Kyle Davies versus Scott Baker

by klmstrat on Dec 30, 2005 9:10 AM EST

Had a decent response from an earlier posting so I have another question. Upcoming keeper drafts coming up (or have already been completed)and am wondering who you would take (long-term value) between Kyle Davies and Scott Baker? Do not really care what each does for me in 2006; mainly looking at how they rank three years from now. Davies is roughly two years younger than Baker and showed control issues that many youngsters unveil at first. Although Davies did strike out more than six an inning, unlike Baker. Who's better three years from now?

Poll

Who would you rather have (long-term potential)?

Kyle Davies

37 votes

Scott Baker

86 votes

123 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I like Davies more

because of the changeup, which is already an MLB plus plus pitch.

by samjjones on Dec 30, 2005 9:15 AM EST reply actions

Baker

94 mph heat
poise of a veteran out there
wicked curve ball

I love this kid, I think he will be one of those pitchers who pitches 210+ innings, with less hits allowed then innings pitched and gets you a ERA in the 3's on a consistent basis.

He's gonna be a great #3 soon to johan and liriano.

by hotshotschamp on Dec 30, 2005 9:33 AM EST reply actions

also

Davies gave up 98 hits in 87 innings or so and 50 some walks.

His K ratio is a little better, but not much.

Baker has superior control and great stuff, and all his coaches say he pitches like a 10 year vet. I'm a twins fan and I like baker more then radke or silva already. This kids gonna be a gamer.

by hotshotschamp on Dec 30, 2005 9:37 AM EST reply actions

In Davies defense

He was doing it as a 21 year old thrust into a tough spot in the bigs. I think he acquited himself rather well. Baker is two years older and more polished; I just think Davies will be the better pitcher when its all said and done.

by samjjones on Dec 30, 2005 10:24 AM EST up reply actions

Exactly

People are overrating Baker bc he hasnt stuggled in the bigs yet, whereas Davies has. If Baker (who is older) was pitching in a pennent race and Davies was sitting pretty down in AA/AAA people would be hyping him just bc he had the nicer numbers and would ignore the context.

by nms on Dec 30, 2005 5:24 PM EST up reply actions

Baker

He really knows how to pitch, and his stuff is plenty good.

by kc @ Minor League Ball on Dec 30, 2005 9:42 AM EST reply actions

Baker

As said above, he can throw 94 MPH, has good stuff but most importantly, by all accounts he knows how to pitch and has great poise on the mound.

Too often we as prospect junkies under-rate the pitching prospects who have already put it together and clamor for the next "higher-ceiling" guy with great "stuff."

The "stuff" that keeps pitchers from developing most often (not including injury) is their inability to learn "how to pitch."

Prospects like Baker may not have A++ "stuff" but his talent and ability to pitch like a major league pitcher (so far) makes him a better bet than 95% of the pitching prospects in professional ball.

by stjp5 on Dec 30, 2005 11:30 AM EST reply actions

Amen

If only there was a metric that measured the amount of brains in ones head.

by Terry Ryan Jr on Dec 30, 2005 2:09 PM EST up reply actions

not to quibble

but when people say "94mph heat" its assumed thatg he SITS around the 94mph range. baker sits in the 90-91 range and at times can get it up to 94.

its like the same thing if i said jackson has 97 mph heat, even though he sits in the 93 range.

that said, i would take baker over davies.

by npurcell on Dec 30, 2005 3:36 PM EST reply actions

not true

thats not true, I'm a twins fan and watched all of bakers starts.

He sits about 93, he even touched 96 and 97 this year.

He usually hits 93-94 with the fast ball almost every time.

by hotshotschamp on Dec 30, 2005 6:43 PM EST up reply actions

Baker

A lot of people get hung up on Brad Radke comps with Baker. I don't see it. I think Baker's got a shot to be a better pitcher than Radke. Radke's fastball sits around 90-91, but he never cranks it up. Radke's is a straight pitch too, but Baker's has a lot of life and he can dial it up in pressure situations. I watched a game that Baker pitched against Oakland and was impressed not only that he changes speeds very well, but also that he changes vertical positions on his pitches. He's not afraid to pitch up in the zone, and his moving fastball is electric around the letters. He got two or three of his strikeouts on high fastballs around 93-94.

Baker's also got pretty phenomenal control, comparable to Zack Greinke's (although Greinke was younger) but with better strikeout numbers. Some of the best control in the minors. Pitching coach Rick Anderson emphasizes that in his pitchers, so I don't doubt that Baker will keep a steady BB rate, if not improve it in the next few years.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Baker settle in as a 6-7 K/9 pitcher given a full season of starting. He's a very good strikeout pitcher, and is very underrated for his ability to miss bats.