to make a rational argument that would still create faith in Porcello. You’re making a flying spaghetti argument for him. The pitch we’ve never seen, which he’s not allowed to throw, is so good that it will make sense of everything. Of all the pitchers anyone could name in the category I described, not one of them has been similarly restricted? And if not, can’t it be seen as worrisome that Porcello needs to be protected from his own best pitch?

I hope you’re right about all of this, and that Porcello turns out to be great, but I don’t think there’s enough evidence right now that he actually will to put him at the top of pitching prospect lists.

Since I heard a comp recently that said “Porcello is likely to be more Jon Garland than Josh Beckett. He’s a good pitcher with good stuff that likely won’t pile up the K’s like a Beckett can. But that is not necessarily a bad thing, as Garland has a lot of value as a solid innings eater.”

I am starting to believe the side saying he’ll be good but not great. I don’t care how you slice it - the lack of K’s is a major, major concern. I am not all that convinced that ARL applies that much to pitchers. Stuff is stuff, and a good pitcher can get a K if he’s facing rookie ball hitters or big league hitters.

I’m aware that Randy Johnson is a hall of famer (and as King Billy Royal gets at, if you have to say “probably,” then you don’t know anything about baseball). What I’m saying is that really tall pitchers are more of a crapshoot than regular pitchers. Many of them take a very long time to develop. Randy Johnson didn’t really hit his stride until he was 29. Chris Young took until he was 26 or so. I point to Sabathia as a rare case, because he was a very good major leaguer in his early 20s.

So yeah, when I see a 6’8 pitcher with walk problems and health issues, I see a huge degree of risk and a high likelihood that if he develops, it will be a long time down the road.

25 to 30 bases every year

Also to state that he’s been old for his levels is misleading. Age 23 split between AA/AAA is pretty much on target with a normal progression (if not ahead of the standard curve), and that doesn’t account for the fact he spent his age 18/19/20 seasons as an OF and didn’t convert back to pitching until age 20. To progress from low A to an MLB playoff roster in the span of 3 seasons is very impressive.

that I expect Cunnigham to hit at that level, but I definitely don’t think you can say he doesn’t have the potential to do so. Again, tools aren’t everything and obviously he has the skill to hit at that level because he’s done so at every level, and done so at a young age for each level. Whether this translates to the MLB or not is yet to be determined, but that’s how prospects work. Even if he ends up a .280/.350/.450 player he will have a nice major league career, and I wouldn’t be suprised to see him hit better then that. The Bobby Kielty/Dustin Mohr comp’s are hilarious. Cunningham has consistently been one of the top offensive OF’rs since the start of his professional career. I’m not even going to get into it with you about Mohr. Get a grip man, now your just reaching. The guy had a career minor league .269/.335/.450 line and didn’t even reach AA until he was 25 years old. Kielty sported a .272/.390/.454 line
 for an OBP heavy .844 OPS. Somewhat closer to Cunningham’s numbers, but he was also older for each league compared to Cunningham. I can’t believe I even have to sit here and defend Cunningham against these two guys but this is rediculous.

is from after his 2007 season, and it’s been a pretty well known fact that he added velocity to his FB in 08’. Obviously were going to be able to find conflicting scouting reports, but this does show that both his change and curve are plus pitches. Was the BA quote from before or after his 2008 season??

http://www.moundtalk.com/prospects/brett-anderson-scouting-report/

ON THE MOUND

"Anderson brings a solid repertoire every time he takes the mound. Everything he throws is down in the zone and that helps him induce plenty of groundballs.

His fastball is not overpowering by any means. It sits in the 89-92 range and has good tailing movement on it. It is particularly hard on left handed hitters. Batters that make contact usually pound it into the ground for a routine out.

His curveball is his best weapon and definitely a plus pitch. It’s a big, slow curve in the low 70s with hard break. He has plus control with this pitch and can successfully throw it anywhere at any time. He has a tendancy to throw it too much.

Anderson works a plus changeup into his arsenal as well. Working in the low 80s with good movement, his changeup and fastball look identical coming out of his hand."

Doesn’t sound like average slurvy breaking stuff to me.

Also:

“With an adequate fastball and plus curve and change, Anderson has a good set of pitches to work from. He changes speeds well and has plus command. He will throw any of his three main pitches for strikes.”

I’ll continue to try to find something on his added velocity, but I know its been talked about quite a bit and I am sure plenty of people can back me up on hearing about it. Everything I have heard says he’s added 2-3 MPH onto his fastball which puts him right in the range I had him at.

Which I still think is a good thing