Will Inman

by rutgersjpm on Feb 2, 2009 3:21 PM EST

BA just released their San Diego top 10. Why no love for this kid? I think out of all the top 10 lists I've seen so far for 2009 John is the only one that includes him. As a 21 year old in the Texas league he led the league in strikeouts and posted the 6th best ERA. I know he doesn't have a projectable body and his arm action is far from normal, but he has done nothing but strike guys out since he started pitching. Sure, his walks are up and his GB rate went down but he's still striking out a man per inning. Does anyone here see him being the 4th starter in San Diego behind Peavy, Young and Latos or will he be bullpen help/closer? What the heck, lets have a poll.

Poll

What will be Will Inman's roll be with the Padres in the future?

2nd in the rotation

5 votes

3rd in the rotation

32 votes

4th in the rotation

51 votes

5th in the rotation

23 votes

Closer

2 votes

Bullpen

24 votes

AAAA

11 votes

148 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Inman

I think that if he ends up as your #5 starter, your rotation is probably in pretty good shape. He’s not going to be great, but he should be at least average when you factor in Petco.

Rios is the next Juan Gonzales, thats right, I said it.

by KaoticKlown on Feb 2, 2009 5:33 PM EST reply actions

I know people are down on Inman

But I’m still not sure why BA ranked Venable above him.

1-10-DEN 18 (9:52) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right intended for 19-E.Royal INTERCEPTED by 93-L.Castillo (95-S.Phillips) at DEN 18. 93-L.Castillo to DEN 14 for 4 yards (62-C.Wiegmann). 6-J.Cutler pouts ob to DEN 25 for 11 yards.

by Wonko on Feb 2, 2009 6:06 PM EST reply actions

Adys Portillo

I don’t know how you can put a guy who hasn’t pitched a single minor league inning ahead of a successful 21 year old in AA. I know the kid’s projectable, but Inman’s produced. I guess I’m just more risk-averse than the “pros”.

by rutgersjpm on Feb 2, 2009 6:18 PM EST up reply actions

I don't have a problem with it

Almost every prospect guru has Portillo ranked pretty high. Maybe its a case of group think, but its probably a case of the wisdom of crowds.

Plus, you could practically make the same claim about Matt Latos.

by Wonko on Feb 3, 2009 1:08 PM EST up reply actions

Year in and year out Inman gets no love like foster kids. I don’t understand it. He produces in tough pitchers parks and gets nothing from prospectors. I like him. I think he’s going to turn out to be a decent #3 or #4 starter in the big leagues, and that is very valuable. I’d put him in the Top 5 of San Diego’s system. I saw him pitch last year at the Futures game and i thought his stuff was very solid

by loop on Feb 2, 2009 7:03 PM EST reply actions

Wolf stadium is a pitcher's park and the FSL is in general a pitcher's league

Also, scouts still do not seem to think that much of his stuff despite plenty of professional exposure. There are many pitchers that do great in the minors due to knowing how to use their repetiore very well, but their stuff does not hold up well in the MLB. There are many examples, Yusmeiro petit, Bobby Livingston etc.. .

by tdot mariner fan on Feb 2, 2009 9:53 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, and Petco's not at all a pitchers park

I’d be more inclined to trust John on this one- he’s a good balance between BA’s scouting and the numbers.

by David Tokarz on Feb 2, 2009 11:01 PM EST up reply actions

Petco

Is a pitcher’s park, but unless you’re talking fantasy baseball or in some cases flyball/groundball ratios it doesn’t change who he is as a pitcher. Petco may make his numbers better but remember that every pitcher he faces at home in his career will have the same advantage.

Josh Kinney wrestled a bear once.

by mateodh on Feb 2, 2009 11:11 PM EST up reply actions

It does to some degree

Original poster: he’s being helped by a pitching park.

Me: he’s going to a pitchers park.

My point is that if this is the effect of a pitching park on his performance, he’ll be fine when he reaches MLB. I say that as a person who does believe that Inman has the ability to reach the bigs, however.

by David Tokarz on Feb 3, 2009 10:37 PM EST up reply actions