Update and Discussion Question

by John Sickels on Jun 15, 2025 10:15 AM EDT Comment 13 comments

I have a bit of post-draft mental exhaustion right now; blogger burnout if you will. Yet there is still plenty of work to do, including a piece for Rotowire about fantasy sleepers from the middle rounds of the draft that is my main project for today. Tomorrow we will begin moving back to regular minor league coverage, with daily notes and resumption of the Retros and Not a Rookies, although we'll continue revisiting the draft as needed. I will also do an AQA thread sometime soon.

In the meantime, here is a discussion question for you. If you had to win a major league game TODAY, and you had to pick a pitcher drafted in the first round or the supplemental first round last week to win this game for you, who would it be? Does Taillon's amazing stuff or Whitson's polish override the greater experience of the available college arms like McGuire or Wimmers? The context: the team backing him up is the St. Louis Cardinals, playing in St. Louis, against the New York Mets and Mike Pelfrey. Your plan can't be something cheesy like "have the guy throw one pitch then bring in the bullpen"....you want him to throw at least five innings unless he's getting killed. Who would you pick?

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Deck McGuire

I will admit that this is a biased answer, but I would argue a proven big-game pitcher with a good arsenal of pitches should be able to keep the Cards in it.

by brewerm on Jun 15, 2025 10:30 AM EDT reply actions

Pomeranz

It would be too risky to go with any of the HS pitchers, and I like Pomeranz’s composure on the mound the best of all the college pitchers drafted. Chris Sale would be another good choice.

by guru4u on Jun 15, 2025 10:31 AM EDT reply actions

Hayden Simpson. HA

by Dorn on Jun 15, 2025 11:05 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Matt Harvey

Excellent stuff with a big GB rate and an ability to go deep into a game. You can argue that he may break, but one game, I definitely go Harvey. Wimmers would probably be my next choice.

by jar75 on Jun 15, 2025 11:18 AM EDT reply actions

Deck McGuire

Good stuff, can be really effective most of the time, he might still get hit, but can keep the Cards in the game.
I almost want to say Matt Harvey, but I’ll stick with Deck.
Wimmers wouldn’t be a bad option either.

by daman316 on Jun 15, 2025 11:57 AM EDT reply actions

McGuire

I’d have to go McGuire here, as well. Stuff and command should allow him to be effective.

But, if 2nd rounders were eligible, I’d give Sammy Solis a lot of thought.

by robertgold on Jun 15, 2025 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Pomeranz, no question.

The stipulation would be that he be healthy, and maybe that is cheating in this scenario. I think his stuff, groundball tendencies, and similarity to pitchers who have had success under Duncan make him the easy bet. Give him a couple hours to game plan with Duncan and let Yadi call the game and I think he could win right now even with the erratic command.

With the exception of size, Pomeranz and Jaime Garcia have similar stuff (including recent control issues) and I could foresee the same results. 5-6 innings with a K/SO of around 1.5 and maybe 2 runs against given the Mets weak lineup. Make sure Ryan is starting a short and Freese and third and I think you have a winning formula.

by t7rick on Jun 15, 2025 1:16 PM EDT reply actions

Taillon...

three pitches that are already major league pitches in his fastball, curveball, slider. Just as good of composure as any college pitcher that was drafted in the first round and will have one of the better catchers in baseball calling his pitches for him. He has the best stuff and is the most likely to be able to fool MLB hitters for a few innings. My next choice would be Wimmers, but I doubt he gets out of the third. None of the other guys really have a chance to get major league hitters out right now.

ETHAN MARTIN!!!!

by joegonzo on Jun 15, 2025 1:38 PM EDT reply actions

Especially...

good hitters like Reyes, Wright, Bay, and even Ike Davis.

ETHAN MARTIN!!!!

by joegonzo on Jun 15, 2025 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Angel Pagan has something to say to you

And I, in turn, have something to slap Omar Minaya with

You’re name has 2k9 in it — what are you some 8 year-old who makes Pillsbury Doughboy cookies and jerks off to that bullshit video game with Tim Lincecum on the cover--
Frederick0220

by Mets2k9 on Jun 15, 2025 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Chris Sale

He has better stuff and command than Pomeranz. The reasons he wasn’t rated ahead of Pomeranz by everyone were mostly due to long term issues. So starting him tonight against the Mets wouldn’t be a problem.

Jameson Taillon has outstanding stuff but he has gotten lit up by high school teams because of poor command and average control. The Mets might slaughter him.

by UncleBuck44 on Jun 15, 2025 4:21 PM EDT reply actions

Can I take ...

Rob Rasmussen, even though he was a second rounder?

by StickRat on Jun 15, 2025 7:03 PM EDT reply actions

Mike Leake?

Oh wait…

Seriously though I’d take Taillon. Ya, he might panic and walk six guys in three innings, but no one else, not even any of the college pitchers, really own an approach adequate enough to face a MLB lineup either. So that being said, why not go with the guy throwing the best stuff, and thats Taillon.

Da'Sean Butler - A Mountaineer Legend

by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Jun 16, 2025 12:34 PM EDT reply actions