David Price!

96-99 MPH...

According to the YES Network gun.

Neat!

by Brett Keith on Mar 8, 2008 4:09 PM EST 0 recs

unreal

he's sooo going to be up by June at the latest

by RollingWave on Mar 8, 2008 4:11 PM EST 0 recs

the thing that impressed me

was that after hitting the 1st batter, he was able to control and calm himself down and K out the side. That shows he has alot of self control.

Felix for Cy Young.

by King Felix 21 on Mar 8, 2008 4:19 PM EST 0 recs

HBP

Was a 2-2 count right? I didn't see the game but heard he was looking good and just hit the batters inside arm over the plate. Just curious...thanks.

by jfish26101 on Mar 8, 2008 5:07 PM EST up 0 recs

He looked

impressive no question

by NYYLover1000 on Mar 8, 2008 4:26 PM EST 0 recs

Well

Who did he strikeout? Was it some Minor League scrubs or some legit guys?

by Jay212033 on Mar 8, 2008 4:54 PM EST 0 recs

Duncan, Lane and Betemit

-ns

by jfish26101 on Mar 8, 2008 5:07 PM EST up 0 recs

Kind of irrelevant

But only just. For someone who hasn't had any professional innings yet, even destroying AAAA players is encouraging. Price's talent and skill sets are what we should be paying attention to.

And it seems he fits the bill.

by TIF on Mar 8, 2008 8:07 PM EST up 0 recs

Price does this, and Beckett leaves with back spas

ms... i love it. at the end of the year, Ill have to dig up the thread where I predicted that TB would finish 2nd in the East... The Sox are some Beckett back spasms, an Ortiz injury that lingers, and a Manny implosion away from 3rd place...

by daveh33 on Mar 8, 2008 5:49 PM EST 0 recs

Bold Prediction

So you think a team will do worse if they lose their three most important players. Way to go out on a limb.

by aCone419 on Mar 8, 2008 10:18 PM EST up 0 recs

thanks

:-)

by daveh33 on Mar 9, 2008 1:49 AM EST up 0 recs

meh

If all bad happens, they'll still have the upside of mean reversions by JD Drew and Julio Lugo and Ellsbury improvements over Crisp. Plus Dice-K is better than he showed last year.

by Galt on Mar 9, 2008 1:38 AM EST up 0 recs

I think you forgot about Toronto

They could be very good this year.

by Bravesin07 on Mar 8, 2008 6:09 PM EST 0 recs

Cervelli

Speaking of this game, did anyone else see Johnson's takeout of Cervelli? Completely unnecessary, and the Yanks think he might have broken his right hand or wrist.

http://yankeesmtom.blogspot.com/

by hallofamer2000 on Mar 8, 2008 6:17 PM EST 0 recs

argh

this was going to be his breakout year, getting away from the FSL finally

Todd Frazier for President

by FrazierFan on Mar 8, 2008 7:47 PM EST up 0 recs

Fractured Wrist

Damn

http://yankeesmtom.blogspot.com/

by hallofamer2000 on Mar 8, 2008 8:00 PM EST up 0 recs

Price Hit 99 mph

according to MLB.com

by Jihan1 on Mar 8, 2008 7:18 PM EST 0 recs

If this is true

he is the number 1 pitcher prospect in baseball.

by nyy601 on Mar 8, 2008 7:22 PM EST up 0 recs

i donno about that

he's never pitched in a pro game. Kershaw is over 2 years younger than him and he's hit 98 and has reached AA. Not to mention Clay and Joba have pitched in the majors.

by Bravesin07 on Mar 8, 2008 7:26 PM EST up 0 recs

But...

Price is basically what people hope Kershaw will be at the same age. Also, it doesn't really make sense to hold his lack of pro experience against Price, when prospects are most often ranked by what they will do, based on talent and skill, and he has the talent and skill to match up with(or surpass) any other pitcher with prospect status. It would be a different story if he was raw, with obvious flaws that had to ironed out. I still have Price ranked behind the three you mentioned, BUT, they're on notice. As far as him throwing as hard as he did because it was one inning and he was pumped...so? He showed he can throw that hard, harder than many thought he would. Kershaw doesn't sit in the high 90's for an entire game, Buchholz doesn't at all, and Joba most likely won't when he's returned to the rotation.

by Brett Keith on Mar 8, 2008 8:21 PM EST up 0 recs

If Price is throwing 99

then he is a better prospect than Kershaw. I had Price as my 4th ranked pitcher (behind Buchholz, Joba, and one spot behind Kershaw). The only thing Kershaw had on Price was a better fastball and professional experience, but if Price is hitting the upper 90s their fastballs are equal. Price has better command and great mound pressence. His great slider gives Price the edge in off speed pitches.

