phinstd wrote:Aaron Harang is a much better comparison than Penny. He doesn't K as many as Harang though.
And Penny, greater velocity aside, doesn't K as many as Harang. And it's not all that close. Harang also walks fewer. Penny allows fewer HR (product of ballpark?), though.
If Lynn manages to be league average or a little better - like Penny and Harang - I'll be thrilled.
There is a TON of value in having pitchers like that in your system too, as long as they pan out. Look what guys like Penny and Harang are making. Sure would be nice to be able to allocate that money elsewhere.
i.e. Pujols.
When #4/#5 starters like Kyle Lohse and Jeff Suppan are making $10-$12M a year, yes, there is definite value at being able to have a #5 starter providing similar production for $400k.
phinstd wrote:Aaron Harang is a much better comparison than Penny. He doesn't K as many as Harang though.
And Penny, greater velocity aside, doesn't K as many as Harang. And it's not all that close. Harang also walks fewer. Penny allows fewer HR (product of ballpark?), though.
If Lynn manages to be league average or a little better - like Penny and Harang - I'll be thrilled.
I think you'd have to be thrilled if Lynn turns into a league average pitcher without a doubt. I'm usually not the best person when it comes to making comparisons on minor league players, because the comparison normally tends to lend itself to being a person who would be the ceiling etc.
If Lynn, in his prime, can put up an ERA+ of 100 and go 180 innings/season I'd be ecstatic. That's a pretty realistic ceiling for him....unless something changes and he develops more. I think at this point you know what you've got.
He's not likely to get deep into games. He averages about 5.7 innings per start. He's got a solid frame and mechanics that scouts salivate over, so he's not much of an injury threat. Of course, you can never be certain.
So....yeah:
32 GS 180 IP and 100 ERA+ is about the best I'd hope for. There's a ton of value in that.
Anderson absolutely fell off of a cliff last year, plus he chose to rehab a shoulder injury rather than opting for surgery to fix it, so we don't know if it's truly healed or not.
Hungary Jack wrote:If Lynn can put together a stretch like Harang did before age 30, I'll do cartwheels.
Another good comparison to Lynn I think would be Joe Blanton. Another kinda big guy who doesn't blow you away with plus plus heat, and is a pretty safe bet to give you leage average production year in and year out.
Or dare I even mention Jason Marquis before he turns into his inevitable annual pumpkin?
