Bailey Ober's Improved Pitch Mix Can Make Him a Playoff-Caliber Starter

1 hour ago, bean5302 said:

Bailey Ober will be 29 this year, basically the same age as Dylan Bundy was for the Twins a couple years ago... Ober's not a prospect and expecting a major leap in his effectiveness feels far-fetched, but there does seem to be the potential for him to reach his ceiling and stabilize as a back-end #3, high 3's ERA kind of guy worthy of being counted on as a playoff starter.

I like the Ober still seems really hungry, and I suspect he has a chip on his shoulder from last year's treatment by the club, but adjustments he makes will be adjusted to by MLB hitters as well.

Age and Prospect is probably tied together in regards to what is considered the typical athletic peak. I've read articles stating that age 27 has been identified theorized as the athletic apex. I've also read articles that 27 is when Rock musicians die but Keith Richards is still with us so I'm careful to not one size fits all.  

However... In regards to developing a new effective pitch, improving a pitch, patching a hole in your swing... finding something that makes you better.

IMO... This type of improvement can happen at any age, it doesn't have much to do with athletic ability, probably more to do with mechanics and it can change a player for the better immediately. Kind of like being handed a power drill and not needing an awl anymore. 

I won't make any claims that this is what is happening with Ober but I wouldn't use age 29 to doubt. He can get a lot better at age 29... unfortunately at age 29 his arm will fall off shortly after. 😄  

8 minutes ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

Mick Jagger is still with us too, and just a few short years ago was still fathering kids with his much younger wives. He now has 8 kids, I'd say his pitches have been pretty effective too.

Exactly

Mick was drowned, washed up, left for dead, and crowned with a spike right through his head.

Born in 1943 so he was 25 when all that happened to him.

By the time he was 27... Wild Horses couldn't drag him away.  

14 minutes ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

It has also been said that young pitchers are throwers and old pitchers are pitchers.  With age often comes wisdom, or so I have been said to believe.  While he may no longer be what is considered the athletic apex (which I'm certain varies from person to person), he certainly hasn't been worn out by too many innings and has plenty of physical ability, plus he's a "tall pitcher" and they take a little longer to develop.  Randy Johnson went from "good" to "awesome" at age 29, so there is nothing to prevent Ober from going from "possibly good" to "very good" at a similar age.  Johnson is a hall of famer and Ober won't be, but Ober could definitely have a lesser version of that kind of development.  Johnson later proceeded to go from "awesome" to "ridiculous" at age 35, so chronological age isn't the only determiner of success. 

I choose to optimistic... If Randy Johnson can do it at age 29... so can Bailey Ober!!! 😉

BTW... You quoted Oscar Wilde "With Age comes wisdom...".

Keep in mind that Oscar Wilde was 125 years old when he said that very thing while trying to convince someone that his cat was up in that tree over there. 

It was Emo Phillips who said "I used to think that the brain was the most wonderful organ in my body but then I realized who was telling me that". 

1 minute ago, DJL44 said:

The Twins have Ober for the next 4 seasons, ages 28-31. That's pretty much ideal for a pitcher. Next season is his first arbitration year.  That will be a good time to discuss a 3 year deal with an expensive team option for 2028.

I'm going to draft Ober in my fantasy baseball draft. 

Probably doom him by doing just that.