rockondlouie wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 10:46 am
Hence should've been transitioned to the closer role this season in anticipation of him getting a shot at replacing Helsley.
He's NOT a starter.
Rock... that is becoming more and more of an option.
Electric arm but can’t stay healthy.
Hopefully he’s not the second coming of Alex Reyes?
I'd love for the kid to have been healthy and able to handle 150 innings but we now know that's not happening.
But I've been saying for two years now cuse that he's got D. Williams like potential as a closer, upper 90's fastball and a great changeup.
That plays in MLB from a closer!
Most pitchers in the minors come up as starters to pile up innings.
Then they transition to the BP as needed.
Yep
They almost all start their careers as starters but teams quickly can see who might make it to the big leagues as a starter and who needs to be transitioned to the pen'.
Hence is one of them, he's not a starter.
I admit to have never seen him pitch live.
Have to rely on what I read.
He seems to have an electric arm and some good secondary pitches?
Health? Can he hold up?
His repertoire seems to suggest Setup/Closer?
rockondlouie wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 10:46 am
Hence should've been transitioned to the closer role this season in anticipation of him getting a shot at replacing Helsley.
He's NOT a starter.
Rock... that is becoming more and more of an option.
Electric arm but can’t stay healthy.
Hopefully he’s not the second coming of Alex Reyes?
I'd love for the kid to have been healthy and able to handle 150 innings but we now know that's not happening.
But I've been saying for two years now cuse that he's got D. Williams like potential as a closer, upper 90's fastball and a great changeup.
That plays in MLB from a closer!
I agree that Hence needs to be closer. At first, I thought it was not a terrible thing to let him continue to develop all of his pitches, but he breaks down. As we've seen with Helsley, the straight fastball can be timed. Helsely has that wicked slider but it's not enough.
Hence needs to improve his curve and change up.
rockondlouie wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 10:46 am
Hence should've been transitioned to the closer role this season in anticipation of him getting a shot at replacing Helsley.
He's NOT a starter.
Rock... that is becoming more and more of an option.
Electric arm but can’t stay healthy.
Hopefully he’s not the second coming of Alex Reyes?
I'd love for the kid to have been healthy and able to handle 150 innings but we now know that's not happening.
But I've been saying for two years now cuse that he's got D. Williams like potential as a closer, upper 90's fastball and a great changeup.
That plays in MLB from a closer!
I agree that Hence needs to be closer. At first, I thought it was not a terrible thing to let him continue to develop all of his pitches, but he breaks down. As we've seen with Helsley, the straight fastball can be timed. Helsely has that wicked slider but it's not enough.
Hence needs to improve his curve and change up.
Hence's change-up, from reports I've read, is already dy-no-mite CO!
That's why he reminds me of D. Williams, upper 90's fastball and great change up.
rockondlouie wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 10:46 am
Hence should've been transitioned to the closer role this season in anticipation of him getting a shot at replacing Helsley.
He's NOT a starter.
Rock... that is becoming more and more of an option.
Electric arm but can’t stay healthy.
Hopefully he’s not the second coming of Alex Reyes?
I'd love for the kid to have been healthy and able to handle 150 innings but we now know that's not happening.
But I've been saying for two years now cuse that he's got D. Williams like potential as a closer, upper 90's fastball and a great changeup.
That plays in MLB from a closer!
Most pitchers in the minors come up as starters to pile up innings.
Then they transition to the BP as needed.
Yep
They almost all start their careers as starters but teams quickly can see who might make it to the big leagues as a starter and who needs to be transitioned to the pen'.
Hence is one of them, he's not a starter.
I admit to have never seen him pitch live.
Have to rely on what I read.
He seems to have an electric arm and some good secondary pitches?
Health? Can he hold up?
His repertoire seems to suggest Setup/Closer?
I've said for two years now CLOSER stuff, let's see if Bloom/Cerfolio make the change once they're in full charge!
rockondlouie wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 10:46 am
Hence should've been transitioned to the closer role this season in anticipation of him getting a shot at replacing Helsley.
He's NOT a starter.
Rock... that is becoming more and more of an option.
Electric arm but can’t stay healthy.
Hopefully he’s not the second coming of Alex Reyes?
I'd love for the kid to have been healthy and able to handle 150 innings but we now know that's not happening.
But I've been saying for two years now cuse that he's got D. Williams like potential as a closer, upper 90's fastball and a great changeup.
That plays in MLB from a closer!
I agree that Hence needs to be closer. At first, I thought it was not a terrible thing to let him continue to develop all of his pitches, but he breaks down. As we've seen with Helsley, the straight fastball can be timed. Helsely has that wicked slider but it's not enough.
Hence needs to improve his curve and change up.
Hence's change-up, from reports I've read, is already dy-no-mite CO!
That's why he reminds me of D. Williams, upper 90's fastball and great change up.
You're right, the change-up is extremely good. Maybe not D. Williams "airbender" good (see link), but in January, MLB rated Hence's change as the best in the minors. In 2024, per redbird Reports (link), his change had "swings and misses at an otherworldly rate of 73%, including hitters whiffing at the pitch 64% of the time even when it was in the strike zone." I have watched Hence a lot the past few years on MiLB TV and he's the real thing; just health. https://redbirdrants.com/cardinals-pros ... or-leagues
rockondlouie wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 10:46 am
Hence should've been transitioned to the closer role this season in anticipation of him getting a shot at replacing Helsley.
He's NOT a starter.
Rock... that is becoming more and more of an option.
Electric arm but can’t stay healthy.
Hopefully he’s not the second coming of Alex Reyes?
I'd love for the kid to have been healthy and able to handle 150 innings but we now know that's not happening.
