Yahoo Sports recently wrote about a Cub prospect doing quite well in the majors.
Despite averaging 94.5 mph with his fastball while posting a 3.09 ERA and 1.13 WHIP, Andrew Cashner
recorded just 128 strikeouts over 175.0 innings last season after
finally becoming a full-time starter. The K rate improved after the
All-Star break, when he produced a 2.14 ERA and 0.95 WHIP with a 61:19
K:BB ratio over 75.2 innings. In Cashner’s first three starts of the season, he allowed
just three runs over 21.0 innings, fanning 22 batters over that span.
Cashner’s outing against the Tigers was especially dominant, as he tossed a shutout
against Detroit, striking out 11 and yielding one lone hit (a
single).
Cashner's strike out percentage (27.5) is a career high. As any pitcher with a 1.29 ERA, Cashner has
experienced some good fortune in the early going, as his .196 BABIP is
especially good considering he also has a 2.50 GB/FB ratio. But all
those ground balls should lead to few home runs allowed, and he also
hasn’t given up many line drives (16.0%). PETCO Park has increased
strikeouts by nine percent over the past three years, which is the most
in baseball, so Cashner has that going for him as well.
Yahoo Sports concluded that part of the
reason the Cubs traded him was because they didn’t think Cashner could
ever be a 200-inning workhorse, but assuming he can stay healthy, he has
all the makings of being a top-15 starter.
Those are the kinds of stories you don't want to hear when the Cubs are having a drought finding quality, young starting pitchers from their system.
Showing posts with label Cashner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cashner. Show all posts
April 22, 2014
January 7, 2012
RIZZO TRADE
The reaction to the Cubs trade for Padre prospect Anthony Rizzo has been mixed; the fan base has been underwhelmed by the moves of Epstein and Hoyer this off-season.
Rizzo was one of the players San Diego received from Theo's Red Sox in the Adrian Gonzalez deal. But once new Pads GM Josh Byrnes took over for Hoyer, he traded to young starter Matt Latos to the Reds for prospect Alonso, thereby creating a jam at first base with Rizzo.
So it is apparent that the scouts and GM in San Diego thought better of Alonso than Rizzo as the first baseman of the future. Rizzo fizzled in his time in the majors last season, batting a mere .141. However, in Triple A, he had good power numbers (but LaHair had slightly better overall numbers at Iowa, and better numbers with lesser at bats with the Cubs.)
Fans were upbeat about the new Cub management team finding a solution at first base, then paused when Hoyer said that Rizzo needed "more time to develop." That leaves LaHair as the placeholder at first base in 2012. Most project a sophomore slump a la Micah Hoffpauir for LaHair.
But some fans are weary of the trade of Andrew Cashner, a known commodity, for a "prospect." Cashner, who was misused last season which contributed to his shoulder injury, will return to the bullpen in San Diego. In a pitcher friendly park, he is projected to be the set-up man with about 10 wins, 35 holds and an ERA under 3.00 (a right handed Sean Marshall). Then, he is in line to be promoted to replace Health Bell as the Padre closer, a role he had in college.
There is no guarantee that LaHair is a late bloomer, or that Rizzo is a AAAA player like Hoffpauir.
But one thing is clear, Epstein and Hoyer are discounting the Hendry prospects and signees like week old tuna at the fish market. Gone are Colvin, LeMathieu, Cashner, and Marshall. It puts a bull's eye on the back of Cubs #1 prospect, Brett Jackson, on whether he will be in the Cubs 2012 plans.
Rizzo was one of the players San Diego received from Theo's Red Sox in the Adrian Gonzalez deal. But once new Pads GM Josh Byrnes took over for Hoyer, he traded to young starter Matt Latos to the Reds for prospect Alonso, thereby creating a jam at first base with Rizzo.
So it is apparent that the scouts and GM in San Diego thought better of Alonso than Rizzo as the first baseman of the future. Rizzo fizzled in his time in the majors last season, batting a mere .141. However, in Triple A, he had good power numbers (but LaHair had slightly better overall numbers at Iowa, and better numbers with lesser at bats with the Cubs.)
Fans were upbeat about the new Cub management team finding a solution at first base, then paused when Hoyer said that Rizzo needed "more time to develop." That leaves LaHair as the placeholder at first base in 2012. Most project a sophomore slump a la Micah Hoffpauir for LaHair.
But some fans are weary of the trade of Andrew Cashner, a known commodity, for a "prospect." Cashner, who was misused last season which contributed to his shoulder injury, will return to the bullpen in San Diego. In a pitcher friendly park, he is projected to be the set-up man with about 10 wins, 35 holds and an ERA under 3.00 (a right handed Sean Marshall). Then, he is in line to be promoted to replace Health Bell as the Padre closer, a role he had in college.
There is no guarantee that LaHair is a late bloomer, or that Rizzo is a AAAA player like Hoffpauir.
But one thing is clear, Epstein and Hoyer are discounting the Hendry prospects and signees like week old tuna at the fish market. Gone are Colvin, LeMathieu, Cashner, and Marshall. It puts a bull's eye on the back of Cubs #1 prospect, Brett Jackson, on whether he will be in the Cubs 2012 plans.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)