majors (if that's their plan).
 

Rovin Romine

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Confidence is good, and some people get overwhelmed and compensate badly if they're thrust in to too much of a challenging situation.

But there comes a time when you need to take the next step, no matter how comfortable you are at your current level.
 

SouthernBoSox

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Confidence is good, and some people get overwhelmed and compensate badly if they're thrust in to too much of a challenging situation.

But there comes a time when you need to take the next step, no matter how comfortable you are at your current level.
I mean this guy played college baseball at a very high level. There is no way he gets to AA and just shits the bed. It'll be much more of a challenge no doubt, but I can't imagine there being much of a risk of overwhelming him.

He needs to be in AA.
 

luckysox

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What's the rush? With the current roster and the time it is in the season, they have plenty of time to bring along a brand new draftee. Let him try to mow some guys at high A down, then go from there. There is simply no need to jump the gun with this guy.
 

RedOctober3829

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What's the rush? With the current roster and the time it is in the season, they have plenty of time to bring along a brand new draftee. Let him try to mow some guys at high A down, then go from there. There is simply no need to jump the gun with this guy.
He needs to be challenged and I don't think the jump to high A will do that.
 

Cesar Crespo

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He needs to be challenged and I don't think the jump to high A will do that.
Maybe not but it is a pretty big jump from A to A+. Plus he'd still have time to earn a promotion to AA. I doubt the Sox would have pause promoting him to the MLB without AAA experience if that's somehow in the plans.
 

luckysox

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My point is that we don't require him to come to the rescue this season, so he should be challenged at an appropriate pace. The kid was in college 3 months ago. Our bullpen is, actually, quite good as is, and especially with a bunch of different guys from pawtucket able to contribute. In theory, Feltman should be able to show the Sox whether or not he is challenged in High A quite quickly, and if he is, I'm sure they'll move him along. But it's not like we need to jump the guy up to the big club in the next 15 days. We're just fine without him.The gap between low A and MLB is HUGE. The Sox are doing themselves and Feltman a favor by allowing him to traverse said gap in an appropriate manner.
 

Cuzittt

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He needs to be challenged and I don't think the jump to high A will do that.
He spent a week and a half in Lowell and three weeks in Greenville. I don't think the Red Sox will hesitate to jump him up to Portland in two weeks if he is dominating in Salem.

But, it is also not necessary to just double promote him because some of us think he might be an answer this year. Because, the Red Sox may not believe he can be an answer this year (yet).
 

DJnVa

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He needs to be challenged and I don't think the jump to high A will do that.
The article notes that he's likely the first Sox draft pick to move past Greenville in his first summer in like 15 years. I have no issue with giving him some time in Salem.
 

Imbricus

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If you promote him too fast, you risk shattering his confidence if he gets shelled. If you promote him too slowly, you don't really risk anything. If he proves himself fast in Salem, they'll have him on a bus (or plane) to Portland in short order.
 

RedOctober3829

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The article notes that he's likely the first Sox draft pick to move past Greenville in his first summer in like 15 years. I have no issue with giving him some time in Salem.
Craig Hansen was drafted in 05 and was in the majors that year. That’s the poster child of the argument against rushing a player.
He spent a week and a half in Lowell and three weeks in Greenville. I don't think the Red Sox will hesitate to jump him up to Portland in two weeks if he is dominating in Salem.

But, it is also not necessary to just double promote him because some of us think he might be an answer this year. Because, the Red Sox may not believe he can be an answer this year (yet).
I don’t think he’s ready for Boston this year and don’t want to rush him too quickly. I just think he belongs in Portland at this stage. I get why step by step promotions are prudent but If they think there’s any sort of shot in Boston this year, a month long sample in Portland would be beneficial.
 

RoDaddy

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I never really understood the Greenville promotion as opposed to Salem at the time. What was to be gained from pretty much a sideways promotion, unless there was a Drive pitching coach or the like they wanted him to develop under? Otherwise, it seems like he's being jerked from one team to another in a short time frame
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

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Craig Hansen was drafted in 05 and was in the majors that year. That’s the poster child of the argument against rushing a player.
.
Hansen was highly touted and "MLB ready". He was going to be the Sox savior that year, as the bullpen was a mess (IIRC). I also recall the Sox pitching development staff (there's something called that, right?) having him make some adjustments. I don't know why or what they were... but he just wasn't very good. Was it the tinkering that screwed him up? Was there some concern that he would blow out his shoulder without the tinkering in 6 months?

