Pitching

[dbUNIT16]

I don't understand what we are doing. Jason Schmidt wants to pitch here, but we have no interest? I think we can acquire a good starter by trading Estrada, but we need two. With two front-line starters and Webb we will be in a great position with our young offense. Isn't our payroll going down anyways? How low do we have to go?

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

I don't understand what we are doing. Jason Schmidt wants to pitch here, but we have no interest? I think we can acquire a good starter by trading Estrada, but we need two. With two front-line starters and Webb we will be in a great position with our young offense. Isn't our payroll going down anyways? How low do we have to go?

According to Byrnes the payroll should be about what it was on Opening Day of last season, so the Dbacks should have some money to spend. Schmidt is a fine pitcher, but due to his age and how much starting pitchers are going to be paid this offseason, I think the Dbacks are right to remain cautious about him. Arizona is probably better off looking for starting pitching through a trade, and they do have a couple nice bargaining pieces available, such as Estrada who you mentioned.

 

[Phxchris1989]

I don't understand what we are doing. Jason Schmidt wants to pitch here, but we have no interest? I think we can acquire a good starter by trading Estrada, but we need two. With two front-line starters and Webb we will be in a great position with our young offense. Isn't our payroll going down anyways? How low do we have to go?

Schmidt wants to pitch here? Then yeah, we should get him. Imagine a rotation that starts with Schmidt and Webb! an awesome 1,2 punch.

Yeah, we should trade Estrada for him, I know Johnny wants to go to the bay area.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Schmidt wants to pitch here? Then yeah, we should get him. Imagine a rotation that starts with Schmidt and Webb! an awesome 1,2 punch.

Yeah, we should trade Estrada for him, I know Johnny wants to go to the bay area.

Schmidt is a free agent, no need to trade for him.

 

[Phxchris1989]

Oh, well then we should sign him.

 

[Stan C]

I heard an interview with Byrnes on KTAR a couple days after the season, and it wasn't encouraging. Basically they would be looking for pitchers through trades, but not big names, as they won't give up any prospects. Sounded like he thought he got his stud with Livan. I disagree.
Also, was not positive they were looking for a big bat in the middle of the line up. Thought one of the young guys might develop. Ah like Tracey did?
If they let Gonzo go and don't get another free agent besides Eric Byrnes, and no decent help for the pitching staff, Chase field, BOB, whatever you want to call it is going to be an empty place.
Hope this was a poker ploy, but he sounded anything but aggressive.
I know a lot of this board likes him so far, but after hearing his comments I was completely bummed. Standing Pat with a team that didn't even go .500 is OK?

 

[The Commish]

First off, I think Byrnes i just playing poker right now. The season is still going on and teams don't really show their hands until it's over. The one guy that I keep hearing that I think makes sense is Ted Lilly. He would be a great lefty behind Webb and won't command as much as a guy like Zito. Our 1-2-3 would be:

Webb
Lilly
Hernandez

Then have these guys compete for our 4-5:

Vargas
En. Gonzalez
Ed. Gonzalez
Owings
Nippert (I'm on my last nerve with this kid)
Cruz

I think that would solve our starting pitching problems at least for the next couple years until our recent class of rookie pitchers has a chance to compete for jobs (we drafted pitcher heavy in the last two amateur drafts).

I don't know how realistic it is to trade for a frontline pitcher these days unless the pitcher has health/personal problems, or the team is looking to shed payroll or rebuild. In any case prospects would most likely have to be involved inspite of what Byrnes says.

Just my two cents.

 

[green machine]

I think Lilly will get more because he's a lefty, and I for one hope the Dbacks don't overpay to get him. He hasn't been anything special in Toronto and I don't know why that would change here. Sure you could make the arguemnt in the switch from the AL to the NL, but Chase is a good hitter's park so I don't know how much of a difference that will make.

The best way to go about it I think is to make a trade, as the best young pitchers pretty much never make it to free agency. It's when you dip into that pool where you get your Todd Stottlemyre's and your Russ Ortiz's.

 

[The Commish]

It's when you dip into that pool where you get your Todd Stottlemyre's and your Russ Ortiz's.

That's a good point.

What are the chances that Oakland would be willing to part with one of their young starters for Estrada plus a couple prospects?

Also what do you guys think of Micah Owings chances of making the rotation next year? I haven't really seen him pitch but his record speaks for itself.

 

[Espo]

That's a good point.

What are the chances that Oakland would be willing to part with one of their young starters for Estrada plus a couple prospects?

Also what do you guys think of Micah Owings chances of making the rotation next year? I haven't really seen him pitch but his record speaks for itself?

I saw Micah pitch a lot down here with Tucson. While I am impressed by what I saw from him it is my understanding that the big club expects him to be a reliever. I don't know if his perfomances during the stretch run for Tucson changed their minds on that but it is what I had heard.

I think the dbacks should go after Daisuke Matsuzaka from Japan. The guy has a wicked pitch called the gyroball. The thing breaks 3 feet when it gets near the plate.
Here is a video of the pitch : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdr0N9HDptg&mode=related&search=
and an article about him
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/...t_id=1707380&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

I think the dbacks should go after Daisuke Matsuzaka from Japan. The guy has a wicked pitch called the gyroball. The thing breaks 3 feet when it gets near the plate.
Here is a video of the pitch : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdr0N9HDptg&mode=related&search=
and an article about him
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/...t_id=1707380&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Matsuzaka is going to cost even more than any other pitcher on the FA market. We would have to win a bid (paid to his team in Japan) in order to even negotiate a contract with him.

