We saw the guy pitch earlier this summer. Under cruddy public park lights, I could barely follow the ball from his hand to the plate . It was a barely a blur.
Goes to show you how important finding the right coaching can be sometimes. And kind of too bad that the story seems to prove that being 6' 7" and very, very athletic is more important than determination, dedication, drive, etc.
JCG - When has that not been the case? Size, Strength and athletic ability have always been a cut line. A good big man beats a great small man is a truism from boxing that has always been true.
I think baseball is a funny sport where the grinder is held is much higher regard than the truly gifted when compared to football and basketball. We love that scrappy little left hand hitting 2nd baseman with the eye black that wears pitches, runs everything out, screams out how many outs there are and is a "gamer". Then a scout or college coach shows up and is focused on the big power hitting 3B that is standing across the infield from him.
We also love the stories when some of those guys grinds their way up through the food chain but it is better to have the gifts that only god can give to start with.
Nuke Laloosh or Crash Davis. Nuke wins every time.