Comments on: Prospect Primer for Trade Partners – Starting Pitchers

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 15:11:00 +0000

I don’t care who they trade as long its for the right piece.

By: Lee Young

Lee Young — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:02:00 +0000

Kevin…..nice writeup……this proves why you draft LOTS of pitchers…some succeed, some over achieve, some under achieve, etc.

By: eric

eric — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 22:42:00 +0000

Thanks. I hope you’re right. The reports on him haven’t been very good recently.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 22:15:00 +0000

Yes, regarding the fatigue. He pitched 48 innings in 2010 and is at 85 this year. I have to think he’s in a dead arm period right now and may top out at 100-110 innings for the year.

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:26:00 +0000

Hope they don’t trade McPherson or Cumpton.

By: eric

eric — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:20:00 +0000

The last two game reports on Cain on this site (from 6/11 and 6/28) have him sitting in the upper 80s rather than low 90s. Are you operating under the assumption that he’s just been fatigued lately?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:48:00 +0000

Here’s something interesting and depressing at the same time. In the history of the Pirates franchise, there have only been 3 pitchers with K/9 above 7.00 — with enough qualifying innings.

The Pirates have just not been a great franchise for elite pitchers. Maybe 1-2 seasons of greatness and that’s it. Even Drabek’s 1990 CY year he had a mid 6 K/9.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:10:00 +0000

I guess i’m just a typical fan who expects to much, it’s just that every time i read about a pitcher in the org. he’s throwing 88 – 89 has a low K avg. and doesn’t grade out more then a back of the rotation or reliever at best and has a 7.89 era
.
I got all hyped up about guys like ZVR before and after they signed and i expected Taillion type pitchers.

I am not being sarcastic as i said i’m just a fan and maybe i expect too much and lack the patience to really speak on the subject. I hope i am wrong. Time will tell.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:34:00 +0000

The “Altoona Four” of 2010 have been disappointing as a group this year, no doubt. But keep in mind that NH’s first draft was the 2008 draft class in which the only “name” pitcher was Justin Wilson. He’s at AAA waiting his turn.

The 2008 draft was a hitters draft with Alvarez and d’Arnaud already in the majors. Hague and Mercer are knocking on the door.

2009 was the year of the HS pitcher with Cain, ZVR, Dodson, Stevenson, Pounders, and Fuesser (JC pitcher). Those guys are still in Low A learning.

Taillon is performing quite well so far from the 2010 draft.

Overall, my opinion is that NH and Greg Smith, in particular, have done a fine job with the drafts. If you get 1 starter and 1-2 bench/bullpen guys from each draft, that is considered a success.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:05:00 +0000

I haven’t really followed the drafts untill the new FO took over and i don’t read much about other teams so i don’t know if i’m speaking out of turn but after 4 drafts and not counting the last one untill those guys get some serious playing time in i have to say i am really disapointed in the collection of pitchers they have signed.

I have said before that i think their evaluation system is lacking and as time goes on and these players keep failing i think i maybe right.

There isn’t anybody who is making a strong push to be a future MLB pitcher above A ball.

Somebody needs to start evaluating the evaluators.