January 08, 2009
Young Ace
Tampa Bay Rays Fan wants David Price to become the ace of the team this year:
In the five regular season games that Price spent some time on the mound, he tossed 14 innings, struck out 12 en route to notching a 1.93 ERA. Not bad for a rookie, playing in the toughest division in all of baseball.
If you combine that with what he was able to do in the postseason, it is even more impressive.
Price appeared in five post season games, pitching 5.2 innings, striking out 8 and posting a 1.59 ERA. Price also picked up a win and a save during the Rays first post season run.
Be careful what you wish for. Red Sox and Yankees fans had similar hopes about Clay Buchholz and Phil Hughes after stellar short stints in 2007. Unfortunately, it's a long way from small sample size to major league star.
Posted by David Pinto at
08:57 AM
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Price may have ace potential. However, I think it would be a mistake to stick him in as the opening day starter. He seems sharp and can likely handle the pressure, but my concern is innings. How many did he pitch last year and how much of an increase is appropriate? Tampa Bay intends to contend against next year. As such they obviously will want Price available in the playoffs. Use him as the #3 or 4 starter and skip him in the rotation a few times over the course of the season and he will not rack up more than the desired number of innings. A case of doing it wrong is Fausto Carmona in 2007. By the time the playoffs rolled around he already pitched too many innings. However, he pitched so well the team used him in the playoffs anyway. How'd that work out?
Price is a more compete pitcher than Bucholz or Hughes. I can't see him going ahead of Shields, Kazmir, Garza or Sonnastine. Those guys earned their spots.
Let me rephrase what I originally posted on tampabayraysfan.com
I do not think he should be the opening day starter, but I do think he deserves a spot in the starting rotation.
Yes, he needs work on an reliable off speed pitch. Yes, he is young.
But he did not buckle in some intense playoff situations this last year that some veterans could not have handled.
The Rays are a sound fielding team, and look to have a much improved offense this year...he definitely has the stuff, and the tools around him look better than ever...
Let me rephrase what I originally posted on tampabayraysfan.com
I do not think he should be the opening day starter, but I do think he deserves a spot in the starting rotation.
Yes, he needs work on an reliable off speed pitch. Yes, he is young.
But he did not buckle in some intense playoff situations this last year that some veterans could not have handled.
The Rays are a sound fielding team, and look to have a much improved offense this year...he definitely has the stuff, and the tools around him look better than ever...