Which is funny because Jair has the lowest career xFIP of the four.

Of course, Jurrjens has been lucky. Last year he basically had the same year he had in 2008, but his ERA was a run lower. Still, it isn’t insignificant that, for two years running, Jurrjens has been better, and in some cases much better, at preventing runs than the other three pitchers mentioned. While he has undoubtedly had some luck, his FIP was actually lower than his ERA in 2008, when he had a 3.68 ERA and a 3.59 FIP.

Sure, results aren’t everything. But after 400 innings, they’re significant.

+1

-Jurjjens’ fastball only registered a positive pitch value this year. His other two seasons were near average and one of those years it was negative. The predictive value of pitch values is a very, very open question.

-On that note, let me remind you again the question was asked to predict the future.

-Gallardo has in fact thrown his fastball harder both over the course of their careers and in 2009. Its not a huge difference but it still doesn’t make sense that you’d take such exception to my statement Garza and Gallardo have “better velocity.”

-The velocity part of that comment was actually more geared towards Garza, who does throw harder than either guy.

-Gallardo has accumulated more value with his fastball career (though not by much), and has accumulated it in a more consistent manner than Jurrjens. I’ll trust the value of that pitch more than Jurrjens - who accumulated 90% of his positive fastball career value in 2009.

-The scouting reports on Gallardo’s fastball are at least as impressive as those of Jurrjens’. I’ll take Gallardo’s fastball.

-I think I made it pretty clear I am projecting more for Gallardo. It is a prediction. That is what we were asked to do.

-At no time have I made Jurrjens out to be a bad choice or a bad pitcher. In my opinion Garza and Gallardo were clearly better choices here, but all these pitchers are talented. Where did I “rag on his stuff?” All I did was say I liked Garza’s and Gallardo’s better. I made a point of saying it wasn’t a knock on Jurrjens, in fact. Please go back and read the entire page and see if you’re still offended by what I wrote because I haven’t realy made any strong statements or voiced strong opinions. My answer was essentially that I’ll take Garza or Gallardo, that I think they’re the two best bets and that all four guys are good.

-Throwing around terms like “intellectual honesty” is a pretty dick thing to do. Do you actually think I am or have been showing some intellectual dishonesty here? Please clearly illustrate with quotes where I haven’t been intellectually honest in the above. I’ve done nothing to paint you as a homer who is offended because you seem to think I ragged on your player - even though I haven’t actually ragged on him at all.

I’d appreciate in the future if you take a step back and rethink your comments before you throw around terms that imply serious wrongdoing.

Thanks
Al Skorupa.