Michael Taylor, and other misc thoughts

Other Stuff

I’ve searched the interwebs high and low, no official word on Michael Taylor, but the unofficial word I’ve heard is a minor elbow tweak. I expect he’ll be back in a few days. I’ve gotten at least 10 emails asking about him, sorry I haven’t replied, I figured I’d just address it here. Kyle Drabek has now pitched 3 times since returning from TJ surgery, 9 IP – 0.00 ERA – 4 H – 3 BB – 4 K. 2.14 Groundouts to Air Outs. And he’s healthy. This news can only be considered great. And finally, it appears JA Happ isn’t sulking about no longer being in the bigs. He tossed a 6 inning gem two nights ago, striking out 10 and walking only 1 while not allowing a run. He has a 3.05 ERA in his last 59 minor league innings and looks poised to step into the rotation should a need arise. Carlos Carrasco is also loving life in AAA, not allowing an ER in his first two starts, striking out 14 and walking only 2 in 12.2 IP. Today is a good news Tuesday for sure.

54 thoughts on “Michael Taylor, and other misc thoughts”

  2. A shame Happ is still ‘wasting bullets’ down there. If he pitches just a tad better in those ML starts, he probably convinces the Phillies not to trade for Blanton.

    Nice to know we have depth, but it’s pretty amazing that he can’t get into the rotation, as bad as it’s been.

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  3. I believe Taylor has shown enough to start next season at AA. Drabek starting out at Hi-A Clearwater might to too big a leap and a good path for him might be to begin at Lakewood again and move to Clearwater if successful. The most important thinsg is to hope he’s ready in 2010 for Double-A. For Drabek to exceed expectations for me, he’ll have to K more batters.

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  4. So where does Drabek get bumped up to next season if he continues to pitch as he had since coming back? He’ll only be 21, so no real rush to push him too far.

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  6. Id start him at Clearwater. Its where he’d be development wise, had he not gotten hurt, and the warmer weather will be better for the arm. If he struggles mightily against the competition, then you can move him to Lakewood in May or June when its not 45 degrees and raining.

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  7. i think drabek should go to clearwater…age appropriate and its where he was before the injury. taylor should be in reading after the AFL and going to camp with the big boys. Worley should go to clearwater also, no? along with maybe rosenberg, stutes, and schwimer…

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  8. Here’s hoping that Taylor’s injury is a minor tweak. He’s become quite an exciting player. I don’t really see how he doesn’t start next year at Reading.

    – Jeff

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  9. what about Happ in the ML rotation and moving to a 6 man rotation? that would keep the concern over Cole’s large number of innings in check some and give Happ a shot? Guess it would take up a roster spot but wouldn’t that be better than throwing Seanez out there twice a week?

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  10. It’s good to see Happ has a good enough head on his shoulders to realize he needs to continue doing his job. His time will come shortly, whether it be the start of next year or sooner due to injury, but this team knows he’s a ML starter and are just waiting for a spot to open up. Next up, Carrasco, mid 2009.

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  12. Mike – I think the problem is with three of those six being guys who might only go six innings in a night (Happ, Moyer, Kendrick) and that you would suffer by losing a bullpen spot to help fill in those innings. Essentially a six man rotation increases the workload on a bullpen but decreases the number of workers.

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  14. With Happ and Carrasco knocking on the door, either Kendrick or Myers could be traded this winter. Happ needs a spot in the rotation – they have really jerked him around and all he’s done is kept his composure and pitched well. Kendrick has little perceived value, so I suspect, if they can get good value for him, they will consider trading Myers. Amazingly, it appears that the thing they will need most in return is hitting (how quickly things change).

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  15. By the way, I am assuming that Jamie Moyer will be back with the team next year – he seems happy, they seem happy and he just gets better with age. So why not?

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  16. Does anyone know what Drabek is throwing down there: is it just heat, or are they letting him throw curves and offspeed pitches too? Does he have a change or is that still in development? If he is just throwing heat and getting these results, then he definitely starts at Clearwater next year, no.

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  17. Report on Drabek’s velocity would be appreciated. It would be nice to see him sitting in the low 90s at this point. He probably won’t hit full throttle until sometime next year (assuming the recovery goes as planned).

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  18. I think this is it for Moyer which opens a spot for Happ and allows Carrasco to be the #6 starter which removes the need to sign another Kris Benson type.

    All of the above assumes Adam Eaton is sold to the circus or something.

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  20. Moyer recently said he’d like to be back next year, so if he is and someone is out, i’d guess they’d like trade Myers-giving Carrasco his slot.

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  21. Moyer has indicated that he plans to pitch again next year so I suspect he will be back in Philly on a 1 year deal in 2009.

    Most likely scenerio has Myers gets dealt in the final year of his contract and Hamels/Blanton/Moyer/Happ/Kendrick become the starting 5. Carrasco then takes Moyer’s spot in 2010.

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  22. lol at trading Kendrick, so we’re going to trade a 23 year old who has proven he can pitch in the majors so that we can have and unproven pitcher take his place.

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  24. I wouldn’t mind seeing Carrasco start in AAA next year with the chance to join the rotation if there’s an injury.

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  26. Hamels/Blanton/Moyer/Happ/Kendrick …Quite frankly I do not see that as a WS caliber pitching staff. The reality is none of those guys have the electric stuff of say a Beckett or Sabathia. The current Staff and our system lacks a solid power arm and has for a very long time.

