Evaluating The Olympic Roster :Pitchers
-Dexter Sports
11:36 AM
Dexter-Sports Inbox
The United States announced it's roster yesterday. With a tough schedule ahead of them, Davy Johnson and company picked a pretty balanced roster, mixed with vets and young prospects. Lets break down the roster by position. First it will be Pitchers
Starting Pitchers:
Brett Anderson, SP Oakland Athletics - Anderson comes in with 95 strikeouts in 85 innings and what seems to be good control on the mound. He isn't going to blow pitches past hitters, his fastball sits around 90 MPH, but with two breaking balls, and a plus changeup, Anderson easily fools hitters.
Trever Cahill, SP Oakland Athletics - Like Anderson, the A's took Cahill in the second round of the 2006 draft with a lot of hope he would be a top of the line starter. Also like Anderson, Cahill relies on his offspeed pitches, mainly his plus curve, to get hitters out. Cahill is holding hitters to a .167 average on the season, which is astonshing. Combined with that is his 10.14 K/9 ratio that is stunning. Cahill pitches very mature for his age, which will be very important for this national team.
Jake Arrieta, SP Balimore Orioles - Arrieta did not pitch in 07, but jumped right to Double A Carolina in 2008, and he has shined. With a 2/1 strikeout to walk ratio and six wins, the Orioles have been slightly surprised. Arrieta has also held hitters to a .195 average this season. If his changeup is working, it will be hard to hit Mr. Arrieta.
Clayton Richard, SP Chicago White Sox - Richard will be very important to the U.S. team because he is a type of pitcher that can simply kill innings and do it without giving up much offense. Richard wont strike out many, but he does surrender a lot of ground balls and holds hitters to a .206 average.
Jeff Strasburg, SP San Diego State - Strasburg has become the first collegiate player selected to the national team since 2000. Most likely the first pick in the draft in 2009, Strasburg shut down Taiwan and Japan with the college U.S. team earlier this season. I really like bringing in the young gun to balance out this staff. He could be the next Ben Sheets to this staff.
Bullpen:
Brandon Knight, RP New York Mets - Knight brings a great veteran presence for the U.S. team as well as a guy that could start if need be. Knight will most likely fill the Long relief duties for Davey Johnson. Knight has been a stopper for AAA New Orleans, maintaining a 1.89 ERA with 37 Ks in 31 innings pitched.
Blane Neal, RP Detroit Tigers - After signing under contract in a try out session with a million other "fans," Neal has proved that he still has something in the tank. The former major league reliever has pitched beautifully for the AAA Mudhens of the International league. Though Neal has 23 saves on the season, He most likely will not be the closer. Neal has 36 Ks in 32 innings of work. Neal will most likely be middle relief for the most part.
Mike Koplove, RP Los Angeles Dodgers - Koplove also brings major league experience to the table and even a championship in Arizona. Like Neal, Koplove will be used sparingly in middle relief, but his experience will help this very young team. Koplove has held hitters to a .209 average this season.
Geno Espinelli, RP San Fransisco Giants - Espinelli will be called upon to be the lefty specialist in the pen. For AAA Fresno, Espinelli has put together a great campaign that includes a 2.06 ERA in 42 IP. I doubt that Davey Johnson will use him for anything but the lefty, but we will see.
Kevin Jepsen, RP Los Angeles Angels - Jepsen has closer type material, but will most likely settle in as a good set up man for Casey Weathers. Jepson has 13 saves on the season in split time between double and triple A. Davey Johnson will have to pick his spots well when using Jepsen though. He does get wild at times and can walk two or three batters at a time.
Jeff Stevens, RP Cleveland Indians - Stevens will be a great reliever to come in when the U.S. is in a jam. Stevens has a 12.19 K/9 ratio and has been known to step it up a notch with runners in scoring position. Stevens has held batters to a .136 average in those situations.
Casey Weathers, RP Colorado Rockies - IF you didn't see what he can do at the Futures game, then this should be able to describe it. 100 MPH. Davey Johnson will be hoping that Weathers will be mature enough on the mound to hold the closers role down. I really like Weathers in this position and I think he will step up and his prospect status will continue to sky rocket.
