Promising Rookies

[RSgal]

What new guys have you seen that are looking good? D'backs rookie 1st baseman Lyle Overbay has been our regular starter, and he's kicking ass, I'm impressed. We've also got Robbie Hammock (catcher, 3rd baseman)...he's done really well at the plate. I say bring on more of the young boys!!

[two-six]

As a Braves fan, I'm excited about a couple of young pitchers on the staff. Horacio Ramirez has really impressed me. His numbers aren't all that great (just under 4 era), but I think this kid has the make-up to be a #1/2 starter one day. Out of the pen Trey Hodges (only pitched 11 innings last year) has looked great. ERA under 3 and has worked out of several tough situations. I think these two have great potential.

What about Choi in Chicago? He has really added another strong bat in that line-up that I'm sure Sosa appreciates. The future for that kid is VERY bright.

[Village Idiot]

Originally posted by RSgal
What new guys have you seen that are looking good? D'backs rookie 1st baseman Lyle Overbay has been our regular starter, and he's kicking ass, I'm impressed. We've also got Robbie Hammock (catcher, 3rd baseman)...he's done really well at the plate. I say bring on more of the young boys!! Girls that know their baseball kick serious butt, rock on.

[RSgal]

Originally posted by TANK
Girls that know their baseball kick serious butt, rock on.


:xyzthumbs




After Webb's start this afternoon against the Pirates, I'm gonna rave about him too. Went 7 1/3, gave up 3 runs with 6 K's. He's 2-1 for the season, with a 2.02 ERA. Good boy!!

[Turbo]

I'm prolly a "homer" but I think Mark Prior is the real stuff and in 15 years he'll be pitching for his 300th win.

*****

Prior destined for greatness

By Tim Kurkjian
ESPN The Magazine


When a pitcher has great stuff and throws effortlessly, scouts like to say, "the ball comes out of his hand so easily.'' Of the Cubs' Mark Prior, one veteran scout says "the ball comes out of his hand easier than any pitcher I've ever seen.''

So, when identifying the game's next superstar -- choosing from established players with less than two years major-league service -- we'll take Prior in a close race over, among others, Roy Oswalt, Josh Beckett and Adam Dunn.

Established? Prior has made only 19 major-league starts. But if you saw him, there's little doubt he's a future Cy Young Award winner.

What's not to like? Prior is big and strong: 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, with legs that resemble the great Tom Seaver's and with height that gives him leverage. At 22, Prior is refined. He pitched at a big-time program at USC. He worked independently with Tom House, a former pitcher and pitching coach -- Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson swear by House's teachings, which stress, among other philosophies, letting the ball go closer to home plate.

"He is the most complete, polished pitcher ever to come out of the draft,'' House says. When asked soon after the 2001 draft (Prior was the second overall pick) when Prior would be ready to pitch in the major leagues, House said "two months ago.''

Similar things were said about LSU's Ben McDonald in 1989. He, too, had exceptional ability, but McDonald didn't have Prior's concept of pitching, or the understanding of the competition.


"What makes him stand out is his makeup,'' says Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild. "His personality is as good as his stuff. A lot of guys have good stuff, but that's not what it's all about in the major leagues. Plus, his delivery is so solid, he looks like he's playing catch at 93-94 mph.''

The Cubs knew they had something special in the spring training of 2002 in a game against the White Sox, who were playing their best lineup. Prior didn't have his fastball, or his great curveball, so he got people out with his change-up.

"He had no fear throwing it,'' Rothschild said. "A lot of young pitchers get confused when things don't go right, their thought process changes. Not Mark. When he gets in trouble, he's not going to do something that isn't going to work. He never questions himself. His confidence is very strong.''

That confidence was obvious last year. In his first major-league start, against Pittsburgh, Prior struck out 10 in six innings. He finished with six double-figure strikeout games. Thirteen of his 19 starts were quality starts (at least six innings, no more than three earned runs allowed). Overall, he finished 6-6 with a 3.32 ERA. The league hit .226 against him. Simply put, no batter wanted to hit off him.

What Prior has that virtually no one his age has is command of the strike zone. His walk-strikeout numbers his senior year at USC -- 18 walks, 202 strikeouts -- resemble those you see only in Williamsport, Pa. He has what separates great pitchers from good ones: the ability to throw really hard, with violent stuff, yet throw those pitches wherever he likes.

