rank these pitchers

by melt12 on Jan 17, 2007 11:00 AM EST

I'd like to see what guys think of these pitchers as a group. All have been rated in top 10 lists. Nolasco, Danks, Hurley, Niemann, Diamond and Volquez. I know John is very high on Hurley but the problem I have is once guys like Nolasco get into the majors, where do they rank with the present prospects. Is Nolasco greater than Volquez? Any of the others?

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I'm a Rangers fan

And I'd rank Volquez and Diamond a distant last behind those other guys. I prefer Niemann, Danks and Hurley slightly over Nolasco, but he has a lot of value apparently, if the Fish think they can get an Upton-like talent for him. And I guess he may close for them.

But I'd say those four are pretty close and could be argued (though I'd probably take Niemann out of them, and I'd flip a coin on Danks/Hurley) and the other two are way behind.

by Brett Perryman on Jan 17, 2007 11:08 AM EST reply actions

Niemann

Will be the most dominant of that group.

by asianinvasion on Jan 17, 2007 11:08 AM EST reply actions

nolasco

niemann
hurley
diamond
danks
volquez

by Rob Castellano on Jan 17, 2007 11:09 AM EST reply actions

Diamond ahead of Danks?

WTF?

by Brett Perryman on Jan 17, 2007 11:13 AM EST up reply actions

well

this is pretty much because i have never been sold on danks but i didn't give it much though...its really more of a hunch than anything else so i can't defend it much but for some reason i've always felt that way w/ him

though i don't love diamond either so i suppose i could switch them due to danks' age and lefthandedness...

by Rob Castellano on Jan 17, 2007 6:39 PM EST up reply actions

R.N

You really think Nolasco is that high? If so why?

by ChrisRef19 on Jan 17, 2007 11:24 AM EST up reply actions

nolasco

now nolasco i feel much stronger about that danks or diamond...and with the numbers hes put up against major leaguers at age 23 hes got to be at the top of this list for no other reason than hes proven he can be a league average starter at the very least

but either way, i like his minor league track record/injury history (for niemann) better than any of these guys...and in terms of his ceiling, FWIW when i saw him pitch a handful of starts, hes got some pretty nasty stuff...but it all depended on if he could land that big curve which he definitely cannot always do...in 2 starts against the mets this year he lasted a combined 3.2 innings and gave up 13 runs because he couldn't hit it at all...but when he hits it, its a nasty verlander-esque (minus a couple mph) type curve which paired with his good fb really impressed me

only niemann has a higher ceiling IMO but who knows if he can stay healthy

by Rob Castellano on Jan 17, 2007 6:48 PM EST up reply actions

My order

Hurley
Danks
Nolasco
---
Niemann
Diamond
Volquez

I think there's the haves and have-nots here. Hurley and Danks have the highest ceilings, but I think Nolasco can pitch better than last year too. He wore out over the second half, but maybe a move to closer could bring out his true ability.

Niemann scares the crap out of me in terms of injury risk. If not for that, he would be higher on the list, but he could just as easily never pitch in the majors because of injury. Diamond and Volquez have not yet shown command at the upper levels to make anyone think they're ready to turn the corner.

by doug frobel on Jan 17, 2007 12:01 PM EST reply actions

Mine

Hurley
Danks
Niemann
Nolasco
---
Diamond
Volquez

by drob320 on Jan 17, 2007 12:14 PM EST reply actions

Nolasco

What do you all think of his ceiling? I've only seen him in the MLB against the Mets. And he was beating down terribly. He looked lost out there.

by JD Sussman on Jan 17, 2007 12:34 PM EST reply actions

Why does....

...everyone hate Volquez so much? I think he has a higher ceiling than Danks, Nolasco or Diamond, and less health issues than Niemann.

I would probably rank them
Hurley
Volquez/Niemann
Nolasco
Danks
Diamond

by grozzy on Jan 17, 2007 12:59 PM EST reply actions

because Volquez..

can't hit the broad side of a barn.

At least that's been the case whenever the Rangers have called him up to spot-start.

by FtheNYY @ Minor League Ball on Jan 17, 2007 1:38 PM EST up reply actions

He has no command/control

...and maybe more significantly, he has no breaking ball. He's all FB/change.

by Brett Perryman on Jan 17, 2007 5:32 PM EST up reply actions

Nolasco

I'd probably put him second to last, ahead of Volquez. We hate Volquez because he seems to have regressed horribly last year. Nolasco might put up decent numbers in the football stadium, but he doesn't have a whole lot of talent, IMO, and I doubt he'll ever fare well against hitters with good plate discipline.

by Brickhaus on Jan 17, 2007 1:32 PM EST reply actions

Niemann

Niemann is heads and shoulders above everyone else on the list in terms of everything besides health.

3 plus pitches and hits 98 MPH, enough said.

After Niemann, I'd go...

Hurley
Danks
Volquez
Diamond
...
...
...
...
Nolasco

Seriously, Ricky Nolasco... get real. Nolasco is a backend starter at best and that's only in the NL because he'd be a mopup guy in the AL in a neutral park.

Rays in '08....

by youALREADYknow on Jan 17, 2007 1:41 PM EST reply actions

Niemann

At this point of his career, I think an objective evaluation would be that Jeff Niemann's record looks like he's trying to become the "Chris Snelling of pitchers." In 2 professional seasons as a starting pitcher, he's made 22 starts and thrown 108 innings.

Added to the lack of innings is the recent history of Rice pitchers and their arm troubles - Matt Anderson, Kenny Baugh, Phil Humber, Mario Ramos, etc.- that is even less encouraging. I won't argue Niemann has great talent. But, since Rice has been a "sausage-grinder" for pitchers, and Niemann hasn't been able to stay healthy since; in combination it raises a huge red flag.

Being that you are a huge Rays' fan, I hope Niemann reaches his potential, but I think his history suggests his prospect status is not as bright as others like Hurley and Danks who have stayed more healthy. And Nolasco was successful for 1/2 a season last year. ML players always need to make adjustments, and we'll see if Nolasco can build on those early successes from 2006.

by doug frobel on Jan 17, 2007 1:57 PM EST up reply actions

oh kinda like Hamels right

cause he has the same k pedigree but right handed and has probably the 3 best pitches as a complete package in the minors.

anyone who doesnt think Niemann shouldnt be 1st on this list really needs to pay attention to the minors imo.

Hurley is the only one i'd rank with him.

its funny people citing Niemanns durability and yet have no problem with Hamels who is just as bad if not worse durability.

by High Heater on Jan 17, 2007 5:42 PM EST up reply actions

hamels

one of his longest injuries was non-pitching related...

by Rob Castellano on Jan 17, 2007 6:49 PM EST up reply actions

Hamels vs. Niemann?

It appears to me that Hamels wasn't one of those pitchers listed here.

In terms of the pitchers listed, I again point out Niemann has the worst injury history and most perilous future by far. He also exhibits his talent in those short periods of good health.

by doug frobel on Jan 18, 2007 4:46 PM EST up reply actions