Looking ahead at pitching "prospects"/starters

Post #1 » by **YogiStewart** » Tue Sep 1, 2009 2:53 pm

Any guesses or rankings of the Jays' pitching "prospects" for starters over the next 2 seasons?

And I'm putting "prospects" in quotes because I would include Litsch, Marcum and McGowan as prospects, along with Richmond, Cecil, Mills, Purcey, Romero, Rzepchinski. Not sure if I am missing any minor leaguers who may be here 2 years from now.

I would guess that their rank will be:

Romero
Rzep
Marcum
Cecil
Litsch
Richmond (I think he'll be moved to the bullpen)
Purcey
Mills
McGowan

Hoopstarr · Post #2 » by **Hoopstarr** » Tue Sep 1, 2009 3:50 pm

Janssen could be an option for the rotation. McGowan may never pitch again but I'm really hoping he has a Carpenter-like rebirth, except this time in Toronto. There's also fringe guys like Tim Collins, Robert Ray, Andrew Liebel, Fabio Castro and Kyle Ginley. Just imagine the pitching depth in the system if they signed Paxton and Eliopoulos.

Hoopstarrzz · Post #3 » by **Hoopstarrzz** » Tue Sep 1, 2009 4:21 pm

^^^Jenssen? You gotta be kidding me! If this year hasn't already proved how **** the guy is, I don't know what else could be more obvious?!

Post #4 » by **YogiStewart** » Tue Sep 1, 2009 4:42 pm

so confusing. is Hoopstarr arguing with Hoopstarr??

Janssen - not sure what to think about him. coming off a massive injury, so i am kind of treating this season as rehab. always thought of him as long relief. so who knows.

other than Ray, who i don't really think has big-league stuff, I know little about the other prospects. but if the Jays were in the running for a playoff spot, there is a LOT of tradeable pitching that can buy you the DH we've always wanted (assuming that Millar is not the answer)

Hoopstarr · Post #5 » by **Hoopstarr** » Tue Sep 1, 2009 5:06 pm

Hoopstarrzz wrote:^^^Jenssen? You gotta be kidding me! If this year hasn't already proved how **** the guy is, I don't know what else could be more obvious?!

Hoopstarrzzzz you put me to sleep. Seriously though, you're using a sample size of 5 starts to write off Janssen? He was coming off a torn labrum and they still threw him into the fire as a starter. That shows how much confidence they have in him. I agree he should be used in long relief, but if for some reason there was an open 5th starter spot, I bet they'd go with Janssen over Purcey, Mills, and the others.

Garmfay · Post #6 » by **Garmfay** » Tue Sep 1, 2009 6:52 pm

Robert Bell who just turned 24 in A+: he's been on a tear since being a starter. 2.52 ERA with 107 Ks in only 89 IP

Reidier Gonzalez, good numbers in AA this year (2.90 ERA)

Luis Perez, 24, already on the 40-man roster, decent #s in AA

Post #7 » by **Schad** » Tue Sep 1, 2009 8:39 pm

And don't forget Zach Stewart, who is probably the best pitching prospect remaining in the minors. Once he stretches out fully (should take another couple years to get him beyond 160 IP) he could be very useful.

Post #8 » by **tsherkin** » Tue Sep 1, 2009 9:23 pm

Hoopstarr wrote:Hoopstarrzzzz you put me to sleep. Seriously though, you're using a sample size of 5 starts to write off Janssen? He was coming off a torn labrum and they still threw him into the fire as a starter. That shows how much confidence they have in him. I agree he should be used in long relief, but if for some reason there was an open 5th starter spot, I bet they'd go with Janssen over Purcey, Mills, and the others.

Umm, I wouldn't put too much stock in "how much confidence they have in him;" you're talking about the manager that still regularly pitches Jesse Carlson in key situations. I like Cito, but he does weird things with his pitching staff (Scott Richmond/Jeremy Accardo, wherefore art thou...) and what he does and doesn't do with Janssen's minutes is no indication of anything relating to Janssen's actual talent.

Post #9 » by **tsherkin** » Tue Sep 1, 2009 9:26 pm

Zach Stewart is a bit exciting. Fastball-slider is usually a fun combo, but he'll need more than a "stretching out" to come up here and be anything but a short reliever; he'll need a third pitch. But yeah, having him around in our 'pen would be wicked.

-MetA4- · Post #10 » by **-MetA4-** » Wed Sep 2, 2009 8:45 pm

YogiStewart wrote:And I'm putting "prospects" in quotes because I would include Litsch, Marcum and McGowan as prospects, along with Richmond, Cecil, Mills, Purcey, Romero, Rzepchinski.

You might want to rethink your definition of "prospect."

Marcum has 64 starts and nearly 400 innings of major league baseball....on what planet does that qualify as a "prospect"?

Post #11 » by **tsherkin** » Thu Sep 3, 2009 5:17 am

He's talking about our prospective pitchers... Marcum didn't pitch this year, ergo for next season, he is merely a 'prospective option' for the rotation, assuming health. I doubt he means 'prospect' in the sense of 'minor league young talent on his way up,' but it still works.

JN · Post #12 » by JN » Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:39 pm

-MetA4- wrote:
YogiStewart wrote:And I'm putting "prospects" in quotes because I would include Litsch, Marcum and McGowan as prospects, along with Richmond, Cecil, Mills, Purcey, Romero, Rzepchinski.

You might want to rethink your definition of "prospect."

Marcum has 64 starts and nearly 400 innings of major league baseball....on what planet does that qualify as a "prospect"?

Because there is no certainty he comes back to the level of an effective pitcher, or where he was... hence he is like a prospect/

IIRC, and could be wrong, didn't Marcum have stamina issues as a starter. Could be even more of an issue.

Post #13 » by **tsherkin** » Fri Sep 4, 2009 8:23 am

As a starter, Marcum's averaged 5.7 and 6.1 IP/GS in the two years where he's started 25 games. I don't know if he's got stamina issues, but it doesn't really bear out by that measure. He's a control pitcher who lasts about 6 innings a game. He's no Doc, but how many really have that stamina, especially with the way pitch counts and innings are coddled for these guys in the modern era?

SCF99 · Post #14 » by **SCF99** » Sat Sep 5, 2009 12:36 am

Zack Stewert should fall into the mix,,,it is to bad Purcey stock has fallen i was pretty excited to watch his starts at the start of the year but you don't even hear his name mentioned as a call up,with all the injuries and rookie starters this year you would figure that he would have found his way back into the rotation,,,his control must still be "out of" down in AAA. I start to panace every time Jansen comes to the mound sort of the same way i would when BJ(RIP) would step to the mound earlier....

Post #15 » by **tsherkin** » Sat Sep 5, 2009 12:56 am

SCF99 wrote:Zack Stewert should fall into the mix,,,it is to bad Purcey stock has fallen i was pretty excited to watch his starts at the start of the year but you don't even hear his name mentioned as a call up,with all the injuries and rookie starters this year you would figure that he would have found his way back into the rotation,,,his control must still be "out of" down in AAA. I start to panace every time Jansen comes to the mound sort of the same way i would when BJ(RIP) would step to the mound earlier....

I can't wait to see what happens with Stewart; I think he's probably more "closer of the future" than a prospect starter, though.

Post #16 » by **YogiStewart** » Mon Sep 7, 2009 2:06 am

-MetA4- wrote:
Marcum has 64 starts and nearly 400 innings of major league baseball....on what planet does that qualify as a "prospect"?

think you've been answered by others here, but just to give you direction, its planet Tommy John.