His "stuff" would be better than Buchholz and right there with Joba. It would be pretty much 1a, 1b, and 1c. All 4 pitchers are in my top 7, so the gap between them is tiny.

by nyy601 on Mar 8, 2008 9:29 PM EST up 0 recs

One Inning?

You are being ridiculous, nny601. One inning in a spring training game and he vaults to the head of the pitching prospect line? Price has never hit the upper 90's in a START. He topped out at 95 in college, and only sat in the low 90's. Kershaw hit 99 MPH in a start last season, as a 19-year-old. And there is no reason to believe that Price's slider is better than Kershaw's curve, a curve that Russell Martin calls the best he has ever caught -- and that means better than Billingsley's curve, which is pretty damn awesome.

by CanuckDodger on Mar 8, 2008 11:50 PM EST up 0 recs

Response

lol

by mrkupe on Mar 9, 2008 12:20 AM EST up 0 recs

Response To Your Response

Hey, either specify what problem you have a person's comment, or just shut the ** up. Idiot.

by CanuckDodger on Mar 9, 2008 4:14 AM EST up 0 recs

Correction

"...what problem you have WITH a person's comment..."

by CanuckDodger on Mar 9, 2008 6:32 AM EST up 0 recs

Yeah

because when the top college pitcher to come out of the draft in years starts throwing 5 MPH faster than everyone thought he could I guess it isn't a big deal. Notice how I said if? Thats because do not know if it is true, but IF he is throwing 99 he is a better prospect than Kershaw. You may need to take off your Dodger glasses to see it.

by nyy601 on Mar 9, 2008 12:25 AM EST up 0 recs

One Inning Out of The Bullpen

Price, the starter, HASN'T STARTED throwing 99 MPH. He came out of the bullpen and went "all out" for one inning. A velocity bump is common when starters try relieving. Joba Chamberlain reached 100 MPH as a reliever for the Yanks. He's not going to do that as a starter. He never has. Starters have to pace themselves. That is a fact, and the simple truth has nothing to do with me or anybody wearing "Dodger glasses." If Price is throwing 99 MPH in the up-coming season as a starter, then THAT will mean something. The list of minor league relief pitchers who reached 99 or even 100 MPH last year is quite long.

by CanuckDodger on Mar 9, 2008 4:29 AM EST up 0 recs

You do realize that

you can't just say "Well let me throw harder today". If he threw 99 MPH that means he can throw 99 MPH, most people had hit maxing at 95. Just because it was out of the bullpen doesn't change the fact that he showed he can bring it harder than anyone expected. If you max at 95 MPH you can't just try harder and magically throw 99 MPH. Its like the NFL combine if you are expected to run a 4.5 and put up a 4.4 your stock makes a big climb. Most people thought Price ran a 4.5 and today he showed he could run a 4.4.

Here's John's write up on Price http://www.minorleagueball.com/story/2007/5/24/155620/763
Notice how it says: Velocity? He hits 90-92, can get up to 94-95 if he wants to.
Well he was a top 10 prospect when people thought he threw that hard, and today he showed his scouting report may need a little change.

by nyy601 on Mar 9, 2008 4:49 AM EST up 0 recs

The Problem Is...

