Justin Masterson - Portland Sea Dogs (AA - Redsox's Prospect)

[bkstyl]

Here are a few shots of Redsox's Pitching Prospect Justin Masterson (6'6", 250).

#1
http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/8837/img7681justinmastersonus2.jpg

#2
http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/4162/img7714justinmastersonwr1.jpg

#3

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/6523/img7727justinmastersonqp7.jpg

#4

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/6646/img7787justinmastersonsm8.jpg

Thanks for looking.

[RonnieA]

Very nice. He's one big kid.

I like how you captured him in #2 and #3. Your timing from that angle shows and tells a lot. My guess is he's a sidearm slinger with nasty fastball movement.

[Bollan]

Nice shots!! No 2 is best.

Did you use LR 1.1 or CR 4.1 for the conversions?

[bkstyl]

Very nice. He's one big kid.

I like how you captured him in #2 and #3. Your timing from that angle shows and tells a lot. My guess is he's a sidearm slinger with nasty fastball movement.


Good guess, he has a sidearm delivery. To go along with his fastball he has an very good sinker and a good change. The day I saw him he pitched 6 innings, 4 hits, 10K's, 1 walk, 1 ER but did not figure into the decision. Since being called up to AA he is 4-0 with a 1.38 ERA.

Here is a write up on him:


Scouting Report: Big righty dominated Cape Cod League in 2005. Three-quarter delivery with a slinging-type motion. His arsenal includes a sinker, a slider and a changeup. His phenomenal sinker is plus with an excellent heavy drop, and he can vary its speed from 84-94 mph. Very good slider sits in the low 80s, mixed in with an improving 77-81 mph four-seam circle change. Uses his sinker predominantly as his out pitch, but also is able to use his secondary pitches to work out of jams. His arsenal results in a high groundball--to-flyball ratio. Could stand to mix in his changeup a bit more. Very good command of the zone. Strong character, pitches with confidence on the mound. Ideal pitchers' build. Converted to a starter in 2007, may still project as a reliever at this point. Needs to work on keeping his delivery consistent deep into games.

Here are two more shots of him showing his sidearm delivery. Didn't include them in the original post because I didn't have time to edit them (still not much done to them just cropped and resized).

#5
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/5922/img7671js1.jpg

#6
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/541/img7777justinmastersonej0.jpg

[laxx]

He looks funny in the last two shots of his sidearm. Definitely has to do with the way his shirt is.

[kbyrd8455]

nice where were you. Behind the ump. LOL

[bkstyl]

nice where were you. Behind the ump. LOL

LOL, yes kind of. I was actually in the front row behind home plate for shots 1 & 5 (these were through netting). 2,3,4 & 6 were shot from the photog well at the end of Portland's dugout.

Thanks to everyone for the positive feedback.

[DaveL]

nice job... I like 1 and 2. BTW: we'll be seeing your boys
(Harrisburg) play the Seadogs tommorow at Fenway Park...
Not sure I'll have my 300 tho...

[MJPhotos24]

nice where were you. Behind the ump. LOL

I just got a photo idea, behind the catcher laying down shooting it between his legs, comfy spot? no (and for so many reasons) but what kind of photo would you get there being 2 inches from his glove - while preying he dont miss it and bye bye glass. I have a mission in life now...I know some umps, have him get a glass of water for a couple warmup pitches :P

On behalf of sidewinders, yes we know our shirts look funny - try being a hefty sidearmer with a baggy shirt, man I wish I had pics of it, but I remember my glove getting caught a few times in there it was so stuck out I looked even heftier, if that was possible.

Justin is probably one of the nicest kids you will EVER meet. I shot him in Lowell (portraits) and couldn't of been nicer, got to talk for about 20 mins about several topics and just down to earth and would go out of his way to greet fans, just one of the guys you want to make it just for that reason.

ok to the pics, #1 looks a little flat color wise looking at his face, and #2/3 are the same pic just zoomed in, #3 is my pic for them, just would have put the other two on earlier to mix it up, cuz all of the first 3 are the same point in his delivery.

Really hoping Portland gets in and plays at Erie at some point in the playoffs, Akron even...that or Binghamton has to make the best comeback in sports history or I wont see him (ok, maybe Pawtucket if he gets up, they come to Buffalo and Rochester).

[bkstyl]

Justin is probably one of the nicest kids you will EVER meet. I shot him in Lowell (portraits) and couldn't of been nicer, got to talk for about 20 mins about several topics and just down to earth and would go out of his way to greet fans, just one of the guys you want to make it just for that reason.

ok to the pics, #1 looks a little flat color wise looking at his face, and #2/3 are the same pic just zoomed in, #3 is my pic for them, just would have put the other two on earlier to mix it up, cuz all of the first 3 are the same point in his delivery.

Really hoping Portland gets in and plays at Erie at some point in the playoffs, Akron even...that or Binghamton has to make the best comeback in sports history or I wont see him (ok, maybe Pawtucket if he gets up, they come to Buffalo and Rochester).

Justin seemed very nice. I really didn't want to bother him to much considering he was pitching the day I went. I've heard nothing but good things about him on and off the field. Before the game I talked with a reporter from Portland that couldn't stop talking about him (how nice he is and how good scouts are projecting him to be).

Thanks for the feedback on the pics. I see your point on 1-3 being at the same point in the delivery. I didn't really notice that before or I would have been more careful in the order I posted them. #1 is a little flat, I boosted the exposure (or brightness, I can't remember) to try to brighten the area around his eyes. This was a day game which started at 1:05, very sunny and hot (95). I still don't have a good feel for shooting games that start that early. I always seem to get shadows on the face.

Hopefully you get to see him pitch this year. If not this year you might need to go to Boston to see him pitch next season.....maybe

[MJPhotos24]

Same here, nothing but good things is all I've heard.

You should be able to play with angles a bit around 1pm to minimize the shadow but you'll always have one until the sun moves over a bit and you can shoot into it, then your shadows will be nill or little. All stadiums are set up in one of two directions (MLB rules make it so they have to buid the stadium one of two ways according to the sun) so sometimes just have to figure out where the "sweet spot" for shooting is...or you just accept the shadows :P

[SportsOnFilm]

"#2/3 are the same pic just zoomed in"

MJ, take a closer look and you'll see that his arm is in a different location (check the location of the ball against the signage on the outfield walls) - you'd better get some more sleep my friend!! :-)

[bkstyl]

"#2/3 are the same pic just zoomed in"

MJ, take a closer look and you'll see that his arm is in a different location (check the location of the ball against the signage on the outfield walls) - you'd better get some more sleep my friend!! :-)

They are 2 different photos. U can tell by the thread on the ball
Is sharper on 3. I think MJ was meaning the same point of the delivery just a different focal length.

MJ u can correct me if I'm wrong...

Will

[MJPhotos24]

They are 2 different photos. U can tell by the thread on the ball
Is sharper on 3. I think MJ was meaning the same point of the delivery just a different focal length.

MJ u can correct me if I'm wrong...

Will

I'll just yell at Brian on IM tomorrow, ha...yea, I did mean the point of his delivery...NO buffalo visit for you sports on film! :p I'll have them ban you like they did that "other" guy, ha...and who needs sleep, 18+ hour work days are fun and interesting when you fall asleep in the dugout.