From: eaz@po.CWRU.Edu (Eric A. Zahn)
Subject: Re: Who to watch for '93
Reply-To: eaz@po.CWRU.Edu (Eric A. Zahn)
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 92 21:39:26 GMT


In a previous article, tedward@cs.cornell.edu (Edward [Ted] Fischer) says:

>In article <1992Aug12.182140.28871@usenet.ins.cwru.edu> eaz@po.CWRU.Edu (Eric A. Zahn) writes:
>>In a previous article, tedward@cs.cornell.edu (Edward [Ted] Fischer) says:
>>
>
>An interesting comparison.  But isn't Nagy a couple years younger than
>Scudder?  Scudder *looked* like a pretty decent prospect when he was
>first brought up several years ago, but he hasn't improved at *all*
>since then.

Sherri answered that already- Scudder is 24, Nagy 25. 
Anyway, Scudder has never been given the chance to start every 5 days
until this year- and Scudder credits that fact for his modest improvement.
I'd give him 1 more year beofre I'd start to worry.
>
>
>I would protect that bunch at AA *ages* before I would protect Mesa.
>No?  Can the Indians afford to protect Mesa?  They don't have any
>post-free-agency players, so they will basically need to protect their
>entire starting lineup.  Whiten, Lofton, Belle, Sorrento, Jefferson,
>Alomar, Thome, Lewis, Baerga.  Add Nagy, Olin, Scudder, and Lilliquist
>and you can only protect *two* more players.  Would you protect Mesa
>over *any* of the above?
>
Well, There are no good prospects at AAA- people like the great Denis Boucher
are down there- and there are 4 good prospects at AA. 2 of them do not
have to be protected- so I would take a chance and protect Mesa and
Paul Mlicki for the other two spots. Of the four that have been posted,
Mesa has the greatest chance of improving dramatically- IF he can get
the control down. That's the key to Mesa.

>>
>>This was my point. He hasn't proved anything yet in the majors, so again,
>>wait and see. But I would protect him, and he is a  definite
>>canididate to start in 1994 for the Yanks. But already penciling him in
>>for next year to have a 3.00-3.50 ERA? Come on. That is stretching
>>it a bit.
>
>You would protect him?  How generous!  He is only one of the top five
>pitching prospects in AAA this year.
>
>And I never said that he would have a 3.00-3.50 ERA *next* year.
>
You are right. I misread it. Sorry.  :)

That's more like what I eventually expect from him.  Young pitchers
>often have rough spells when they come to the majors.  Especially when
>they are rushed through the minors (though Militello wasn't rushed
>particularly fast).  Even top prospects often struggle for a couple
>years.  Look at Nagy, Clemens, Cone, Maddux...
>
>People don't understand that there is a big difference between
>"ineffective next year" and "might never make it".  I'd give high odds
>that Militello *will* eventually be a good pitcher in the majors.  It
>is reasonably likely that he will be successful next year, but it is
>IMHO very likely that he will have a successful career.
>
Agreed- except for the next year part.
But you forgot the Steinvreener factor- who knows what the hell he will do 
to Militello?
BTW_ when is his next start?

E.

>Cheers,
>-Valentine
>-- 
>Ob. woof: Clemens is the best pitcher ever!	tedward@cs.cornell.edu
>

-- 
*******  Eric Zahn (eaz@po.cwru.edu) -- Systems Engineer-in-training ********
Go Tribe! 37-32 in their last 69 games!  Mesa vs. Boston on Wed.
The AL East Pennant Race for 4th: Det -  Bos 1/2  Cle 2  NYY 2
As Henny Youngman would say..." Take Eric Metcalf... please!"
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