...you just don't know what you are talking about. I am not trying to be mean here. I have tried to explain to you that starting pitchers often throw harder coming out of the bullpen, but obviously it didn't take. You are the one who seems to think Price has MAGICALLY started being able to hit 99 MPH when he couldn't before. No, he just wasn't in bullpen before, which is why he had always MAXED out at 95. He was in the bullpen yesterday, knew he would only pitch one inning, didn't have to conserve energy for five or six more innings, so he reared back and threw harder than he ever did as a college starter. A nice, rational explanation, no "magic" involved. You seem to think starting pitchers rear back and throw as hard as they possibly can. As a rule, they don't. They wouldn't be able to pitch more than an inning or two if they did that.

by CanuckDodger on Mar 9, 2008 6:29 AM EST up 0 recs

the problem is

you don't know what you are talking about:

Pitchers typically throw about 2mph faster in the pen
While most pitchers don't throw max effort they typically do throw a few max effort pitches in a start. Thus their top velocity in a game is close to what they are capable of
The top velocity in the pen DOES in fact translate to starting. Ask Fausto Carmona and Greinke. It's not a given but many guys do retain this velocity.
It's a mistaken belief that guys don't go max effort. They do go max effort but their stuff deteriorates throughout the game. That is why I'm cautious with guys going 6IP or less - which is where it really shows.
No, you do not know more than us.

Again a nice rational explanation, no magic.

by pedrophile on Mar 9, 2008 7:04 AM EDT up 0 recs

+1

Yeah, I'm afraid CanuckDodger needs to think about taking off his blue tinted glasses and throwing in the towel on this. Dude, Clayton Kershaw is still a great, great prospect!

by DrBGiantsfan on Mar 9, 2008 12:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

If velocity was everything

them A.J. Burnett should be a HOF for throwing 100. It was one damn inning, you don't need to get a mancrush on a guy who threw 1 inning of pretty much worthless baseball.

by Bravesin07 on Mar 9, 2008 12:42 AM EST up 0 recs

The Last Person...

That should be talking about mancrushes on prospects.

by Brett Keith on Mar 9, 2008 1:00 AM EST up 0 recs

Oh...

And it's not like we're talking about Colt Griffin here. Price was considered probably the best pitching prospect to come out of the draft since Prior, and was nipping at the heels of Joba, Buchholz and Kershaw before he showed he could dial it up like did. This just shows that if need be, Price can uncork a fastball to rival pretty much any of his peers, or he can simply dominate in the low 90's like he did in college. Changing speeds is a good thing, and going by the scouting report, he does it very well with all of his pitches(yes, 3 pitches, not just a fastball). So don't get it twisted, the excitement isn't JUST because a prospect went out and threw hard, it's because we found out the #1 pick in the last draft might have been UNDERrated.

by Brett Keith on Mar 9, 2008 1:22 AM EST up 0 recs

OK

This is coming from the guy that would blow Calos Gomez because he is 6'4. No velocity isn't everything, but when you were already a great prospect and you add velocity that does make you better. If he had given up 2 homer runs you would have said he sucked and should spend the year in A ball. You are the first person to prematurely say stupid shit. Lest see, just this week you said Andy LaRoche is ruined and that Baker will ruin Jay Bruce. You are almost guaranteed to jump to baseless concusions 5 times a week, really just SFTU.

by nyy601 on Mar 9, 2008 1:40 AM EST up 0 recs

I was really looking forward

to see Bravesin07's reply, but instead he goes on project prospect to talk about my "mancrush" for Price on their board. Also looking over that board he has called Gomez the Nook Logan version 2. That's the way to stick behind the guy you have been pimping as the next Alex Rios for the last year. What a douchebag.

by nyy601 on Mar 10, 2008 7:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

Plus it was for one inning

where he was basically pumped

by NYYLover1000 on Mar 8, 2008 7:49 PM EST up 0 recs

Nasty

Struck Betemit out with a 1-2 changeup. Hadn't thrown the change til that point. And the 0-2 fastball right before that was barely off the corner. All three strikeouts were versus right handers. Was comin' right after 'em, no wasted pitches while he was ahead. I've lived a marginally better life for having seen it, lol.

by smittybanton on Mar 8, 2008 8:27 PM EST 0 recs

:D

"I've lived a marginally better life for having seen it, lol."

Now that is saying something.

by jfish26101 on Mar 8, 2008 10:05 PM EST up 0 recs

For those of you

wondering, his shoulder is fine!

by Tyler on Mar 8, 2008 8:57 PM EST 0 recs

Exciting

Nice start... but lets be serious. The guy is going to spend some time in the minors before they bring him up. There should be no rush at all.
Develop his talents and move up..

