AL 08 Rookie SP's

by rayver723 on Feb 27, 2008 3:13 AM EST

I wont include hughes/joba/bucholz/price/mcgee/davis because thats been talked about already. they are in the elite area, but how about the next tier of rookie pitchers that may get chances in 08, they ranked in that 20-60+ range by BA..how would you rank them their upside long term?

their BA rankings
Nick Adenhart (24)
Ian Kennedy (45)
Adam Miller (29)
Gio Gonzalez (26)
Nick Blackburn (56)
Luke Hochevar (63)

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Hmm...

I'd say Miller has the highest ceiling followed by:

Hochevar,
Gonzalez,
Adenhart,
Kennedy,
Blackburn.

I don't think Miller or Hochevar will end up being the best of this group, they just have the highest upside in my opinion. If i had to pick a best pitcher out of these guys i'd probably say Adenhart with Gonzalez and Kennedy about tied for second.

by deadboy on Feb 27, 2008 3:47 AM EST reply actions

SP

I'd for the most part agree with that listing, prolly have Miller under Adenhart with all the injury issues. Am I the only one that is less then thrilled with most of these SP who could make their debut? In particuliar Adenhart who I really don't understand how he is ranked 24th on BA.

Also I know he plays for Texas and he was ranked a bit higher, but I still like Hurley.

by hybrid on Feb 27, 2008 4:13 AM EST up reply actions

edit

err, ranked lower I guess would be a better way of phrasing it. I believe he was in the 70's.

by hybrid on Feb 27, 2008 4:14 AM EST up reply actions

adenhart

I believe Adenhart has a good sinker and Webb and Carmona were never too great in the minors.

by ultxmxpx on Feb 27, 2008 10:39 AM EST up reply actions

Can someone give

some specific information on Adenhart? ETA, repertoire, etc. I just acquired him in a trade in my league and I see there's definite promise there, but that he may have lost some luster after a decent year in AA. He was superb in A ball in '06, so maybe expectations were a bit much. What do you guys see him becoming?

One day, Elijah Dukes will be President of the United States.

by PujolsJunkie on Feb 27, 2008 12:32 PM EST up reply actions

Throws

both 2 and 4 seam fastball. Both in the low 90's getting up to 93-95. Great curve. Circle change is his "out pitch". His ETA could be this year if he gets a spot in the rotation, but he will most likely not get a spot until next year.

by nyy601 on Feb 27, 2008 9:37 PM EST up reply actions

re:

It's fairly hard to compare Webb and Adenhart as far as mnor league numbers go. Also Carmona really never had the same hype as far as Adenhart gets. I just can't justify Adenhart being #24 when his ratios/numbers keep getting worse every year, to the point where I don't see anything that positive from him last year.

by hybrid on Feb 27, 2008 8:48 PM EST up reply actions

Well

at least in terms of 08 value Kennedy beats the crap out of the rest.

by RollingWave on Feb 27, 2008 4:56 AM EST reply actions

hmmm

as you're asking on just upside, i'll assume everyone is healthy. i like deadboy's list though i might move the hochevar, gonzalez and adenhart around a bit. not quite sure how i'd arrange it. i like hochevar the least, and i don't expect him to be the best of the bunch, but he was once considered to be a #1 pitcher type material so i guess you could say his upside is/was the greatest.

by bk11 on Feb 27, 2008 4:59 AM EST reply actions