Scouting Cody Poteet: New Cubs Pitcher

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Post on Dec 18, 2024

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Scouting Cody Poteet: New Cubs Pitcher – A Deep Dive into Potential

The Chicago Cubs, always on the hunt for pitching depth, recently added Cody Poteet to their roster. While not a headline-grabbing acquisition, Poteet represents an intriguing case study in player potential and the subtle art of roster construction. This deep dive will analyze Poteet's strengths, weaknesses, and overall projection, examining his past performance and considering his fit within the Cubs' organization. We'll also explore his potential role in the team’s future and what fantasy baseball owners should be considering.

Understanding Cody Poteet's Background:

Cody Poteet, a right-handed pitcher, was originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 10th round of the 2015 MLB Draft. He steadily progressed through their minor league system, showcasing a promising arsenal of pitches and demonstrating a solid ability to control the strike zone. His path to the majors, however, wasn't a straight line. He faced challenges, including injuries and inconsistencies, which ultimately led to his trade to the Miami Marlins in 2019 as part of a larger deal.

In Miami, Poteet experienced a mixed bag of results. He showed flashes of brilliance, demonstrating the potential to be a valuable middle-of-the-rotation starter. However, his command and consistency remained areas of concern, leading to periods of struggles and ultimately a role shift towards relief pitching. His move to the Cubs signifies a fresh start and a chance to re-establish himself, leveraging his experience and adjusting his approach.

Analyzing Poteet's Pitch Arsenal:

Poteet's repertoire is characterized by a four-seam fastball that sits in the low-to-mid 90s (mph), complemented by a curveball, slider, and changeup. The effectiveness of his arsenal rests heavily on his command and sequencing. When his command is on point, he can effectively manipulate hitters, keeping them off balance and generating swings and misses. However, when his command falters, hitters can easily sit on his fastball, leading to hard contact and runs.

• Fastball: This is his primary pitch, a relatively straight fastball with good velocity for a pitcher of his build. While it lacks the overpowering velocity of some elite arms, its effectiveness hinges on location and movement.

• Curveball: A solid, 12-to-6 curveball that generates swings and misses. It serves as a crucial secondary pitch, particularly against right-handed hitters. The quality and consistency of this pitch are key indicators of his overall performance.

• Slider: A sharper breaking ball offering a different look compared to the curve. Its effectiveness depends on proper command and velocity differential from his fastball.

• Changeup: His changeup remains a work in progress. While sometimes effective, inconsistencies in its execution have hindered its overall effectiveness. Improving this pitch would drastically increase his ceiling.

Strengths and Weaknesses:

Strengths:

• Ground Ball tendencies: When Poteet is on, he induces a healthy number of ground balls, a valuable trait for any pitcher, especially in the hitter-friendly confines of many MLB ballparks. This limits the potential for home runs, mitigating risk.

• Good movement on his pitches: His pitches have good movement, making them challenging for hitters to square up consistently. This movement is a significant asset when his command is precise.

• Potential for improved command: While command has been a recurring issue, there's a belief that with refined mechanics and coaching, he can make substantial improvements. This is where the Cubs' pitching development staff will play a crucial role.

Weaknesses:

• Inconsistent command: This is perhaps his biggest flaw. His inability to consistently locate pitches in the strike zone has been a significant hindrance to his success at the major league level.

• Vulnerability to left-handed hitters: Historically, he’s demonstrated a higher propensity to struggle against left-handed batters. Understanding and adjusting to this weakness is essential for his long-term success.

• Pitch selection: Sometimes his pitch selection seems predictable, allowing batters to anticipate his offerings. Improving his pitch sequencing and varying his approach would significantly benefit his game.

Projections and Role with the Cubs:

Poteet's role with the Cubs is likely to be in a depth role initially. He'll need to prove his consistency and command in order to earn a more significant role in the starting rotation. However, his potential as a versatile pitcher, capable of starting or relieving, makes him a valuable asset to a team always looking for pitching depth. The Cubs likely see him as a potential swingman, capable of filling multiple roles, which adds significant value to his presence on the roster. His ability to adapt to different situations could be key to his success.

Fantasy Baseball Implications:

In fantasy baseball, Cody Poteet represents a high-risk, high-reward proposition. In deeper leagues, his potential for strikeouts and ground balls makes him a viable option, especially if he secures a regular role in the Cubs' rotation. However, his inconsistencies need to be considered, making him a high-risk gamble. Monitor his performance closely; his value will fluctuate greatly depending on his command and consistency.

Conclusion:

Cody Poteet's arrival in Chicago provides a fascinating opportunity to observe the development of a pitcher with demonstrable potential. The Cubs are known for their player development system, and the organization's expertise could help him refine his mechanics, improve his command, and unlock his full potential. While his past performance has been inconsistent, his potential remains alluring. His future success hinges on his ability to consistently command his pitches and refine his pitch selection. Only time will tell if he can overcome these hurdles and become a consistent contributor for the Cubs. But the potential reward is well worth the risk for both the team and interested fantasy baseball managers willing to take a chance on a pitcher with a compelling blend of potential and uncertainty.