Caleb Thielbar

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

This is an unbelievable story that isn't getting that much attention. He is having un incredible season for the Twins. He has an ERA of .68, with a WHIP that is also .68. He just gave up a couple unearned runs, but before that he had only given up two solo home runs in 25 appearances.. In 26.1 innings, he has given up only 9 hits and has 25 strike outs, and batters are hitting under.100 against him. I would challenge anyone to find a pitcher with better stats this year. And to top it off, a few months ago he was pitching for the St. Paul Saints! His ERA his senior year at South Dakota St., arguably not going up against the greatest hitters, was 5.44, which at least was an improvement over his junior year of 5.94!

I have to commend the Twins for the way they have brought him along. They have used him primarily in non-pressure situations, and given him every chance to succeed.

My question is this: Is he legit? When I watch him, he looks like a fairly good major league pitcher. His stuff is not overpowering, but his location can be ridiculously good some nights. He doesn't seem to be the kind of guy that would put up the stats he has over 25 games, but I think he may turn out to be pretty good.

In any event, it's a wonderful story. Kid from Northfield struggles in college, eventually gets released by the Brewers and catches on with the Saints, and just months later is dominating for the team he grew up cheering for. Could be movie material!

[Jester1534]

I say lets do it long we buy the rights to his story now and we start filming and become millionaires :) but seriously I agree it's almost automatic with this guy every time he comes into a game.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I live in Hollywood, jester, so I'll get the ball rolling!

My question for you, and anyone else reading, is this. Do you get how Thielbar is putting up the numbers he's putting up? I have played a lot of ball, and I see some guys...like a Justin Masterson, for example...and I say to myself "OK, I'd have no chance against him". But with Thielbar, I think I wouldn't mind getting in the box against him. I don't get it. But the sample size is getting big enough now that it seems like he might be legit.

[Jester1534]

Well I pitched in college and what he does really well is run his fastball inside to hitters, also he kind of has a deceptive release so even though he's throwing 90 he screws up guys timing.

As for hitting I've had this convo with my pops when Drew Butera Aka in our family we call him "The Mannequin" because if you put one up at the plate it has just as good of chance of getting a hit.

He at one time was 7-119 or something close to that, I said if I got to same pitchers not Verlander everyday. I could get 7 hits in 120 Ab's and I'm not including defense just hitting I was saying because obviously Drew is a good defensive Catcher.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Great answer, jester..good to hear it from someone who pitched at the college level. I'll look for what you talked about next time I see him pitch.

I've played ball my whole life and am fortunate to still be playing in a couple wood bat leagues here in southern California.
But I'm seeing far more 75 mile an hour fastballs in my leagues than 90s,,,thank god!

As a former college pitcher, you must find Thielbar's college stats interesting. He was mediocre at best. But they say lefthanders take more time to develop than righties. Maybe Caleb just learned how to run his fastball in. Heck, Koufax wasn't very good in his early 20s either, before becoming arguably the best pitcher of all time.

[Jester1534]

Actually not to surprised it does happen, I played summer ball with Mark Hamburger and he's pitching for the saints right now. Good talent does make it out of the saints, if you don't know who Mark is he is the guy we traded for Eddie G to bring him back home from that one year from Texas. So I'm not to surprised but it is a great story.

I still play baseball on Sundays still can get up in the low mid 80s but I hate to admit play softball on Mondays and coed with my gal on Tuesdays

[caDustymn [enjin:6596349]]

Just wanted to chime in on this conversation. I from MN and played college ball as well-also amateur wood bat league. Now I live in CA and quality summer leagues are few and far in between. Long-how's the league where you're at? Sorry to invade-just miss playing ball.