 

[devilfan02]

First off, Lilly wants to go to the Giants because he's from there. He's been saying that all year so we'd have to dangle some money in his face to get him here. Thats all assuming the Giants are interested in him, which I would assume they are considering Schmidt is most likely leaving.

Signing only Ted Lilly would be the worst thing we could do. Ted Lilly isn't even a front line starter and def could not shore up our problems. If we're only going to sign one starter, go after Schmidt. Vargas is only effective once a month, Edgar Gonzalez is Edgar Gonzalez, and Dustin Nippert is a career minor leaguer (he's horrible)..... Cruz and Enrique showed glimpses of promise but who knows. I say either trade for a frontline pitcher or sign one.

Signing only Lilly will not come close to making this team a serious contender(deep into the playoffs). We may flirt with the NL West or wild card but thats exactly what we did this year.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Oh, well then we should sign him.

Not that simple.

First off, he's going to command big money.

Second, he's 33 and has had elbow surgery and shoulder surgery in his career and rumors have it that his repaired elbow may not be up to snuff.

You gotta test everything out before you buy the car. Last thing any of us wants is another Russ Ortiz.

 

[Phill11]

Call me crazy, but don't we have the kind of money to sign two top notch pitchers (Assuming we resign Byrnes and trade Estrada)?

If so, why not go after Zito (2-3 year contract. Nothing too long) and this Matsuzaka guy to a 2 year contract.

Figure between the two of them we spend $27-29 million per year.

Hell a rotation of:
Webb, Zito, Matsuzaka, Hernandez, Cruz

BP Of:
Nippert, Owings, Valverde, Koplove, etc. (Shaky, but could do fair)

A lineup of:
Young, Drew, CoJack, Tracy, Quentin, Byrnes, Hudson, Montero

Young lineup that'll produce runs. Can be streaky, but will get the job done. But with a rotation like that were not going to need 5+ runs a game.

Anyone have a better estimate on how much we have to spend this season?

 

[devilfan02]

According to some AZ Republic articles I've seen, we have between 25-30 million dollars to spend this offseason. That may have changed but I think thats accurate. We should be able to get at least one legit pitcher

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Am I the only one against the idea of the Diamondbacks going after Mark Mulder?

 

[Espo]

Am I the only one against the idea of the Diamondbacks going after Mark Mulder?

As long as its not for big money its a low risk, high reward situation. Thats the kind of guy, if he follows his old boss Theo's strategy, Byrnes will go after. Its about finding guys that are undervalued that have a chance to have a good season following a bad one that would cause them to be undervalued. I hope that Byrnes sticks to that theory.

 

[Phill11]

According to some AZ Republic articles I've seen, we have between 25-30 million dollars to spend this offseason. That may have changed but I think thats accurate. We should be able to get at least one legit pitcher

With $30 million we could get a nice combo of Mulder and Zito/Matsuzaka

God just imagine a rotation of Webb, Zito, Mulder, Hernandez and Juan Cruz. Don't tell me that wouldn't take us places...

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Rumor has it that Philadelphia MAY trade Gavin Floyd.

I'll tell you right now, if Floyd's on the block, I'd trade Estrada straight up for him, and not think twice about it.

 

[overseascardfan]

Rumor has it that Philadelphia MAY trade Gavin Floyd.

I'll tell you right now, if Floyd's on the block, I'd trade Estrada straight up for him, and not think twice about it.

I feel the same way, either Floyd or Giovanni, their other top pitching prospect. The only thing with Floyd isn't close to a finished prospect and he hasn't lived up to the expectations he received coming out of high school.

 

[Phill11]

Rumor has it that Philadelphia MAY trade Gavin Floyd.

I'll tell you right now, if Floyd's on the block, I'd trade Estrada straight up for him, and not think twice about it.

I doubt Philly goes for that. We'd have to add in Nippert or a fair prospect.

Which I guess I'd be willing to do.

 

[boondockdrunk]

I doubt Philly goes for that. We'd have to add in Nippert or a fair prospect.

Which I guess I'd be willing to do.

Meh.

Floyd is a lot like Nippert in many ways... They both have a lot of potential, but neither have shown that they can handle major league hitters. They probably will not reach the status of a #2 or #3 major league pitcher.

 

[TucsonDevil]

That first video of Matsuaka was impressive... but look at this one!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsptUfnhVcc&mode=related&search=

He is pitching against Cuba - PAY ATTENTION TO THE SECOND PITCH... that has to be video editing - that looks physicall impossible!

 

[nathan]

Rumor has it that Philadelphia MAY trade Gavin Floyd.

I'll tell you right now, if Floyd's on the block, I'd trade Estrada straight up for him, and not think twice about it.

He pitched last Tuesday night in the fall league. He looked okay (certainly better than most of the guys you see) but the Brewers scouts I was sitting in front of didn't seem to be that high on him.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Meh.

Floyd is a lot like Nippert in many ways... They both have a lot of potential, but neither have shown that they can handle major league hitters. They probably will not reach the status of a #2 or #3 major league pitcher.

With Webby in town for awhile, a number 2 pitcher is exactly what Arizona needs.