value of reliever prospects
by Asfan4ever723 on Aug 19, 2008 7:20 PM EDT
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Printpreviously relievers were the result of failed sp's, but in recent yrs its been a pattern of drafting college closers early to fast track them through the minors.
examples of this are street/hansen/aardsma/devine/cordero etc
at the same time is it smart for a team to fasttrack a 21-24yr old to get them to majors faster or let them develop their pitches and stamina as a sp and later on decide what their best role is? right now, maybe a guy like justin masterson is in this situation, what should they do?
i ask this because about the A's farm system, they are loaded with pitching in the minors. right now, they have 2 products of highly drafted college relievers at mlb level w/ street/devine.
In the minors, they have an interesting situation w/ a group of relievers who may be ready by late 09.
carignan/demel: both top 5 rd draft picks, strictly relievers. dominating their levels in 08 so far
jared lansford: he looked like a sp with a dominating MWL a couple yrs ago, has battled 2 yrs of injuries. healthy in 08 and doing great out of the BP. he doesnt turn 22 until after the season. should they move him back to SP?
andrew bailey: fairly high pick in 06. looked like a workhorse type SP, but blasted in AA. switched to BP and has been great
Henry Rodriguez: 21 yrs old, throws 100mph, but control issues and blasted in AA. now a reliever.
would it be in the best interest, to leave Bailey, Hrod, lansford, etc as sp's and let them continue to develop? or just ride their current sucess and a faster path to the majors??
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I would say leave them as starters to gain more experience. Seeing Henry Rodriguez in person this season in San Jose was very impressive. Hitting 98 MPH on a very cold night at the start of the year.
Carignan was lights out and flat out nasty. Demel has been equally impressive. HRod as a reliever this past week showed glimpses but the control was not quite there.
almost every single thing i have read about rodriguez
says hes a bullpen guy.
Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark
by knockoutking on Aug 21, 2008 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions
A's are stacked with SP prospects
I’ve always felt that the big market teams overlook the value of a strong bullpen and small market clubs often build strong pens out of necessity because their starters are either young, less talented, or both. The A’s have always have a strong pen and this just seems to go with their philosophy.
Mike Newman
baseballhandyman.blogspot.com
by Baseball Handyman on Aug 20, 2008 8:31 PM EDT reply actions
+1
The A’s don’t need more SP, they need to find a replacement for Huston Street whose contract is up next year (right? ), assuming Ziegler doesn’t take the job. I can seen Rodriguez being converted back into a starter, but I think Lansford would be a great closer/ setup man in the future. Through 17 innings as a relief pitcher in AA, he has yet to give up a run.
A's have a couple of capable closers
1. Street may bounce back and is under control through 2010
2. My personal choice as closer Joey Devine
3. Ziggy is a great bullpen arm and because his ability to get ground outs can be used in any situation
4. Santiaga Casilla could close in a pinch.
Of the next class of relievers coming through I see all setup guys for the 1st couple years but close down the line, and the A’s are deep.
In no particular order:
1. H Rod
2. Andrew Carnigan
3. Sam Demel
4. Jared Lansford
5. Andrew Bailey
6. Arnold Leon – Watch out for this guy
7. Craig Italiano
8. Fautino DLS
9. Brett Hunter
10. Tyson Ross
Arnold Leon et al
Leon will be a SP next year. He was in the BP this year simply to limit innings before he was contractually sent back to Mexican League at mid-season. This guy is lights out. As is DLS. I was sitting next to BB when he saw DLS at Spring Training. Talk about a S-eating grin! OMG! If you think Oakland is loaded with SP prospects this year, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
It is preferable to keep them as relievers as long as possible
because that is realistically the only way they learn to develop their secondary pitches.
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