Comments on: The Argument for Kyle Drabek to Start the 2011 Season in the Minors http://jaysjournal.com/2011/03/23/the-argument-for-kyle-drabek-to-start-the-2011-season-in-the-minors/ A Toronto Blue Jays Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:16:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Keith http://jaysjournal.com/2011/03/23/the-argument-for-kyle-drabek-to-start-the-2011-season-in-the-minors/comment-page-1/#comment-3528 Keith Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:28:53 +0000 http://jaysjournal.com/?p=6634#comment-3528 I have read this article and the responses with interest as I strongly disagree with the assessment. What is right for one player is not necessarily right for another. Without knowing a players psyche and where they are in their development curve you can actually do damage. Tampa's aaa team plays in a very different type of league that the Jays AAA affiliate. Also the rays have invested in scouting and coaching throughout the organization. The Jays have only started this investment. You can send Drabek down and have him pitch against free swingers in a hitters league with inferior coaching OR you can keep him up here under the watchful eye of 2 expert coaches: Walton and Farrell. Not to mention that he can start building the most important relationship for a young pitcher. The one he has with his pitching coach. He will also be throwing to Molina which should help him step forward even more. Zep is not in the rotation because Drabek (and Reyes/ Litsch) out pitched him. If Drabek needs to go down for more "seasoning" I just don't get why anyone would want a guy who pitched worse than him in the rotation? What we have to keep in perspective is that 2011 is not a season where the Jays will compete for a playoff spot. 2011 is about firming up some more pieces of the long term puzzle. Which, I think all knowledgeable fans would agree, Drabek is a very big part of. Last year we may have found a few pieces with Romero, Morrow & Bautista stepping forward. From all AA and Farrell's interview's it seems like this year will be about: - Finding out if Hill, Lind, Escobar and Snider are going to be pieces of the long term puzzle - Seeing if our "2010 pieces" still perform at a high level (hopefully!) - Finding out if Drabek and Reyes can take the step to the big leagues. I don't list Litsch as I truly believe he is being showcased as he does not fit into the mould of a #2 or 3 guy. All of this will provide our genius GM what more info on what he has to deal with from a position of strength and what he holes we have i.e. what he needs to go after. I have read this article and the responses with interest as I strongly disagree with the assessment. What is right for one player is not necessarily right for another. Without knowing a players psyche and where they are in their development curve you can actually do damage. Tampa’s aaa team plays in a very different type of league that the Jays AAA affiliate. Also the rays have invested in scouting and coaching throughout the organization. The Jays have only started this investment.
You can send Drabek down and have him pitch against free swingers in a hitters league with inferior coaching OR you can keep him up here under the watchful eye of 2 expert coaches: Walton and Farrell. Not to mention that he can start building the most important relationship for a young pitcher. The one he has with his pitching coach. He will also be throwing to Molina which should help him step forward even more.
Zep is not in the rotation because Drabek (and Reyes/ Litsch) out pitched him. If Drabek needs to go down for more “seasoning” I just don’t get why anyone would want a guy who pitched worse than him in the rotation?
What we have to keep in perspective is that 2011 is not a season where the Jays will compete for a playoff spot. 2011 is about firming up some more pieces of the long term puzzle. Which, I think all knowledgeable fans would agree, Drabek is a very big part of. Last year we may have found a few pieces with Romero, Morrow & Bautista stepping forward. From all AA and Farrell’s interview’s it seems like this year will be about:
– Finding out if Hill, Lind, Escobar and Snider are going to be pieces of the long term puzzle
– Seeing if our “2010 pieces” still perform at a high level (hopefully!)
– Finding out if Drabek and Reyes can take the step to the big leagues. I don’t list Litsch as I truly believe he is being showcased as he does not fit into the mould of a #2 or 3 guy.
All of this will provide our genius GM what more info on what he has to deal with from a position of strength and what he holes we have i.e. what he needs to go after.

]]> By: Gerry http://jaysjournal.com/2011/03/23/the-argument-for-kyle-drabek-to-start-the-2011-season-in-the-minors/comment-page-1/#comment-3518 Gerry Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:51:45 +0000 http://jaysjournal.com/?p=6634#comment-3518 agreed with James, seems like Drabek's walk rate is pretty high compared with Price's. Would like to seem have better walks than that. Maybe why Price gives up more homers - he comes right at batters and throws strikes which can be hit, but Drabek picks the corners and misses, saving the HR but giving up the walk? agreed with James, seems like Drabek’s walk rate is pretty high compared with Price’s. Would like to seem have better walks than that. Maybe why Price gives up more homers – he comes right at batters and throws strikes which can be hit, but Drabek picks the corners and misses, saving the HR but giving up the walk?

]]> By: James http://jaysjournal.com/2011/03/23/the-argument-for-kyle-drabek-to-start-the-2011-season-in-the-minors/comment-page-1/#comment-3517 James Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:44:25 +0000 http://jaysjournal.com/?p=6634#comment-3517 The main thing that Drabek needs to work on is how to properly finish off an at-bat. If he master that, the K/9IP will improve naturally. Pitching to contact is only a way to conserve pitch count, Drabek still have to learn how to set up his pitches to better finish off a ML bat. The main thing that Drabek needs to work on is how to properly finish off an at-bat. If he master that, the K/9IP will improve naturally. Pitching to contact is only a way to conserve pitch count, Drabek still have to learn how to set up his pitches to better finish off a ML bat.

]]> By: James http://jaysjournal.com/2011/03/23/the-argument-for-kyle-drabek-to-start-the-2011-season-in-the-minors/comment-page-1/#comment-3516 James Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:30:38 +0000 http://jaysjournal.com/?p=6634#comment-3516 With Morrow on the DL, I much rather have Scrabble make the rotation instead of Drabek; unless Farrell can really work magic with his pitchers and add the polish to Drabek's finishing an at-bat before the start of the season. Morrow's loss, if it means TJ surgery down the road this season, is devastating to the Jays rotation. With most of the system's power arms still at least a couple of yrs away, we could be looking at a lost 2011 season before it even starts. With Morrow on the DL, I much rather have Scrabble make the rotation instead of Drabek; unless Farrell can really work magic with his pitchers and add the polish to Drabek’s finishing an at-bat before the start of the season.

Morrow’s loss, if it means TJ surgery down the road this season, is devastating to the Jays rotation. With most of the system’s power arms still at least a couple of yrs away, we could be looking at a lost 2011 season before it even starts.

]]> By: Steve http://jaysjournal.com/2011/03/23/the-argument-for-kyle-drabek-to-start-the-2011-season-in-the-minors/comment-page-1/#comment-3515 Steve Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:07:06 +0000 http://jaysjournal.com/?p=6634#comment-3515 Damn! Damn!! Thaat's scay. Forearm strains sometimes end up being elbow ligament issues requiring Tommy John surgery. Let's hope it's not that... Well, that takes all the wind out of my response to your excellent, well argued post. I totally agree with you and have been arguing the same point. I also wanted to add why it's better for players to develop in the minors. Apart from the obvious service time argument, there's the even greater playing time issue. This is more of an issue for pitchers than position players, but it does apply to them as well. A lot of (err, uninformed) people have been arguing that Drabek is ready now for the majors and if he does have to further develop pitches, why work on them in the minors against inferior hitters. The reason why you do it in the minors is he doesn't have to necessarily get wins in the minors (or at least there is less of an emphasis). If he doesn't have his best stuff and begins getting knocked around, you can leave him in there. There's also a chance that against inferior hitters, he won't get knocked around. Additionally, if he's working on his change-up, he'll get a chance to use it in game situations where he might not be able to use it in the majors. If he needs to get an out, he's not generally going to go with a pitch he's still developing. In the minors, take a chance with it. There are other reasons to keep a guy down as well, such as building confidence and providing motivation. But I guess that's all moot now, at least as far as Drabek is concerned. Damn! Damn!! Thaat’s scay. Forearm strains sometimes end up being elbow ligament issues requiring Tommy John surgery. Let’s hope it’s not that… Well, that takes all the wind out of my response to your excellent, well argued post. I totally agree with you and have been arguing the same point. I also wanted to add why it’s better for players to develop in the minors. Apart from the obvious service time argument, there’s the even greater playing time issue. This is more of an issue for pitchers than position players, but it does apply to them as well. A lot of (err, uninformed) people have been arguing that Drabek is ready now for the majors and if he does have to further develop pitches, why work on them in the minors against inferior hitters. The reason why you do it in the minors is he doesn’t have to necessarily get wins in the minors (or at least there is less of an emphasis). If he doesn’t have his best stuff and begins getting knocked around, you can leave him in there. There’s also a chance that against inferior hitters, he won’t get knocked around. Additionally, if he’s working on his change-up, he’ll get a chance to use it in game situations where he might not be able to use it in the majors. If he needs to get an out, he’s not generally going to go with a pitch he’s still developing. In the minors, take a chance with it. There are other reasons to keep a guy down as well, such as building confidence and providing motivation. But I guess that’s all moot now, at least as far as Drabek is concerned.

]]> By: Mat Germain http://jaysjournal.com/2011/03/23/the-argument-for-kyle-drabek-to-start-the-2011-season-in-the-minors/comment-page-1/#comment-3514 Mat Germain Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:50:04 +0000 http://jaysjournal.com/?p=6634#comment-3514 Morrow's forearm news is the worst news we could have received. It's not an automatic long period injury, but I doubt he'll return without a visit with Dr. Andrews. My mom once told me not to put all my eggs in one basket. Unfortunately, I put stock in Morrow in all of my fantasy leagues....uggh. As for the Jays, if it's short term, it at least will give them a chance to see all 3 pitchers and to decide on who will sit "if" Morrow returns. The season suddenly got extremely murky, and my season preview article is now in need of a big change. Not what I wanted to hear at all as I was writing.....not at all.... Morrow’s forearm news is the worst news we could have received. It’s not an automatic long period injury, but I doubt he’ll return without a visit with Dr. Andrews.

My mom once told me not to put all my eggs in one basket. Unfortunately, I put stock in Morrow in all of my fantasy leagues….uggh.

As for the Jays, if it’s short term, it at least will give them a chance to see all 3 pitchers and to decide on who will sit “if” Morrow returns.

The season suddenly got extremely murky, and my season preview article is now in need of a big change. Not what I wanted to hear at all as I was writing…..not at all….

]]> By: Jared Macdonald http://jaysjournal.com/2011/03/23/the-argument-for-kyle-drabek-to-start-the-2011-season-in-the-minors/comment-page-1/#comment-3513 Jared Macdonald Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:38:10 +0000 http://jaysjournal.com/?p=6634#comment-3513 Edit: It's now been announced (gulp) that Morrow will begin the year on the DL due to inflammation in his right forearm. Ugh. Seems that the Jays' Opening Day rotation will now be Romero/Drabek/Cecil/Litsch/Reyes...unlikely they'd invite Scrabble back into the rotation and have 4 southpaws, even though I'd prefer that scenario oddly. Edit: It’s now been announced (gulp) that Morrow will begin the year on the DL due to inflammation in his right forearm. Ugh.

Seems that the Jays’ Opening Day rotation will now be Romero/Drabek/Cecil/Litsch/Reyes…unlikely they’d invite Scrabble back into the rotation and have 4 southpaws, even though I’d prefer that scenario oddly.

]]> By: Matt http://jaysjournal.com/2011/03/23/the-argument-for-kyle-drabek-to-start-the-2011-season-in-the-minors/comment-page-1/#comment-3512 Matt Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:23:33 +0000 http://jaysjournal.com/?p=6634#comment-3512 I agree 100% and the exact same argument should be made for Lawrie! I agree 100% and the exact same argument should be made for Lawrie!

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