    I’ve totally lost confidence in this FO’s ability and direction. I’ve had it with Howard I think he’s settled into the player he is going to be aka Adam Dunn. The league adjusted to him and he has not been able to make the required adjustments a good hitter makes. And another thing I’m tired of Wheels telling me how productive a player he is. He rolled over on pitches away on both of those at bats in which he picked up an RBI. I’m sorry but your 4 hole hitter needs to be better than that-Taylor can’t get here soon enough..

    Last night sent me over the edge. Kendrick had Kemp 0-2 and misses over the middle of the plate he had no biz being any where near the plate in that count.

    Sorry guys needed to vent CODE BLUE

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  27. Drabek is still in the low 90’s. And they are letting him throw the hook.

    And mwbbfan,

    Jiwan James had a stress fracture right above his elbow. An injury that is notorious for taking awhile to properly heal. He’s throwing bullpens now for rehab.

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  29. Jon, where did you hear that Taylor is going to Hawaii? I have no problem with it, just curious of your source.

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  30. I would not call Kendrick a proven pitcher. In fact, I am amazed to this day that he has been able to keep his head above water. I still think he regresses to the point where he is a number 6 type starting pitcher. If you gave me the choice between the “proven” Kendrick and an “unproven” Happ, I would take Happ in a heartbeat.

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  31. Happ projects better than Kendrick, no doubt about it. Happ projects as a solid number 3 guy, perhaps even a number 2 starter, on a good team. A very nice starting pitcher, if not a true star.

    However, that having been said, I think Kendrick is going to continue to surprise people for the following reasons (none of which are apparent in the statistics). First, the guy has ice water running through his veins – he doesn’t seem to get phased by anything . . . ever. Second, even though he doesn’t get a lot of Ks, he’s not a soft tosser. He’s regularly around 91-93 – he’s got enough velocity to take him to the next level. Third, he’s very athletic and driven – he is working extremely hard to develop new pitches and take his game up a notch or two. Fourth, he’s still very young. When you take these things and add to them the fact that his trade value is practically non-existent, it seems that, for the near future, the best course of action is to keep running out there every fifth day.

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  32. Pitchers don’t tend to “regress” at age 23…they usually get better with experience. In Kendrick’s case he was called up a year or so too early and has had to wing it despite not having a reliable changeup. The fact that he’s been so successful at the MLB level despite this diservice to his development tells you what a competitor he is. Give the guy a chance. He’s got a career ERA+ of around 105 and he’s not even 24.

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  33. Since when did Happ project as a #3 guy? Every report I’ve ever seen shows him as a 4/5 guy. I’m not trying to bash him…I’d be ecstatic if he turns into a #3 guy.

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  34. Jiwan James should of never been a pitcher. He should of started off as an OF’er. If he struggled then he could of gone back to pitching. Its much easier to go from hitting to pitching then vice versa.

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  35. It’s hard to say what Happ will wind up as. He still struggles from time to time with his control, but his minor league k/9 numbers have been pretty good, so i think given the way he pitched in his starts with the phils and his AAA performance this year he is more of a 3/4 than a 4/5. if he winds up a 2/3 (unlikely) it would be quite a boon.

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  36. So much for the alleged Michael Taylor arm injury. (No offense intended PP). He just hit a bomb in the first. Furthermore, if Stutes and Cisco continue this kind of dominance, (Stutes is perfect through three with three k’s, ….again) we seriously need to consider one of them as candidates for the AFL.

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  37. duke,
    in regards to taylor:
    not only that but it was against assumed future ML Rick Porciello, the crown of the Tigers future rotation. Going to enjoy watching him (taylor)grow.

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  38. At 6’6 and 250, I hope he’s done growing Mike. Here is to him becoming our next left fielder though. Thanks for the scoop on Porciello. Taylor is 2 for 2 now and my man Stutes finally allowed a baserunner via walk in the fourth.

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  39. Taylor off a layoff hits the top detroit prospect . WOW. Why would taylor not go to arizona fall league. Somone said he is going to hawaii,why

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  43. Porciello isn’t just the top Detroit prospect, he is top 5-10 in the entire league.

    (I remember him from last yrs draft and his “boras-advised” self was demanding millions)

    I think he’s from Jersey if my memory serves me

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  44. Sportsavant,

    yes you’re correct. He’s a Boras guy who was expected to go top 5, but fell for signability. He’s from Morristown NJ. $$$ and Boras made him more. His stats don’t look as over the top as say Madson Baumgartner of the Giants organization whose on the same level but he’s still one of their best pitchers.

    and yes i jinxed Stutes. 7 IP 1H 3BB 6K’s. another amazing outing. Making a point myself to go see the Blueclaws over the weekend when he pitches. can’t wait to see him firsthand.

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  45. **He’s a Boras guy who was expected to go top 5**

    that’s one of the most hypocritical statements i’ve seen on this board for a while! LOL

    Boras guys NEVER go top 5 BECAUSE of his demands. What was surprising on draft day last year, was that the Tigers were the one’s who took him.

    (and I am aware that this years draft, Boras guys were taken highly. teams apparently are beginning to disregard Boras’ high demands and ‘dont take him’ words)

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  53. O’Connell=McConnell above.

    Roth certainly pitched like he was hurt last outing–how’d they leave him in for 60+ pitches?

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  54. Hi, my name is Michael Taylor and I am a beast.

    Two more doubles already today. Closing in on .340 at High A.

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