John Danks the Great

by Mike McBride on Jun 29, 2006 11:05 PM EDT

John Danks now playing for the AAA Oklahoma Redhawks as the youngest player in the 16 team Pacific Coast League is simply amazing. Be it a small sample size (2 starts) Danks is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA. With a 1.00 WHIP, and opposing batters hitting at a .150 clip, with lefties hitting an amazing .000 against the 21 year old Danks. As I said earlier it's just 2 starts, but he was dominating the Texas League before the promotion, so this could very well continue. John is a great kid, I met him a few years back when playing for my hometown Spokane Indians, and he's been my favorite ball player since. Do you guys see Danks getting a September call up this year? Or perhaps sooner with the Rangers starting pitching woes.

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Since

he has to be put on the 40 after the season anyway, I think that we might see him in September. I still have to think that that would be the earliest, and that it would be a cameo. But it's great to see him come on like he has in the past six or so weeks.

by Brett Perryman on Jun 29, 2006 11:12 PM EDT reply actions

homeruns

concerned about his homerun rate. I don't think that bodes well for future success in the Rangers' home park.

by npurcell on Jun 29, 2006 11:15 PM EDT reply actions

Fact-checker

John Danks turned 21 on April 15th.

Adam Jones won't turn 21 until August 1st.

Daric Barton's currently injured, but he's a PCL player this year, and he won't be able to drink legally until August 16th.

Danks is very young for the league, but he isn't the league's youngest player.

That distinction goes to Asdrubal Cabrera, who won't turn 21 until well after the season's over (November 13th).

by jhelfgott @ Minor League Ball on Jun 30, 2006 5:06 AM EDT reply actions

Age

Excuse me, youngest pitcher at 21 and a couple months.

by Mike McBride on Jun 30, 2006 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

No worries

Cabrera, by the way, was just traded to the Indians, so Barton's now the youngest PCL-er.

by jhelfgott @ Minor League Ball on Jun 30, 2006 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

dominating the texas league

YOU ARE SO OVERRATING DANKS....

His minor league numbers have NEVER been that gaudy, what is the fascination with him???

4.15 era in AA
69IP, 74 hits allowed, 11 homers.

Dominating that league?

I just don't get the lovefest for Danks...

Hurley is better, so is edison.

by hotshotschamp on Jun 30, 2006 6:18 AM EDT reply actions

deeper in the numbers

Danks' overall stats for calendar years are not that impressive, but each season he has started out poorly, then adjusted to the new level of competition and dominated for at least several starts. This is the mark of a smart pitcher who is learning to use his talent. This season he again started poorly, but his last 6 weeks have been the very definition of dominant -- including very few home runs allowed. I'm not website savvy enough to dig out all those stats for you to back up my case, but this has been his MO since turning pro.

I agree however, that Hurly may be the better pitcher in the long run, better than any of the DVD trio.

by t ball on Jun 30, 2006 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Edinson

Isn't his name Edinson now?

Anyway, I agree. Of the DVD thing, I'll take Hurley over all three.

by TCapone30 on Jun 30, 2006 9:14 AM EDT reply actions

any reason?

or is it because everyone else says so?

when your ERA has letters and not numbers, it's a bad thing- kevin goldstein

by WakeboardJock @ Minor League Ball on Jun 30, 2006 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Danks' Splits

His stats are excellent since a rough April. In May and June, he's done this:

46.1 IP 36 hits 5 HRs 12 BBs 54 Ks

He's making a believer out of me, anyway. Let's see if he can keep this up.

Can't believe the Rangers now have Haigwood too. They could be trouble with some actual pitching.

by abbreviatedman on Jun 30, 2006 1:15 PM EDT reply actions

Sorry.

Meant to note that that was his May and June in AA.

by abbreviatedman on Jun 30, 2006 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Haigwood...

Was traded from the White Sox to the Phillies in the Thome deal.

by ISC on Jun 30, 2006 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

and dealt yesterday

Isc...

he was dealt to the Rangers from the Phils.

by NewKidInTown on Jun 30, 2006 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Really?

I had no idea, sorry. What was the deal, if you don't mind?

by ISC on Jun 30, 2006 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Found it

Rangers are loaded. Hurley, Haigwood, Danks, Diamond, Volquez, Schlact. Nice!

by ISC on Jun 30, 2006 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Diamond

I actually was gling to start a topic in this the other day. What has happened to Thomas Diamond? Is he still considered a prospect? The last I read (some blog), he went from a #2 or #3 starter potential to being discussed as a bullpen arm. Is that true? I figure you guys would know better than me.

by Robinson Checo on Jun 30, 2006 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Just FWIW

They also picked Kiker in the top half of the first round the other day.

Schlact (imo) comes behind Poveda, who is probably their next big riser, and possibly Rasner, although they're close. I might also put Fabio Castillo ahead of Schlact, although he's way off.

I think that Hurley, Danks and Volquez are presently their top three, and that Poveda, Diamond and Kiker are the next group, with the others, Rupe, Galarraga, Haigwood, Rasner, Castillo, Schlact, Masset after that.

Their system is just awful for position players right now, but they have something going with the pitching.

by Brett Perryman on Jun 30, 2006 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions