Proceeds from the ads below will be donated to the
Bob Wuesthoff scholarship fund.
Wednesday, June 09, 2004 |
Thoughts on Jered Weaver
Weaver isn't getting a $10M bonus. If he gets over $4M I'll be surprised. And unlike Mark Prior, there won't be any guaranteed big league contract, either. Weaver doesn't have the mechanics, stuff, or control of Mark Prior. He had some nice numbers against college hitters, but that means jack in the bigs. Weaver won't be able to help the Angels this year, and will require a year -- next year -- in the minors. (Remember he's pitching for CSULB in the NCAA regionals on top of his regular season duties.)
Boras has consistently overestimated the market lately. Sure, they could make noise about him going back to college if he doesn't sign, but Weaver's already said how happy he would be pitching at home in front of friends and family. He'll sign.
As for his actual ability: that's another reason he won't be getting the big bucks. He doesn't have much higher to go, not unless he corrects his mechanics and improves his control and stuff. There's a lot of guys whose careers foundered on the shoals of control. A nice number four, maybe, or a decent reliever?
Comments:
"A nice number four, maybe, or a decent reliever?"That's certainly a pessimistic view. Sure he doesn’t have the best mechanics (there’s going to be a Tommy John surgery somewhere along the line- I guarantee it) but he does have very nasty stuff and decent control. He’s already got what you can’t teach, and there’s a good chance he’ll learn the rest. I definitely see him at the top end of this rotation sooner rather then later (2006 perhaps).
Not pessimistic, just looking at the bottom of the likely range I've seen from the scouts. Mark Prior doesn't come along every day, and the scouts are pretty insistent that Weaver the Younger isn't his second coming. The reason I say "a nice reliever" is because that's what the Angels minors turn out like clockwork -- sometimes long relievers who can start sometimes, like Gregg and Shields -- and sometimes it turns out so-so starters who are wicked hot as relievers, like Ortiz. (Remember when Frankie was a starter but couldn't cut it?) But expecting the kid to be the #1 or #2 we really, desperately need at or near the head of the rotation is just too much pressure; there's too many bridges to cross here. Besides, we all know what happened to his brother in the glare of Yankee Stadium under that kind of stress.
Incidentally -- does anybody else think Escobar could be a stone-cold stopper if we actually had decent fielding this year? Fielding efficiency took the worst drop I can ever remember, not that I've been paying attention all that long. With vacuum cleaners in the outfield, he could be a legit stud.
Incidentally -- does anybody else think Escobar could be a stone-cold stopper if we actually had decent fielding this year? Fielding efficiency took the worst drop I can ever remember, not that I've been paying attention all that long. With vacuum cleaners in the outfield, he could be a legit stud.
Newer› ‹Older
 |
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.