Ted Williams: .406

by bodyiq on Mar 8, 2008 10:25 PM EST 0 recs

Definitely

You have farm teams for a reason. These guys are huge investments and for a team like the Rays who can't sign the big name FAs, a player like Price could make or break them. They have enough depth they might be able to cope without him developing but it would be a huge loss. They need to put him on a pitching regiment similar to what the Sox have done with Paps and make sure they they do everything they can to get him prepared as possible. It's pretty unrealistic for anyone to say they have legit playoff hopes; I don't see a whole lot of positive from rushing him to the majors before Sep to be honest.

by jfish26101 on Mar 8, 2008 11:04 PM EST up 0 recs

Precedent?

The only difference between Price and Tim Lincecum is that Tim played in a few pro games the summer he was drafted in 2006. Tim was starting in the majors by May of the following summer. I don't think it's out of the question for Price to be pitching in the Majors by midseason. Heck, I don't think it's completely out of the question for him to bread camp with the MLB team.

by DrBGiantsfan on Mar 8, 2008 11:25 PM EST up 0 recs

What were the benefits?

Lincecum was pretty up and down as far as I remember. Certainly could have used more experience before being called up. The Giants weren't in the mix for the division, why start his clock? What was the benefit of getting Lincecum on the team in May as opposed to Sep? He might get by but it doesn't seem like the ideal situation to me is all I'm saying.

by jfish26101 on Mar 8, 2008 11:41 PM EST up 0 recs

benefits

He generated a lot of hope and excitement for a team that was clearly deteriorating in 07.

Lincecum had very little to prove in the minors by the time they promoted him. He was dominating AAA hitters that it was not a challenge for him. When he got in trouble, he can just throw a high heater or a hook in the dirt to get a K. He needed to learn to pitch and he wasn't going to do that against AAA competition.

I think the same rule applies to Price or any other prospect. There is a point where you are just wasting mileage on a young arm by leaving him at a level just for the sake or leaving him there. If Price dominates at AA, AAA, then I see no reasons to keep him down

by yoda1 on Mar 9, 2008 12:40 AM EST up 0 recs

Ahh yes

30 IP in AAA...that is certainly enough to assume he has nothing to learn. You can't learn to pitch in the minors? Man what a waste of money to keep those teams and coaches if you can't learn to pitch or hit.

You know I'm obviously not going to change Giants' fans' mind. The '07 game log is gone but I'm pretty sure Tim was pretty up and down. I know the 2 times I saw him he was all over the place. Sure the end result were some pretty good numbers but again you started his clock and you still lost 91 games. I certainly don't believe you can't learn to pitch in the minors so just don't see why you don't just wait till Sep. You had Bonds HR chase drawing flocks of crowds to every game across the country because SF was perhaps the last place that still supported him; you can't honestly tell me Giants fans were coming to the park to see Lincecum over Bonds. A few people, I can believe that but the vast majority wanted to see Bonds. Lincecum is a stud but I really don't think you had anything to gain. If you really feel Lincecum would have been hurt by keeping him in AAA till Sep, fine but I disagree.

I should have known better to speak out against the legend that is Timmy Lincecum (and I wasn't even speaking out against him lol) on this message board. My apartment might get blown up for such blasphemy.

by jfish26101 on Mar 9, 2008 11:58 AM EDT up 0 recs

I'm not Lincecum's biggest fan

and certainly not on this site, but if there's anything you can extrapolate from a sample size as small as 31 IP, it's that Lincecum could beat the hell out of AAA pitchers. I don't have the gamelog either, but 46 strikeouts in 31 innings, only letting 23 people on base? One earned run? I don't have the gamelog, but I'm having trouble imagining the down in his "up and down" experiences in AAA

by OldProspects on Mar 9, 2008 12:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

And now that I'm rereading your post

I realized you meant that his major league performance was up and down. And with that, I don't disagree. I don't really have any strong opinions over whether he should have or should not have been brought up, so I guess I'll just shut up, now

by OldProspects on Mar 9, 2008 12:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