But I've been saying for two years now cuse that he's got D. Williams like potential as a closer, upper 90's fastball and a great changeup.
That plays in MLB from a closer!
I agree that Hence needs to be closer. At first, I thought it was not a terrible thing to let him continue to develop all of his pitches, but he breaks down. As we've seen with Helsley, the straight fastball can be timed. Helsely has that wicked slider but it's not enough.
Hence needs to improve his curve and change up.
Hence's change-up, from reports I've read, is already dy-no-mite CO!
That's why he reminds me of D. Williams, upper 90's fastball and great change up.
You're right, the change-up is extremely good. Maybe not D. Williams "airbender" good (see link), but in January, MLB rated Hence's change as the best in the minors. In 2024, per redbird Reports (link), his change had "swings and misses at an otherworldly rate of 73%, including hitters whiffing at the pitch 64% of the time even when it was in the strike zone." I have watched Hence a lot the past few years on MiLB TV and he's the real thing; just health. https://redbirdrants.com/cardinals-pros ... or-leagues
But given Tink could probably hit 99 max out for an inning + that once "best in minors" rated change-up, I think he needs to be converted to Closer now at Memphis to get him ready for Sting 2026.
It's been obvious for a long time that Hence won't stay healthy enough to start. Nobody questions his stuff when healthy. Transitioning to closer with Helsley on the way out only makes sense.
rockondlouie wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 10:46 am
Hence should've been transitioned to the closer role this season in anticipation of him getting a shot at replacing Helsley.
He's NOT a starter.
Rock... that is becoming more and more of an option.
Electric arm but can’t stay healthy.
Hopefully he’s not the second coming of Alex Reyes?
I'd love for the kid to have been healthy and able to handle 150 innings but we now know that's not happening.
But I've been saying for two years now cuse that he's got D. Williams like potential as a closer, upper 90's fastball and a great changeup.
That plays in MLB from a closer!
Most pitchers in the minors come up as starters to pile up innings.
Then they transition to the BP as needed.
Yep
They almost all start their careers as starters but teams quickly can see who might make it to the big leagues as a starter and who needs to be transitioned to the pen'.
Hence is one of them, he's not a starter.
I admit to have never seen him pitch live.
Have to rely on what I read.
He seems to have an electric arm and some good secondary pitches?
Health? Can he hold up?
His repertoire seems to suggest Setup/Closer?
I've said for two years now CLOSER stuff, let's see if Bloom/Cerfolio make the change once they're in full charge!
It could certainly be in the “Cards” especially since Helsley might be moving on.
rockondlouie wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 10:46 am
Hence should've been transitioned to the closer role this season in anticipation of him getting a shot at replacing Helsley.
He's NOT a starter.
Rock... that is becoming more and more of an option.
Electric arm but can’t stay healthy.
Hopefully he’s not the second coming of Alex Reyes?
I'd love for the kid to have been healthy and able to handle 150 innings but we now know that's not happening.
But I've been saying for two years now cuse that he's got D. Williams like potential as a closer, upper 90's fastball and a great changeup.
That plays in MLB from a closer!
Most pitchers in the minors come up as starters to pile up innings.
Then they transition to the BP as needed.
Yep
They almost all start their careers as starters but teams quickly can see who might make it to the big leagues as a starter and who needs to be transitioned to the pen'.
Hence is one of them, he's not a starter.
I admit to have never seen him pitch live.
Have to rely on what I read.
He seems to have an electric arm and some good secondary pitches?
Health? Can he hold up?
His repertoire seems to suggest Setup/Closer?
I've said for two years now CLOSER stuff, let's see if Bloom/Cerfolio make the change once they're in full charge!
It could certainly be in the “Cards” especially since Helsley might be moving on.
rockondlouie wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 10:46 am
Hence should've been transitioned to the closer role this season in anticipation of him getting a shot at replacing Helsley.
He's NOT a starter.
Each time he gets hurt I think this is the time they'll move him to the bullpen. Nope.
rockondlouie wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 10:46 am
Hence should've been transitioned to the closer role this season in anticipation of him getting a shot at replacing Helsley.
He's NOT a starter.
Rock... that is becoming more and more of an option.
Electric arm but can’t stay healthy.
Hopefully he’s not the second coming of Alex Reyes?
I'd love for the kid to have been healthy and able to handle 150 innings but we now know that's not happening.
But I've been saying for two years now cuse that he's got D. Williams like potential as a closer, upper 90's fastball and a great changeup.
That plays in MLB from a closer!
Most pitchers in the minors come up as starters to pile up innings.
Then they transition to the BP as needed.
but don't the Cards do just the opposite (see Waino)?
rockondlouie wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 10:46 am
Hence should've been transitioned to the closer role this season in anticipation of him getting a shot at replacing Helsley.
He's NOT a starter.
Rock... that is becoming more and more of an option.
Electric arm but can’t stay healthy.
Hopefully he’s not the second coming of Alex Reyes?
I'd love for the kid to have been healthy and able to handle 150 innings but we now know that's not happening.
But I've been saying for two years now cuse that he's got D. Williams like potential as a closer, upper 90's fastball and a great changeup.
That plays in MLB from a closer!
Most pitchers in the minors come up as starters to pile up innings.
Then they transition to the BP as needed.
but don't the Cards do just the opposite (see Waino)?
Not sure what you’re getting at?
Waino was a starter in the minors. Pitched his first year in the BP then became a starter.
rockondlouie wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 10:46 am
Hence should've been transitioned to the closer role this season in anticipation of him getting a shot at replacing Helsley.
He's NOT a starter.
Each time he gets hurt I think this is the time they'll move him to the bullpen. Nope.
Hopefully once C. Bloom is completely in charge it happens Bad14.