I'm fine with letting Durbin stay in the mL's this year and into next season also. I definitely want to see how he handles AAA for more than just a month.
 

Cuzittt

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He needs to be challenged and I don't think the jump to high A will do that.
I never really understood the Greenville promotion as opposed to Salem at the time. What was to be gained from pretty much a sideways promotion, unless there was a Drive pitching coach or the like they wanted him to develop under? Otherwise, it seems like he's being jerked from one team to another in a short time frame
I think both of you are incorrect in the assumption that a single jump is pretty much a lateral promotion. This does not mean that a certain player (we will call him Durbin in this case) could double jump and be fine... but let's look at some numbers. First, Durbin.

SSA: 4 IP, 7 K, 13 Batters faced, 1 Batter reached via an error. In the three games where pitches were compiled, he had a 75% strike rate (30/40)

Clearly dominant. Clearly in need of a move forward.

A: 7 IP, 14K, 6 H (3 1B, 2 2B, 1 3B), 1 BB, 3 R/2 ER. Opposition: .214/.241/.357, .429 BABIP. 69% strike percentage.

Still largely ridiculous. But, not super-hero dominant. Players were able to hit him. He suffered a loss, gave up a couple of runs. It probably would not be useful to keep him in Greenville longer, but I don't think putting him there hurt him in any way.

The lack of general promotion/demotion in the Red Sox system leaves us a little barren in terms of pitchers from this season with jumps (with some level of consistent play at a level)... but we have one in Hunter Haworth. Now, Hunter is no Durbin Feltman. He was a 22nd round pick in 2017 out of Cal-State Chico and started his professional career in the GCL last season.

However, the Sox started him at Greenville to begin the year and gave him four starts. Haworth put up a line of 0-3 with a 12.06 ERA over 15 2/3 innings. He gave up 32 hits (18 1B, 7 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR), 8 BB, 1 HBP, and 16 K. Opp: .395/.456/.716, .450 BABIP.

He was then put on a shelf until June. He had relief appearance for the Drive on 6/13 before being going to Lowell. In Lowell, he has put up a line of 2-3 with a 3.66 ERA. 32 IP, 29 H (18 1B, 8 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR) with 12 BB and 37 K. Opp: .238/.301/.369, .318 BABIP.

Now, obviously Haworth is not a pure analog for Feltman. However, it does show how a pitcher can do reasonably well in one league and have completely catastrophic performances in one league above.

For a somewhat purer analog, we'll go to 2016. Where we take up the case of a chap named Bobby Poyner.

Greenville (4/9-5/30): 16 G, 26 IP, 0-0, 11 saves, 0.35 ERA, 11 H (9 1B, 1 2B, 1 3B), 0 BB, 0 HBP, 32 K, 2 R/1 ER. Opp: .128/.128/.163, .204 BABIP.
Salem (6/2-9/3): 23 G, 39 2/3 IP, 3-1, 4 saves, 4.99 ERA, 44 H (30 1B, 7 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR), 11 BB, 1 HBP, 30 K, 24 R/22 ER. Opp: .278/.324/.437, .315 BABIP.

Is/Was Poyner as big of a prospect as Feltman? Maybe not. He was a 14th round draft pick but out of a pretty decent college (Florida). But, he needed a full year at Salem after dominating in Greenville.

We don't know where Feltman will encounter real resistance with his stuff. Maybe nowhere. But there is a reason the minor leagues are structured as they are. Each step up is truly a step up. There is zero reason to double jump someone needlessly. Especially if the Red Sox don't believe they need him in Boston this season.
 

joe dokes

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Because I feel AA presents him with prospects far enough along to bring out any potential flaws he may have moreso than advanced A.
I think A+ is plenty advanced. And the risk of not skipping is near zero. And not skipping also won't prevent him from pitching in Boston in September, if that's being talked about internally.
 

oumbi

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Here is another update on our mighty morphin power reliever after 11 innings in 11 games.
Durbin Feltman.png

Soxprospects is saying Durbin in now playing for Salem. Making some quick progress.
 