No it's cool

I understand it's exciting to watch but it wasn't like you had a playoff spot on the line. If the Rays had a shot at the WC and Price is beter than 2/3 their rotation, call him up. Same with the Giants or any other team. I don't like tanking but I think the Giants would have been better off to let Bonds draw people to the park and the team lose 3/4 of the games Lincecum ended up in. Instead of speculating on if Alvarez or Smoak or whoever else will drop to 5, you could have just got them at 2 or 3 and saved a YOS on Lincecum. They could have just looked at his AAA season as ST and tell him to work on using certain pitches in certain counts or whatever they felt he needed work on. I'm seperated from the situation and certainly see what Giants' fans wanted to see him with the club, I just don't get what the Giants gained. Thanks for posting though. I have nothing against Timmy just don't like the new trend of rushing everyone to the majors as soon as possible.

by jfish26101 on Mar 9, 2008 12:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

I saw

I witnessed first-hand four of Tim's five starts for Fresno, and listened to and discussed with his dad (who WAS in attendance) the other start, which Tim made in Seattle.

Was Tim perfect at Fresno? No. Was he about as good as anyone before him had ever been? Yes, I would say that an 0.29 ERA and twice as many strikeouts as baserunners (and nearly four times as many whiffs as hits) qualifies. Incidentally ,the one run that was scored against Tim came on a sacrifice fly (although it wasn't that far from a bases-loaded double).

Tim struggled only once in the four games I saw him pitch. In one start he struggled badly with his control, a preview of what was to come in a few games with the Giants, especially in June. Yet when that struggling game was over, Tim had actually pitched a no-hitter over 6 1/3 innings.

When a guy pitches a no-hitter in the only game in which he struggles at a level, I think it is safe to say that he has little left to benefit from remaining at that level.

What some don't realize is that Tim was essentially ready to open the season in San Francisco. Would he have been as good as he is going to be in the future? No. But even when he was called up on May 6th (Willie Mays' birthday, appropriately enough), he still wasn't. What he was was the most dominant pitcher the Ginats had then or have now.

It is possible Tim was ready to pitch the September 15, 2006 game the injured Jason Schmidt was forced to miss. Instead, Brad Hennessey stepped in for Schmidt, was hammered, and the Giants fell apart, giving up something like an average of eight runs over the next 10 or 15 games.

The Giants continued their policy of being ultra-cautious with the player who had already been nicknamed "The Future" and who would be nicknamed in Spring Training 2007 by his own teammates as "The Franchise."

Now, Jfish, there are no doubt topics you are far more qualified than I to speak on. But Tim Lincecum certainly isn't among them.

by sharksrog on Mar 9, 2008 8:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

Sarcasm

Jfish, when you resorted to extreme sarcasm here rather than posting anything to support your point, you pretty much waved the white flag, even if you did so beligerently.

There have been PLENTY of people here who haven't supported Tim -- and who have at least laughed at the support I have offered him.

I have been as outspoken on behalf of Tim as you have been in attacking him (modestly) here. The difference is I back my comments up with facts and with as much observation of his pitching in organized ball as perhaps any layman around.

I really have no problem with those who "attack" Tim. He's not (yet at least, nor will he ever truly be, just as no other pitcher ever has been) the perfect pitcher.

But if you are going to criticize him or any other player or idea, please do so with facts, logic and informed opinion. I don't see much of those in your comments above.

by sharksrog on Mar 9, 2008 8:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

What? :(

I never attacked him once but I'm aware of just how strongly the pro-Linecum fan base is on this board. I was talking about Price and people started brining Lincecum up as is the case any time a young pitcher comes up. If you think there wasn't anything Tim could work on before getting to the majors, well I think you are mistaken. You can feel however you want about what we were discussing but I didn't attack anyone simply said there is always something to work on. I'd bet money Lincecum would even agree so I'm not sure where this is all coming from.

by jfish26101 on Mar 9, 2008 8:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

You are correct

You are correct that there is always something to work on -- and that was the case even with Tim Lincecum when he was called up and continues to be the case even now.

But, really, how was Tim going to work on those things in Fresno, where he was almost like Danny Almonte pitching to Little Leaguers who were two years younger than he?

The things that Tim needed to work on (control, learning big league hitters, adjusting to big league life, being learned by his big league catchers, learning that his mistakes were far less forgivable in the majors than in the minors, etc.), were things that he could work on far more effectively in the big leagues.

As a general comment, I agree with you. But how many of Tim's 70 minor league innings did you see? When it comes to specifics, it would be rather difficult for your opinion to have more validity than mine.

