OT: The OFFICIAL Tainter Jainter Thread

[DancingPanther]

It's that time of year boys and girls. The time of year when the sporting world is is swept off its feet by a display so unfathomable, so moving, and so chub inducing that there can only be one explanation:

Tainter Jainter

Tainter is the stuff of legends. He's manned the hot corner and roamed center field in careers featuring ballets of raw power, blazing speed, and lightning quick reflexes. He has won triple crowns and MVPs while setting MLB single season records across the board of offensive ability. Never one to disappoint, Jainter's prowess also extends to the mound: Tainter's most recent campaign- a closing career- was nothing short of electric, notching the most saves in a single season and career across the span of more than a decade of brilliance, riding a sub 1.3 ERA, 0.8 WHIP, and 18 K/9 into the Hall of Fame.

In 2019, Tainter will have to claw his way from the southern comfort of rural Georgia through the hard knock life of minor league ball, en route to the big stage of LA alongside Mike Trout. You see, Jainter, SP, was selected by the Angels in the 17th round of the 2019 draft at 523rd overall. A project, Tainter's challenge will be figuring out just what it takes to hack it in even the lowest of levels of pro ball. His strengths include a special knack for throwing strikes and picking corners to get ahead of opponents, where he struggles to finish them off.

This clean cut Georgia Peach, nicknamed "Country Breakfast", catapulted himself up the draft boards when he showed flashes of finishing ability in his final showcase, striking out 11 over 6.1 innings of work, allowing 3 hits and walking none. En route to a win, he closed the chapter on showcase ball, pitching to a tune of 0 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 14 and K over 12.1 innings.

Will our protagonist have what it takes? Will he wilt away, softly, into nothingness like so many other draftees? Will he grow his hair and mustache out again? Will he need Tommy John surgery like 65% of all ballplayers? There's only one way to find out....

Click to read more...

 

[Magua]

Lock this up.

Excessive thread use.

We have a video game thread.

While I got you here, does anyone have a TK bobblehead?

 

[landsbergfan]

I needed this...I can't wait to get my Country Breakfast themed merch with the tagline "smothered and covered" What a way to retire the side.

Also...how tf does that guy last until the 17th round? Is he like 5'6"?

 

[DancingPanther]

I needed this...I can't wait to get my Country Breakfast themed merch with the tagline "smothered and covered" What a way to retire the side.

Also...how tf does that guy last until the 17th round? Is he like 5'6"?

He's under the radar, my guy

 

[DancingPanther]

Lock this up.

Excessive thread use.

We have a video game thread.

While I got you here, does anyone have a TK bobblehead?

Might have a video game thread, but now we have a TJ thread.

I'm sure there will be plenty of giveaway promos in LA. Stay tuned

 

[DancingPanther]

Tainter's first 2 professional innings certainly tested his resolve. Starting off with a bang, Tainter struck out the leadoff batter with his signature spikeball:

Next, a series of errors and a walk loaded the bases. Jainter wiggled out of the jam this time, striking out the next 2 batters.

His second inning featured a leadoff infield single, followed by an 11 pitch AB. Our hero persevered however, winning the 11 pitch battle with an up and in fastball. After that, Tainter retired the next 9 in a row, all but one with the strikeout. All in all, the Country Breakfast spun an abbreviated gem: 4.1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 10k, 0 ER

In his next appearance Jainter ran into very little trouble, notching a 2 inning, 2 K relief performance against the Montgomery Biscuits. A number of days later, roughly 2 weeks into the season, Jainter got the call in a high leverage situation, again against the Biscuits. Tainter inherited a 1 run lead and a runner on second with 1 out in the 8th inning. 2 Ks and a lazy fly ball later, his team trotted towards the dugout before their closer blew the lead Jainter preserved. You hate to see such a promising prospect used so infrequently, but we have to remember this is a key development year where Tainter is being eased in.

Then, a curveball- no, a knucklecurveball- was thrown Tainter's way:

In his first appearance in his new (hopefully temporary) role, Tainter inherited a tie game in the 8th inning. He rose to the occasion going 2 strong in relief, striking out 3 and allowing no hits en route to his first professional win. Smothered and covered.

How will the Country Breakfast fare in his new role? Will his role continue to evolve? We'll have to find out tomorrow.

 

[DancingPanther]

Our next installment leads off with yet another milestone: Tainter's first career save.

Embracing his new role with his team leading 1-0, Tainter was called on in the top of the 9th with a man on first and nobody out. Smooth sailing for the rook, as he induced a 6-4-3 double play and closed the book on the match with a strikeout.

In his next outing, Jainter threw a perfect inning en route to his second save in 2 tries. His third closing appearance came in a game for the ages. Incredibly, in the 17th inning against the Blue Wahoos, Tainter was available in a save situation and came in- once again- to slam the door with a perfect inning. 2 more perfect innings followed in his next 2 appearances, both in extra innings, where Tainter recorded his 4th and 5th saves in 5 attempts. Could the Country Breakfast be staring down a permanent closing role?

Evidently not. In a relieving change of events, it seems management has seen enough of this successful experience. Finally, Tainter will be back in the rotation....

...unfortunately, that wasn't the case. The Country Breakfast was hungry for innings that simply weren't being fed to him. Finally, after almost a month of not seeing the bump, he gets the nod. Tainter delivered, blanking the Jackson Generals over 6.1 innings, allowing 3 hits, walking none, and striking out 9 in a losing 14 inning effort. To add to the whirlwind, Jainter had to make an important decision just days later:

After mulling it over with his former coach, he decided to use an agent to aid in future decisions. Meanwhile, it's business as usual on the field. Duty calls in his next appearance, another start, 5 days following. Once again, Breakfast was served. TJ earned the win with another solid start, despite relinquishing his 1st earned run (and run scored, overall) via the early longball. Tainter settled in over the next 4 innings, showing poise and maturity beyond his years.

