Atlanta Braves lament: Look Bartolo, I think we should see other people…
By Tyler Wilson
Sorry Big Sexy, but you’ve only been one of the two things that your nickname suggests this season. From your 5’11”, 285lb frame to your 6.38 ERA, things about you are just BIG in the wrong ways. Besides, I think it’s time that I tell you.. There’s someone else…
His name is Sean Newcomb, and he’s everything you’re not. He’s young, tall (6’5!!), charismatic, energetic, and best of all, he’s a lefty. The Atlanta Braves‘ no. 5 prospect (no. 72 overall) is destined to make a splash in Atlanta this season, and hopefully sooner rather than later.
Newcomb, often referred to simply as ‘Newk’ by Braves fans on Twitter, has pitched his way to a 2.74 ERA through 8 starts in Gwinnett this season.
While this is quite sexy, his most impressive (and sexy) stat may be his 11.0 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched. Like all young guys, though, he’ll have his struggles, but nothing can be worse than what Bartolo Colon has mustered up this year.
The 24-year-old’s lone hindrance throughout his minor league career has been his high number of walks, averaging 4.7 per 9 innings over his four seasons with various minor league clubs. While his strikeout-to-walk ratio could be a little better, I certainly don’t see a small drawback delaying the arrival of a solid, young, MLB-ready arm.
Sean Newcomb is one of two starting pitchers in Gwinnett anticipated to make his big league debut in 2017.
The other? That would be 23-year-old righty Lucas Sims. Sims has been impressive this season as well, going 4-1 with a 3.00 ERA in 8 starts, walking batters at just half Newomb’s rate.
So… Why Newcomb then?
Honestly, it comes down to a few nitpicky stats, and the fact that Sims is getting hit a little harder than Newcomb right now, having allowed 6 home runs and 7 doubles, while Newk has limited hitters to just 2 homers and 5 doubles through the same number of starts.
Another advantage Newcomb has, which isn’t exactly any fault of Sims’, is the fact that Newcomb is a lefty, as mentioned earlier. Left-handed pitchers are generally less common than their right-handed counterparts, and thus, are harder to prepare for and adjust to. So, as a Braves team looking to compete, it would be wise to get another southpaw in the rotation with Jaime Garcia.
None of what I’ve said is to degrade Lucas Sims. I can almost guarantee we’ll see him pitching for the Atlanta Braves when MLB rosters expand in September – and in the following years – but for now, a power lefty is what the Braves need, and Colon is everything they don’t want.
Buh-bye, Bart
Bartolo, I’m (not) sorry, but it’s time to hang up the cleats and call it a career. You’re 44, and you’re not getting any younger. Your level of athleticism is scary, and not even in the good way, and you’re honestly just not effective as a pitcher anymore. Maybe you could find a new career as a cannonball, or a Mall Santa with a decent curve.
Next: More Help for the Bench in 2017?
As the calendar flips to June, expect the Atlanta Braves to make the transition from ‘Big Sexy’ to a big lefty that will hopefully be with the team for many, many years. Sean Newcomb’s arrival has been highly anticipated since his acquisition in the notorious trade with the Angels involving Andrelton Simmons, and I expect fans to get exactly what they’ve wanted very soon.