We will take a look at the hitters next.
11:36 AM
Dexter-Sports Inbox
The United States announced it's roster yesterday. With a tough schedule ahead of them, Davy Johnson and company picked a pretty balanced roster, mixed with vets and young prospects. Lets break down the roster by position. First it will be Pitchers
Starting Pitchers:
Brett Anderson, SP Oakland Athletics - Anderson comes in with 95 strikeouts in 85 innings and what seems to be good control on the mound. He isn't going to blow pitches past hitters, his fastball sits around 90 MPH, but with two breaking balls, and a plus changeup, Anderson easily fools hitters.
Trever Cahill, SP Oakland Athletics - Like Anderson, the A's took Cahill in the second round of the 2006 draft with a lot of hope he would be a top of the line starter. Also like Anderson, Cahill relies on his offspeed pitches, mainly his plus curve, to get hitters out. Cahill is holding hitters to a .167 average on the season, which is astonshing. Combined with that is his 10.14 K/9 ratio that is stunning. Cahill pitches very mature for his age, which will be very important for this national team.
Jake Arrieta, SP Balimore Orioles - Arrieta did not pitch in 07, but jumped right to Double A Carolina in 2008, and he has shined. With a 2/1 strikeout to walk ratio and six wins, the Orioles have been slightly surprised. Arrieta has also held hitters to a .195 average this season. If his changeup is working, it will be hard to hit Mr. Arrieta.
Clayton Richard, SP Chicago White Sox - Richard will be very important to the U.S. team because he is a type of pitcher that can simply kill innings and do it without giving up much offense. Richard wont strike out many, but he does surrender a lot of ground balls and holds hitters to a .206 average.
Jeff Strasburg, SP San Diego State - Strasburg has become the first collegiate player selected to the national team since 2000. Most likely the first pick in the draft in 2009, Strasburg shut down Taiwan and Japan with the college U.S. team earlier this season. I really like bringing in the young gun to balance out this staff. He could be the next Ben Sheets to this staff.
Bullpen:
Brandon Knight, RP New York Mets - Knight brings a great veteran presence for the U.S. team as well as a guy that could start if need be. Knight will most likely fill the Long relief duties for Davey Johnson. Knight has been a stopper for AAA New Orleans, maintaining a 1.89 ERA with 37 Ks in 31 innings pitched.
Blane Neal, RP Detroit Tigers - After signing under contract in a try out session with a million other "fans," Neal has proved that he still has something in the tank. The former major league reliever has pitched beautifully for the AAA Mudhens of the International league. Though Neal has 23 saves on the season, He most likely will not be the closer. Neal has 36 Ks in 32 innings of work. Neal will most likely be middle relief for the most part.
Mike Koplove, RP Los Angeles Dodgers - Koplove also brings major league experience to the table and even a championship in Arizona. Like Neal, Koplove will be used sparingly in middle relief, but his experience will help this very young team. Koplove has held hitters to a .209 average this season.
Geno Espinelli, RP San Fransisco Giants - Espinelli will be called upon to be the lefty specialist in the pen. For AAA Fresno, Espinelli has put together a great campaign that includes a 2.06 ERA in 42 IP. I doubt that Davey Johnson will use him for anything but the lefty, but we will see.
Kevin Jepsen, RP Los Angeles Angels - Jepsen has closer type material, but will most likely settle in as a good set up man for Casey Weathers. Jepson has 13 saves on the season in split time between double and triple A. Davey Johnson will have to pick his spots well when using Jepsen though. He does get wild at times and can walk two or three batters at a time.
Jeff Stevens, RP Cleveland Indians - Stevens will be a great reliever to come in when the U.S. is in a jam. Stevens has a 12.19 K/9 ratio and has been known to step it up a notch with runners in scoring position. Stevens has held batters to a .136 average in those situations.
Casey Weathers, RP Colorado Rockies - IF you didn't see what he can do at the Futures game, then this should be able to describe it. 100 MPH. Davey Johnson will be hoping that Weathers will be mature enough on the mound to hold the closers role down. I really like Weathers in this position and I think he will step up and his prospect status will continue to sky rocket.
We will take a look at the hitters next.
