I have a perfect compromise, Joe: Use Kershaw like Proctor or Quantrill. Cap his innings at 100, but don't be shy about him making 85 or so appearances. Everybody wins. Besides, not many LOOGYs can throw 97!

85 appearances is insane.

His curveball looked pretty nice today...
http://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/920274.html

youtube link....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2M0c6DxCMY

"public enemy number one!"

Keeper league. Roto 5x5

Justin Upton or Clayton Kershaw?

Justin Upton or Clayton Kershaw?

Upton, and it's not even close. He's a pitcher, for cryin' out loud!

I don't think either Prior or Wood were rushed. It's certainly fair to say that Wood was overpitched in his rookie year and rushing him back for the playoffs was insane (and both he and Prior were overpitched in 2003), but there's no way they weren't ready for the majors. Wood struck out 233 guys in 166 IP -- you're gonna keep talent like that in the minors?

And it's ridiculous to refer to Wood as a "flameout". He has about 1200 IP in his career with a 117 ERA+. From 2001-2003, he threw 600 IP with an ERA+ around 120-125. Wood was hurt twice (followed by a string of owies), not a flameout. Amazingly (i.e. I'm old), he's entering his 10th season (11 if you count the year entirely on the DL).

There are a million things to (potentially) criticize the Cubs for with regard to Wood and Prior, but the idea they would have benefited from another year or two in AAA strikes me as off the mark.

And it's ridiculous to refer to Wood as a "flameout". He has about 1200 IP in his career with a 117 ERA+. From 2001-2003, he threw 600 IP with an ERA+ around 120-125. Wood was hurt twice (followed by a string of owies), not a flameout. Amazingly (i.e. I'm old), he's entering his 10th season (11 if you count the year entirely on the DL).

Just to reinforce that point. To date Wood has the 11th highest WARP1 total from his draft class and if you just look at pre-FA WARP he has the 6th highest total.

There's certainly a lot of "what could have been" with Wood - hell that pre-FA total includes a year burnt on the DL - but would was a valuable player in relation to his peers. That's easy to see as long as you don't automatically assume his peers are Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens.

But the buzz Kershaw has created with his 97-mph fastball and jaw-dropping curveball already had teammates raving.

Wouldn't it be good to be in his shoes?

Better than being in El Duque's shoes, for sure (or Kaz Matsui's underwear, for that matter).

The curveball in the video was great, but the real pleasure was hearing Vin Scully, even for just a few seconds. Man, I wish he could somehow call the games for every team.

Better than being in El Duque's shoes, for sure (or Kaz Matsui's underwear, for that matter).

Just become a Met fan already, man. You are obsessed with them.

Scully's great. Love the "public enemy #1" line.

"That was some of the best stuff I have seen in a long time as far as a new arm,'' Casey said. "The first pitch was a hammer, and I hate to say it was almost (Barry) Zito-like, but it broke with this 12-6 tilt. Imagine that from a guy who hits 97 (mph) with his fastball. Then he threw me another one that froze me. That was great stuff, big-league stuff, and I think he could help that team this year.''

http://tinyurl.com/ywvl2w

Just become a Met fan already, man. You are obsessed with them.

I do end up seeing about a third of their games on TV, and about 5-6 starts in person...

Philly, where does Prior rank? I would imagine that 657 IP of 123 ERA+ will put him top 10-15 in his draft class at least. A quick scope of the first round suggests no worse than 5th (Mauer, Teixeira, Bonderman, Wright) with Kotchmann and maybe Mathis, Sowers and Gross having a chance to pass him eventually in pre-FA totals. Assuming a couple later rounders have or will pass him, it still seems he'll be top 10.

Not too bad a draft class that.

I didn't realize that Van Benschoten had even made the majors. Man has he stunk (1-10, 49 ERA+, WHIP>2, BB>K).

I didn't realize that Van Benschoten had even made the majors. Man has he stunk (1-10, 49 ERA+, WHIP>2, BB>K).

In a world where Pirates management isn't idiotic, he would have been an outfielder years ago.

Wouldn't it be good to be in his shoes?

Nice one, Reggie. Just wanted you to know that somebody got it.

Philly, where does Prior rank? I would imagine that 657 IP of 123 ERA+ will put him top 10-15 in his draft class at least. A quick scope of the first round suggests no worse than 5th (Mauer, Teixeira, Bonderman, Wright) with Kotchmann and maybe Mathis, Sowers and Gross having a chance to pass him eventually in pre-FA totals. Assuming a couple later rounders have or will pass him, it still seems he'll be top 10.

Sowers didn't sign that year. Bonderman has had one above average season in 5 full in the majors. Unless he wins the CY this year I'd take Prior's first 6 years over his. Mathis and Gross are longshots to deliver Prior's value. Neither appears likely to have a starting job in the near future. In particular, Gross already has three years in and is a corner OF with an OPS+ < 100.

From the 2001 draft, the best of the rest who signed are Shoppach, Hardy, Haren (2nd), Keppinger, Barfield (4th), B.Harris, Howard (5th), Tracy, D.Johnson (7th), Youkilis (8th), L.Scott (9th), Soto, Uggla (11th), Bartlett (13th), Chris Young the OF (16th), Gomes (18th), Duke (20th), Parra, Kinsler (26th), Gathright (32nd), Shelton (33rd), Gaudin (34th). I skipped pitchers like E.Jackson and Albers who haven't produced yet and all RP (Heilman and Medders probably the best). Notice the nice late round drafting by the D-Rays.

Haren and Howard have already or will soon pass Prior. I would expect that either Hardy or Youkilis will, and maybe a couple of the others if they break out (Soto, Young) or age well (Uggla, Kinsler). So right now, I'd put Prior 6th (Mauer, Teixeira, Wright, Haren, Howard) and he'll probably end up around 10th.

that pitch was sick.

Bonderman has had one above average season in 5 full in the majors. Unless he wins the CY this year I'd take Prior's first 6 years over his.

I know, but here's where we get into quantity vs. quality. Bonderman will be very lucky to have a 100 career ERA+ by the end of the year but, assuming healthy, he will have 1100+ IP to Prior's 650-700 (if he pitches at all this year). That's an extra 2.5 seasons (out of 6) of mediocrity which is pretty valuable these days. So I'm not so willing to assume Bonderman was less valuable than Prior. Now if somebody wants to run some numbers....

ahhh, I was confusing Mathis with Napoli (or turning them into one actually). Yeah, Mathis would seem to have almost no shot at out-valuing Prior.