http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/evan-meeks-maturation Since the Minnesota Twins signed him for $180,000 as a product of the now defunct draft-and-follow system back in 2002, Evan Meek has both tantalized and frustrated his employers. But now, with his fourth organization, Meek may soon inherit a prominent role in the ‘pen. 2002年時雙城用18萬簽下肉球 A stocky 6-0, 220 pound right-hander known for touching the mid-90’s with his fastball, Meek was nevertheless released by the Twins in 2005 after he walked 36 batters in 18 innings in the Low-A Midwest League. The San Diego Padres picked up the Bellevue (Wash.) Community College product, stuck him in the starting rotation and watched him whiff (8.7 K/9) and walk (4.8 BB/9) the yard in the High-A California League in 2006. In August of ‘06, Tampa Bay acquired Meek as the PTBNL in a deal for Russell Branyan. Shifted to relief in 2007, he punched out 9.3 batters per nine frames in the Double-A Southern League, but walked 4.6 per nine as well. 雖然有95麥的速球，不過四壞一直太多，變成220磅(100kg)的人球 >.< 雙城(釋出)→教士(交易)→光芒 Tampa didn’t place Meek on the 40-man roster after the season, leaving him subject to the Rule V Draft. The Pittsburgh Pirates, impressed with Meek’s work in the Arizona Fall League, snagged him with the second overall pick in the Rule V proceedings. 2008年海盜用第二順位的規則五交易撿到他 For the first month of the 2008 season, Meek flailed to the tune of seven K’s, 12 walks and three wild pitches in 13 innings for Pittsburgh. He was behind in the count before you could say “Marmol”–Meek’s first pitch strike percentage was 44.3, compared to the 58 percent major league average. 規則五規定要留在大聯盟一年 13局的大聯盟初體驗中，7K 12BB 3WP，還是壞球太多 第一球好球的比例只有44.3%，遠低於聯盟平均的58% Still, the Pirates were intrigued enough to work out a trade with the Rays so that Meek could be sent down to the minors. In 57.1 combined frames between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis, he punched out eight hitters per nine innings and induced a ground ball 60 percent of the time. Most importantly, Meek issued just 2.7 walks per nine innings. 於是海盜用送還球員再買的方式，讓Meek可以不用留在大聯盟亂砸 在2A與3A的57.1局，Meek維持高三振率(K9: 8.0)及60%的滾球率 更重要是每九局只保送2.7個對手 Last season, Meek began the year back at Indy but got the big league call in late April. When he took the mound, the outcome of the game was already largely determined–Meek’s Leverage Index was 0.63, lowest among regular Pirates relievers. Showcasing 93 MPH heat, a hard 90 MPH cutter and low-80’s breaking stuff, Meek had 8.04 K/9 in 47 IP, burning worms at a 52.1% rate. But alas, control remained elusive. He walked 5.55 per nine frames, posting a 4.18 expected FIP (xFIP). A left oblique strain shut Meek down in mid-August. 上個賽季Meek重回大聯盟，雖然多半不是在關鍵時刻使用 不過93麥的速球、90麥的卡特搭配80麥左右的變化球效果不錯 雖然控球又變爛了(BB9: 5.55)不過xFIP還是有4.18的水準 八月中因雞肉不適而未再上場 (不知道xFIP的標準有錯請指正orz) In 2010, the 27-year-old has been a revelation. Sure, he has been lucky to post a 0.69 ERA in 26 innings pitched–he’s eventually going to surrender a home run, and he isn’t likely to strand 85.2 percent of base runners all season. But Meek has legitimately been one of the best ‘pen arms in the majors. With his fastball up a tick in velocity, he has 9.35 K/9, 2.42 BB/9 and a 52.2 GB%, owning a 2.83 xFIP that ranks within shouting distance of San Francisco’s Brian Wilson (2.77 xFIP) and Kansas City’s Joakim Soria (2.71 xFIP). That’s not to suggest that he’s suddenly on the same plane as the Giants’ mohawked stopper or the Mexicutioner, but Meek is pitching marvelously. 到了今年27歲的肉球終於爆發了 雖然0.69的era看起來有點幸運，不過Meek的表現無疑是全聯盟最好的牛之一 9.35 K/9, 2.42 BB/9 和 52.2 GB% 2.83 xFIP的成績不下Brian Wilson、Joakim Soria等聯盟頂尖CL 或許還不能並駕齊驅，但也夠驚人了 While he’s doing a slightly better job of locating this season, raising his percentage of pitches within the strike zone from 51.9 percent in ‘09 to 53.1 percent in 2010, the big difference is that Meek is getting batters to chase his stuff off the plate for the first time. As a Rule V selection, Meek garnered outside swings just 13.2 percent of the time. Last year, his O-Swing was still below average, at 22.1 percent. But in 2010, he’s getting hitters to hack at 28.2 percent of his out-of-zone offerings. 他的控球逐漸成熟，投進好球帶的比率從去年的51.9%長到53.1% 投到壞球而騙到打者出棒的比率，三年來從13.2%→22.1%長到今年的28.2% As Meek continues to mow down hitters, he’s earning the trust of Pirates manager John Russell. In April, Meek’s Leverage Index was a custodian-level 0.66. But in May, his 1.66 LI trails only closer Octavio Dotel. He’s also being deployed often for multi-inning stints, with seven of his 19 appearances lasting a full two frames. It took a while, but Pittsburgh’s patience with Meek is paying dividends. 隨著表現愈來愈好，在關鍵時刻上場的機會也愈來愈多 僅次於CL多帖兒，顯見教練團對他的信任與日俱增 雖然花了三年，不過海盜在肉球身上的耐心總算開花結果~~ -- 肉丸三兄弟: Domuit, Church, Meek 身高: 183 186 180 體重: 95 97.5 100 --

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