Not saying yours doesn't. Just that the odds would seem to be against it.

by sharksrog on Mar 10, 2008 3:07 AM EDT up 0 recs

NO

You are missing the point and I'm not a Giants fan.

So are you saying that Russ Ortiz would have been better than Lincecum had he kept the rotation spot in 07? You have two options for every 5 days:

A journeyman and a below average starter, getting lit up every other outing.
A dynamite young pitcher who dominated AAA despite limited pro ball experience.

Lincecum gave the Giants a much better chance to win. You know, the object of the game. It wasn't as if Lincecum was struggling at the time. They gave him a look, he got people out and he gave the team a chance to win every 5 days. Again, why waste his arm at AAA when he is perfectly capable of being above average pitcher in MLB?

If you don't think that's gaining anything then you are clearly delusional.

by yoda1 on Mar 10, 2008 9:56 AM EDT up 0 recs

Benefits?

7-5, 4.00, K/9>9. I'd say Young Tim was in the top 50% of all pitchers in baseball during from when he was called up. Let's turn that around and ask, what was the downside? He now has almost a full season of MLB under his belt heading into this season.

by DrBGiantsfan on Mar 9, 2008 12:51 AM EST up 0 recs

The above post is directed at you as well.

I wont be back to reply again though since it's useless.

by jfish26101 on Mar 9, 2008 11:59 AM EDT up 0 recs

Frustrated

I can see you are frustrated. Your point about starting the clock towards FA is a valid one. In Tim's case, I would be concerned that keeping him down in AAA just to stave off the clock would lead to frustration and possibly bad habits. If a guy is dominating the PCL like Tim was, there is just no point in fighting it. Bring the kid up!

by DrBGiantsfan on Mar 9, 2008 12:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

It isn't useless

Jfish, it's never useless to post if you have a valid point to make and can support it well.

by sharksrog on Mar 9, 2008 8:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

No it's pointless to argue against a fan...

who feels as strong about their team as many here do. It's like telling a parent their kid is failing because they are failing to keep an eye on their kids and make sure they do their work (which is why I'm not going to be a teacher). It's the same in restaraunts, you can't tell a customer they are wrong even though they are 75% of the time. There are a lot of instances where it's pointless to argue/debate with someone. Just read my posts, I never once attacked Lincecum and yet that is how everything I said is viewed because I hinted that he might have been better prepared when he came up in May. /me shrugs

by jfish26101 on Mar 10, 2008 12:36 AM EDT up 0 recs

I agree

I agree that you didn't attack Tim. But you didn't really give any specific points to back up your claim that he still had things to learn.

I even agreed with you that he had PLENTY to learn -- but felt that he could learn most of them far more efficiently in the majors.

Truth be told, from the time Tim was called up to the end of the season, he was the Giants' best pitcher. The only other Giants pitcher who was close was Matt Cain, a very fine young pitcher in his own right.

And lest you think that I'm prejudiced because I am a long-time Giants fan, I can honestly tell you that their present hitting is as bad as any team I can remember over the past 15 years or so. Also, their upper minor leagues are very poor.

But Lincecum and Cain are very good, and the Giants may well be building a good LOWER minor league system, which might translate into a good major league team in another four years or so.

Incidentally, while most Giants' fans thought it was heretical, I said before last season that the Giants' hitting wasn't at all likely to be good enough for them to be competitive -- and that they would be even worse in 2008 and 2009.

I can certainly be wrong -- but I call 'em as I see 'em, and I'm usually not too far from the truth.

by sharksrog on Mar 10, 2008 3:12 AM EDT up 0 recs

Very safe

To say that Tim Lincecum was in the top 50% of all pitchers during the time he was called up is certainly a safe comment, probably even a gross understatement.

Tim's ERA was 4.00, which wasn't bad at all. And it came on an FIP that was nearly a half run lower. To give an example that Tim wasn't the luckiest pitcher around, when is the last time you heard of a base runner escaping a pick off and then coming around to score an earned run, despite an error being charged on the play? Well, Tim had it happen not once, but twice.

I believe Tim had three runners picked off -- and amazingly on two of the pickoffs, the Giants made an error. And the Giants weren't really a poor-fielding team.