Will these back to back strong starts be the foothold he needs to entrench himself into the rotation? Will his new agent help him achieve his goals? Stay tuned...

 

[Striiker]

I have never been so confused in my entire life

 

[Magua]

I have never been so confused in my entire life

You’re a Flyers fan. That’s definitely not true.

Also, does anyone have a TK bobblehead?

 

[landsbergfan]

Can I get a full scouting report on Mr. Jainter? What does he throw? What is his strikeout pitch?

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

I’d hit a dinger off of Tainter Jainter. No doubt.

 

[FatTugboatFlahr]

I’d hit a dinger off of Tainter Jainter. No doubt.

450 dead center?

 

[Strawberry Fields]

I misread this as "janitor thread." Was expecting a janitor appreciation thread. -10/10 would not recommend.

For real though it's crazy how much better every other sport games' career modes seem than NHL, lol. Almost makes me wish I cared more about other sports

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

450 dead center?

EZ.

 

[DancingPanther]

Can I get a full scouting report on Mr. Jainter? What does he throw? What is his strikeout pitch?

Tainter throws a 4 seamer sitting at ~92 mph, a good circle change, and a knuckle curve with the potential to be one of "those" pitches.

 

[DancingPanther]

You’re a Flyers fan. That’s definitely not true.

Also, does anyone have a TK bobblehead?

I don't get the bobblehead reference, admittedly

 

[DancingPanther]

I’d hit a dinger off of Tainter Jainter. No doubt.

Feelin mighty confident aintchya

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

Feelin mighty confident aintchya

Quite. While Tainter Jainter is floundering around in AA. I’m all the way up in AAA.

 

[DancingPanther]

Quite. While Tainter Jainter is floundering around in AA. I’m all the way up in AAA.

Living the dream in the highest minors circuit. Tainter can only hope he follows in such footsteps

 

[landsbergfan]

Tainter throws a 4 seamer sitting at ~92 mph, a good circle change, and a knuckle curve with the potential to be one of "those" pitches.

Please use 80/20 scale like a god damn professional

 

[DancingPanther]

Please use 80/20 scale like a god damn professional

At draft time, he graded out as the following:

4Seam: 80
Knuckle curve: 70
Circle Change: 65
Control: 70
Break: 60

His K/9 is his weakness as evidenced by his 60 break. I'd grade it as probably a 60. His stuff isn't swing and miss inducing, he relies more on changing speeds while pounding strike after strike to induce whiffs. There are rumors however that he wants to develop his knuckle curve into a top flight, defining pitch. Still, his control is his strength, far and away, making me think his H/9 and HR/9 would grade out at 70s.

His fielding instincts are good, but it is more potential at this point. He'd probably grade a 50 there now with the potential to jump into the 60s

Personality wise he commands respect while treating others as such (captain + heart and soul). He has a tendency to become hyper-focused and getting caught in the moment though, which isn't always a bad thing (maverick).

 

[DancingPanther]

Well, it had to happen eventually. In his 3rd start in this recent rotation run, Tainter took a hard luck loss- his first of his career- in a 6 inning, 4 H, 6 K, 2 ER effort. Tainter followed it up with another solid start on his next turn, getting the premature yank after throwing 72 pitches: 4 IP, 3 H, 5 SO, 1 ER, 2 BB, and it looks like more than the degenerates in this thread are starting to take notice of the Country Breakfast's electric run of success.

Tainter does his coach well, following this vote of confidence with his best professional start, not allowing a run over 6 IP (83 pitches) while giving up 4 H, 1 ER, striking out 11 and earning the win. The Country Breakfast didn't let up in his next start either, throwing 6 shutout innings of 2 hit ball, striking out 7 and walking 2 en route to his 4th win.

Tomorrow, we'll see if Tainter can continue riding this wave of success.

 

[DancingPanther]

Hang ten dudes and dudettes, because Tainter is surfin this wave. A 4.2 IP, 4 H 6 K 0 ER 1 BB no decision continues the unbeaten streak, which was followed up by a pair of key 6 inning efforts.

In these appearances combined, Tainter only struck 2 batters out. Before our eyes, the Country Breakfast is maturing his game, learning how to pitch and not just throw. As we know, Jainter doesn't have the hard stuff to put guys away with only a 39 K/9 rating. IT really is a thing of beauty seeing an 18 year old recognize his faults while maximizing his strengths. In the first of these efforts, Tainter was slapped with the hard luck no decision while only giving up 1 ER, 4 hits, and a walk. The following start he induced 4 double plays, sprinkled among 6 H and 2 BB while allowing 1 ER, earning the win. It was then we learned Jainter was becoming quite popular among his SP peers:

In his first start following the bromance, Tainter pitched his longest and one of his most impressive professional start: 7 IP, 2 H, 5 K, 0 BB, 0 ER. The Country Breakfast is just getting started. We'll have to see what the final chunk of his 1st pro season has in store tomorrow. Stay tuned.

 

[Magua]

I read this every morning. It's riveting. In like an Adult Swim sort of way.

 

[DancingPanther]

I read this every morning. It's riveting. In like an Adult Swim sort of way.

I'm DancingPanther, and this is my quest: to share Tainter's saga