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oumbi

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Feltman pitched last night for Salem. He went one inning, as usual, with 0 hits, 0 runs, 2 BB, and 2 K. ERA at Salem is 0.00.
 

Rovin Romine

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In addition to wondering what his final numbers will be, I am also wondering how many minor league uniforms he'll collect in his debut year. 3 and counting.
 

oumbi

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Another update. Feltman pitched last night, one inning as is his norm. In that inning he struck out the side.

Thus far in Salem, 4 innings, 6 strikeouts, 2 walks, and 1 hit.
 

SouthernBoSox

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Another update. Feltman pitched last night, one inning as is his norm. In that inning he struck out the side.

Thus far in Salem, 4 innings, 6 strikeouts, 2 walks, and 1 hit.
It's time for AA, that's when we will see what he really is...
 

oumbi

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Just to add to Cuzitt's post, our mighty morphin was challenged at last.

1 inning
3 hits
1 earned run
1 K
1.80 ERA
5 ground balls
1 fly ball
 
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SouthernBoSox

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Unless there is thought of bringing him to the bigs this year there is zero reason to race him thru the ranks in 2018.
I'm of the school of thought that prospects dominating levels who played at high level colleges should be promoted to ranks in which they are challenged.

I also think that with Kimbrel and Kelly both being free agents that 1.5 months of information of Durbin at AA would give us much more to go by than we currently have. Should his performance be a major factor in the signing/non signing of relief pitchers? No, but it should be given a little weight, and that weight would have been higher if he produced in AA.
 

RedOctober3829

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I'm of the school of thought that prospects dominating levels who played at high level colleges should be promoted to ranks in which they are challenged.

I also think that with Kimbrel and Kelly both being free agents that 1.5 months of information of Durbin at AA would give us much more to go by than we currently have. Should his performance be a major factor in the signing/non signing of relief pitchers? No, but it should be given a little weight, and that weight would have been higher if he produced in AA.
Exactly. Pitching in the Big 12(or SEC/Pac 12, etc) is the equivalent of pitching in A ball so we already had a good idea he'd dominate there. He should have started in Greenville or Salem then if he was good enough(which he is) then put him up at Portland to see how he fared. If he continues what he's been doing at Portland, then maybe just maybe DD might consider him in the big leagues this year. It doesn't appear that the bullpen can be upgraded significantly outside of the organization so Durbin might be that guy ala Brandon Finnegan. There's 18 games left in Portland's season so not much time left to get up there.
 

Rovin Romine

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Just to add to Cuzitt's post, our mighty morphin was challenged at last.

1 inning
3 hits
1 earned run
1 K
1.80 ERA
5 ground balls
1 fly ball
From:https://www.milb.com/salem/news/salem-befuddled-by-frederick-4-0-wednesday/c-290519928

Frederick added a final tally in the bottom of the eighth against Salem reliever Durbin Feltman, who gave up a one-out single to Randolph Gassaway. Jomar Reyes hit a bouncer to short that C.J. Chatham fielded, but his throw to first was both too late to get Reyes and wild. As the ball skittered away from Jerry Downs, Gassaway moved up to third. Nichting hit a chopper through the infield on the right side for an RBI single, scoring Gassaway and giving the Keys their final 4-0 lead.
 

Byrdbrain

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From:https://www.milb.com/salem/news/salem-befuddled-by-frederick-4-0-wednesday/c-290519928

Frederick added a final tally in the bottom of the eighth against Salem reliever Durbin Feltman, who gave up a one-out single to Randolph Gassaway. Jomar Reyes hit a bouncer to short that C.J. Chatham fielded, but his throw to first was both too late to get Reyes and wild. As the ball skittered away from Jerry Downs, Gassaway moved up to third. Nichting hit a chopper through the infield on the right side for an RBI single, scoring Gassaway and giving the Keys their final 4-0 lead.
BABIP doesn't hurt you if they don't put BIP.
Good to see some context to him getting hit, stuff happens to the best of them.
I don't know if he'll be coming up this year but I look forward to seeing what he can do moving forward.