I believe that from the time Tim was called up, he had the fifth-most strikeouts of any pitcher in the National League -- despite being shut down in the last two weeks of the season as a precautionary measure.

He was also among the leaders in hits per nine innings. Yeah, I would say Tim was in the top 50% of pitchers after his callup.

And as you mention, the Giants got him three-quarters of a season's experience without moving his free agency eligibility up a year.

by sharksrog on Mar 9, 2008 8:53 PM EDT up 0 recs

Certainly could have used more experience?

Tim Lincecum posted a 0.29 ERA in five starts in AAA Fresno before being called up. He allowed only half as many base runners as strikeouts. He allowed only one hit with runners on base and none with RISP (out of the dozen he allowed overall).

He could have used more minor league experience in much the same manner as Paris Hilton needs more in bed. What does she have to prove? What does Tim have to prove?

by sharksrog on Mar 9, 2008 4:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

Meant to say

I meant to say, what DID Tim have to prove (at the minor league level). He still has plenty to prove in the majors -- and I doubt we'll have to wait too long.

by sharksrog on Mar 9, 2008 4:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

Joba is a good comp

Joba was drated in 2006, and did not fire his first professional pitch until 2007. He ended up getting the call to the big leagues in August 2007.

Price is in a similar situation, and I could see him following a similar path. Start him off in A-ball, and keep promoting him if he dominates a level.

My guess is, unless Tampa is in the race and needs his contributions, he won't come up until rosters expand in September. And that's only if his IP are not too out of hand already.

by slackerjack on Mar 8, 2008 11:37 PM EST 0 recs

I Guess The Fans Aren't Alone...

Rays starter Matt Garza had something more important on his mind than discussing his second spring outing with reporters.

"We have to make this quick," said Garza, who allowed one hit in three scoreless inning against the Yankees. "David Price is pitching next inning."

Price, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft, made his spring training debut Saturday, leaving the Rays glued to the TV in the visiting clubhouse in Tampa, Fla. Carl Crawford said Price was going to hit the first batter he faced because he had so much adrenaline pumping.

The first pitch Price unleashed was a 98-mph fastball to Francisco Cervelli for a called strike. "Oh, snap!" Garza yelled. Was that 98? Damn, he's bringing the heat!"

Price hit Cervelli with his next pitch. "I told you he was gonna get hit," Crawford said.

Price then struck out Shelley Duncan, Jason Lane and Wilson Betemit to end his inning. When Betemit flailed at the 17th and final pitch of Price's outing, the entire clubhouse erupted.

About two minutes later, Price entered the clubhouse, huffing and puffing, receiving congratulations from his teammates before disappearing for treatment. His first outing against major leaguers was deemed a success.

-- Amy K. Nelson, ESPN.com

by Brett Keith on Mar 8, 2008 11:38 PM EST 0 recs

price

I think that it is safe to say that Price will be top 5 pithcer of all time. He proved himself today.

Felix for Cy Young.

by King Felix 21 on Mar 9, 2008 1:07 AM EST 0 recs

LOL!

That's pretty funny coming from somebody with your screen name!

by DrBGiantsfan on Mar 9, 2008 1:12 AM EST up 0 recs

Top 5?

It is indeed possible David Price will wind up among the top five pitchers of all time, but I wouldn't bet my house on it. Are you perhaps being guilty of premature excitation?

by sharksrog on Mar 9, 2008 8:56 PM EDT up 0 recs

Or perhaps

premature sarcasm. Seriously, it's one inning of one spring training game. While he looked very good against the Yankees, the gun was definitely a few mph fast. I would be surprised if he was throwing faster than 95-96.

http://mvn.com/milb-yankees/

by lemonjello on Mar 9, 2008 10:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

It may have been a little fast

but Mussina was in the 85 range from what I saw. So if it was fast, he's in trouble despite his good results yesterday.

by Tyler on Mar 9, 2008 10:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

from sp times

The 22-year-old, pitching in his first game in nine months, reached 99 mph, according to the YES Network with the Rays clocking him at 95-97 during his 17-pitch effort. The gun was likely accurate, but the readings just depend on where the gun is aimed at. A pitch loses about 10 mph between release and home plate depending on the pitch.

by ultxmxpx on Mar 10, 2008 12:23 PM EDT up 0 recs