Most great pitchers, from Christy Mathewson to Pedro Martinez, have that ability. Last season with the Cubs, Prior pitched 116 2/3 innings, walked 38 and struck out 147. That's 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only Kerry Wood (12.6) and Dwight Gooden (11.4) had a higher ratio among rookies with at least 100 innings pitched.

"When he misses,'' said Rothschild, "he misses to the area where he was trying to throw the ball.''

He didn't miss much last year as a rookie. He stands to miss even less as he goes along. But Rothchild, and everyone in the Cubs organization, has to be cautious with too much praise.

"You have to let him go through the process,'' Rothschild said. "It's not going to happen overnight. It only happens that way with the very rare. But he has a chance to be very rare."

Tim Kurkjian is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine and a regular contributor to Baseball Tonight. E-mail tim.kurkjian@espnmag.com.

[PantherPaul]

So far Rocco Balldelli looks like the real deal in Tampa Bay

[two-six]

Originally posted by PantherPaul
So far Rocco Balldelli looks like the real deal in Tampa Bay

i agree. i keep expecting his numbers to fall off, but they just never do.

and that is great news for the devil rays, they can sure use the talent

[chuckrichey]

Originally posted by Turbo
I'm prolly a "homer" but I think Mark Prior is the real stuff and in 15 years he'll be pitching for his 300th win.

*****






no,not with the 5 man rotation,no one will,clemens,glavine and maddux will probably be the last 300 win men ever in baseball!:(

[nsbaseball5]

prior will never get 300 wins with the cubs neway, they dont produce enuff runs

[vpkozel]

Originally posted by Turbo
I'm prolly a "homer" but I think Mark Prior is the real stuff and in 15 years he'll be pitching for his 300th win.

I think that Prior is has great stuff and a very good chance to be one of the best - but do you really think that he is going to AVERAGE 20 wins a year for the next 15 years?

[nsbaseball5]

like i said "no" cubs dont produce enough runs per game for any pitchin to be good, if they found some bats, they got the pitchin staff...mostly all there pitchers are young, they have (Kerry Wood, Kyle Farnsworth, Mark Prior, Carlos Zambrano, Mark Clement, Remlinger, new guy Wellemeyer(threw really well against Astro's)) but if you look at all them pitchers, they all throw gas and are very young, they just gotta find some people who can hit and they'll have a chance of winning it all

[Big Russ]

I think Zito has as good a shot as any of the young guys.

[two-six]

farnsworth is a large young man

[vpkozel]

Originally posted by CharPirates26
farnsworth is a large young man

I hope you are referring to his height and weight. :D

[two-six]

you are very correct sir.....hes a big boy, on the outside

[vpkozel]

Originally posted by nsbaseball5
like i said "no" cubs dont produce enough runs per game for any pitchin to be good, if they found some bats

I don't care if they bring Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Lou Gherig back from the dead - Prior is not going to average 20 wins a season for 15 years.

[two-six]

Originally posted by vpkozel


I don't care if they bring Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Lou Gherig back from the dead - Prior is not going to average 20 wins a season for 15 years.

maybe a little extreme, but i agree with the idea in whole. in this day and age there are too many specialized pitchers, closer, 8th inning set-up guy, a guy for the set-up guy...managers don't have to stick with a starter as deep into a game as in the past. they have quality pitching in the bullpen available. i think the fact that in a bad outing, the managers do not hesitate to yank a guy in the 2nd-5th innings will keep anyone from reaching 300 wins. gotta make it thru 5 to get the win. thats my reasoning anyways.

[vpkozel]

From what I have seen so far, I think that Prior has the potential to reach 300

[two-six]

Originally posted by vpkozel
From what I have seen so far, I think that Prior has the potential to reach 300

make up your mind already...go grab a quarter:D

[RSgal]

Originally posted by CharPirates26


make up your mind already...go grab a quarter:D


:roflmao:

He's right vpkozel, you seem to be contradicting yourself ;)

[Turbo]

Originally posted by vpkozel
I don't care if they bring Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Lou Gherig back from the dead - Prior is not going to average 20 wins a season for 15 years.
Yep, you're right. I did over exaggerate a bit there. :D My point is, however, that he'll be be pitching for 300.