Comments on: Strasburg Alternative No. 3: Alex White

By: The Ancient Mariner

The Ancient Mariner — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:08:07 +0000

All this Morrow/Lincecum talk reminds me of the time Baseball Digest ran an article about how the Tigers regretted passing on Butch Wynegar to draft Lance Parrish. Two years does not a career make.

Taken all in all, right now, I think Green’s still my favorite player in this draft, given the concerns I’ve heard about Strasburg’s mechanics and what they might mean for his health (though Kevin Appier made it a long time with his pitching motion); it will be interesting to see, though, how this upcoming season changes everyone’s opinions and draft orders.

By: DaveValleDrinkNight

DaveValleDrinkNight — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:02:35 +0000

As far as pitching mechanics concerns go, a 20 year old kid working with pro coaches has plenty of time for correction. Plus that, no offense to Brandon Morrow, aren’t mechanics concerns why we passed on Linnecum? He only pitched, what, 400 innings last season?

By: skipj

skipj — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:11:28 +0000

In the video, they show his fastball at 93mph, but viewing it twice, did he strike out a kid with a 72mph change-up? Are they using the same readout for the temperature? Any one else notice?

By: thr33niL

thr33niL — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:50:15 +0000

This White guy is intriguing, but I’m still on the Grant Green bandwagon. Our farm system is starving for a quality “up-the-middle” prospect.

I too prefer the Green guy over the White guy.

By: Steve T

Steve T — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:01:20 +0000

Bill James’s comment was also something like fifteen or twenty years ago. Correct me if I’m wrong, but colleges (and even high schools) have made a lot of progress in coaching skills and avoidance of abuse since then. People don’t let their star prospects throw 150 curveballs every start so much nowadays.

By: dchappelle

dchappelle — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:42:02 +0000

Bill James’ comment was specifically targeted at High School pitchers being chosen in the first round and their poor success rates.

By: jouish

jouish — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:49:39 +0000

Didn’t Bill James say once that first round pitchers picks were more than often busts, and backed it up with, oh, about 60 examples … with maybe 2 or 3 that worked as well as the guy made it to the majors?

Here’s a list of some aces and almost aces currently pitching with the round they were drafted:
Roy Halladay – 1
Dustin McGowan – 1
Josh Beckett – 1
John Lackey – 2
Joba Chamberlain – 1
David Price – 1
Scott Kazmir – 1 (stuff wise)
John Danks – 1
Cliff Lee – 4
Justin Verlander – 1
Zack Greinke – 1
Tim Hudson – 6
Cole Hamels – 1 (Brett Myers too)
CC Sabathia – 1
Rich Harden – 17 (stuff wise)
Ryan Dempster – 3
Roy Oswalt – 23
Chris Carpenter – 1
Adam Wainwright – 1
Clayton Kershaw – 1
Chad Billingsley – 1
Jake Peavy – 15
Tim Lincecum – 1 (Matt Cain too)
Brandon Webb – 8
Dan Haren – 2

16/25 of them were first round picks. If you count Myers and Cain that’s 18/27. While pitchers are riskier compared to position players, it’s rare to find an “ace” via the draft besides the first rounds. Hence, why you shouldn’t avoid pitchers in the early parts of the draft, you just have to recognize the inherent risk associated with them.

By: DMZ

DMZ — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:06:43 +0000

Dustin Ackley was SA#2. Use the search box, it's your friend.

By: Evan

Evan — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:47:39 +0000

If Green is Strasburg Alternative #1, shouldn’t White be Strasburg Alternative #2?

It’s post-modernist counting.

By: Benne

Benne — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:45:21 +0000

This White guy is intriguing, but I’m still on the Grant Green bandwagon. Our farm system is starving for a quality “up-the-middle” prospect.