International Trade major at SUNY Buffalo.

 

http://buckyandsully.buffalonews.com/2016/08/23/ubs-blair-lakso-taking-his-pitching-talents-to-the-minnesota-twins/

 

 

Was waiting for someone to post this, as it happened a couple days ago. 

Hope he helps them with International Trades.  They do need help there...

Interesting pick up. Hope he continues to exhibit control of his pitches.

Maybe they should also sign John Halama.

International Trade major at SUNY Buffalo.

 

http://buckyandsully.buffalonews.com/2016/08/23/ubs-blair-lakso-taking-his-pitching-talents-to-the-minnesota-twins/

 

 

Was waiting for someone to post this, as it happened a couple days ago.

Thanks for the link Monkeypaws! Good luck Blair Lasko!

In MLB transactions, I saw the Twins signed free agent pitcher Blair Lasko. I did some digging and apparently he's an undrafted college pitcher from Buffalo University. Nothing too unusual about that, except this year for Buffalo, he had a ghastly 8.84 ERA and walked 21 batters in 19 innings. In his college career he only pitched 23 innings and posted an career 8.75 ERA. Looks like the Twins' scouting team has found another gem, who is sure to be a big piece of the team's future.

Unless they signed him to a major league contract, I'm not going to get too worked up about this one way or the other.

This is what baseball is about. You do see something and you think your system could possibly work with the raw talent and develop something. You give him one season, maybe two. 

 

You just never know.

 

But still, my question is - are you spending more time and money on a player like this than someone who is closer and has even more talent. And if you are failing with the guys that have talent, what makes you think you can be a success with the ones that require a major makeover.

Not unlike Onas Farfan, who they actually spent a draft pick on. But he's lefty and throws hard. Much ado about nothing. 

Plus he's been with Wisconsin Rapids in the Northwoods League this summer:

 

6-0

1.40 ERA

40-12 K/BB ratio in 32 IP

 

Read this:

 

http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2016/08/23/buffalos-blair-lakso-taking-his-talent-to-florida/

There was something between College and now:  He plated for the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters of the Northwoods league in the summer.  His pitching coach, former major leaguer John Halama, changed his mechanics and delivery, and got 95 mph out of him.  Lefties who throw 95 do not grow on trees... 

He's a righty. My comment was about Farfan being LH

 

He's a righty. My comment was about Farfan being LH

 

They got Farfan from a community college in The Cities in about the 25th round or something.  Not much of spending here.  Farfan is a little guy too. Lasco kinda looks like Matt Capps in photo's I saw and listed at 6'1", 230 at baseball cube. 

As for the ERA and walk rate, you may not want to look at the stat lines of a lot of the pitchers they take in the second half of the draft. It's all about size and velocity at that point and hoping a couple can take a big step with their control.