A little on Nippert

by Brett Perryman on Mar 28, 2008 8:53 PM CDT

To put in perspective how Nippert was regarded (and therefore how he has fallen) as a prospect, here is his bio from the 2006 BA Prospect Handbook:

Considered the system’s best pitching prospect entering 2004, Nippert pitched poorly before requiring Tommy John surgery that June. He surprisingly returned in late May and won the Double-A Southern League ERA title. He picked up his first major league win with five one-hit innings against the Dodgers in late September.

In a system loaded with elite offensive prospects, Nippert is one of the few pitchers with impact potential. His fastball sits at 92-94 mph and touches 96, and he can throw his spike curveball for strikes or bury it in the dirt. He has the makings of a decent changeup, and his height and arm action allow him to deliver all of his pitches on a steep downward plane.

Nippert struggled with his control in his brief big league stint, as he lost confidence and began to nibble at the plate. His fastball can get straight, but he makes up for it with his command and his downhill plane.

Nippert will get the chance to win a rotation job in spring training. A little Triple-A seasoning wouldn’t hurt if he doesn’t make it.

BA ranked Nippert the #67 prospect in baseball that spring, one spot ahead of Cole Hamels, five ahead of Thomas Diamond, and a handful behind Edinson Volquez, John Danks and Elvis Andrus.

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So what has gone wrong?

Injuries?

" Winning doesn't always mean being first,
winning means you are doing better than you have done before"

by coolaid on Mar 28, 2008 8:56 PM CDT reply actions

Do his problems...

profile similarly to Tejeda and Volquez, i.e., good stuff no control?

"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."

by benmor78 on Mar 28, 2008 9:01 PM CDT reply actions

Though this spring pretty much everything had to have gone wrong to put up numbers that bad while trying to win a spot. When I saw his spring numbers I wondered if maybe Arizona thinks he's hurt, and Texas is gambling that he's just out of whack. I don't know though.

by Brett Perryman on Mar 28, 2008 9:39 PM CDT up reply actions

So Nippert defnitely looks like a better pitcher than Tejeda

Cool.

So Z, in your opinion... do the Rangers use him in the bullpen, or maybe give him a shot at starting?

A Lonestar in California

by LSJ on Mar 28, 2008 9:02 PM CDT reply actions

Gotta think pen

by Brett Perryman on Mar 28, 2008 9:39 PM CDT up reply actions

From Scout.com

One of the top pitching prospects in the Diamondbacks organization, Nippert is in Triple-A for some fine tuning and some waiting. You'll get better odds on Nippert seeing time on the big league roster this year than you'll get on the sun coming up tomorrow. The only thing that has stood in the big right handers way thus far has been injury, but after a dominant season at Double-A last year, just nine months removed from Tommy John surgery, he's poised to establish himself. Control problems have haunted him this year, but when he regains his arm slot (he will), he's a legit front of the rotation starter.
************

Hey, maybe he'll be able to replace Volquez. Edinson seemed to take off with a change of scenery, maybe this guy could do that same for us.

by texaschief on Mar 28, 2008 9:09 PM CDT reply actions

change of scenery

Not sure RBiA is the perfect scenery for a struggling pitcher. It was definitely a solid trade, though

by chrisR on Mar 28, 2008 10:00 PM CDT up reply actions

One thing

about this trade is we didn't have to give up any of our good prospects. Marte was 23 last year and in A ball and did not have good numbers.

Seems like a really good move but we may lose Tejeda to create a spot for Nippert.

" Winning doesn't always mean being first,
winning means you are doing better than you have done before"

by coolaid on Mar 28, 2008 9:21 PM CDT reply actions

From a 2007

BA scouting Report:

Nippert has top-of-the-rotation stuff, with a power fastball and power curveball. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and his curveball is a devastating pitch when he commands it. His changeup also has made progress, though it's a clear notch behind his other two pitches.

His curve was rated as the best in the AZ system also.

by BHill on Mar 28, 2008 9:40 PM CDT reply actions

I love the trade

We gave up nothing from the farm system and I am not high on Tejeda. Nippert, if he could put it all together, could be outstanding. I know that is a huge if, but I see this as a situation where we give up nothing for a chance to get a very good pitcher.

by uthornfan on Mar 28, 2008 10:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Tejeda

I really do not like the idea of losing him. Of the guys expected to be in our pen, who can we option or send to AAA outright without the risk of losing? I have been clamoring for Tejeda to be a member of the big league pen since he was dropped from our rotation last year. He has too much talent to just give up on...a little like Benoit.

by clark on Mar 28, 2008 10:05 PM CDT reply actions

The real question

is how positive we are that Tejeda will get claimed. There are a lot of pitchers out there who are out of options. Are we sure that somebody's going to put a claim on him?

by TexasTiger on Mar 28, 2008 10:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Three guys

Fukumori, C.J., and Rupe.

And someone -- probably Rupe -- will have to be dropped to make room for Mendoza on 4/12.

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 28, 2008 10:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Nippert and Tejeda

I like Nippert but the only argument for him is all of his scouting report. You know Tejeda's scouting report sounds really nasty too. Most of you just want to see a new face.

by meatbonelefty on Mar 28, 2008 10:18 PM CDT reply actions

Kind of a

Tejeda but with only 70 IP in the Majors. And Nippert does have better BB9s and K9s at both levels. His ST numbers are meaningless unless they point to an arm going bad. Worth the risk for the price.

by TitaniumJoe on Mar 28, 2008 10:22 PM CDT reply actions

Okay, here's the lowdown:

Per the Rangers website, Tejeda is gonna be DFA'd, and Littleton sent to OKC.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080328&content_id=2464222&vkey=news_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex

So a "big howdy" to Distin Nippert, and a "happy trails" to Robbie Tejeda.

A Lonestar in California

by LSJ on Mar 28, 2008 10:33 PM CDT reply actions

I wonder if

there is a bit of an attitude problem with Tejeda? I give it a 40% chance of him getting claimed.

I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby

by RangerMad on Mar 28, 2008 10:36 PM CDT up reply actions

I think it's a control problem for Tejeda

He has just never seemed to throw strikes consistently. Nippert at least has better K/BB rates, though not better results so far in his career.

I think Tejeda will be claimed - there's a lot of teams that would like to have his arm in their bullpen or even rotation. I would think Detroit will be all over him - in fact, we might try trading Tejeda to them before he hits waivers.

A Lonestar in California

by LSJ on Mar 28, 2008 10:41 PM CDT up reply actions

im not convinced tejeda will get picked up

maybe, but its not a lock.

by DShep on Mar 28, 2008 10:46 PM CDT up reply actions

tejeda

I'm fairly positive he'll get swept up.
teams will take a flier on a young talented pitcher who has had success at the mlb level at one point.

"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum

by rentz on Mar 29, 2008 7:28 AM CDT up reply actions

package him up with

Gerald Laird and another prospect and bring back some pitching or another first base prospect.

by texaschief on Mar 28, 2008 11:48 PM CDT reply actions

The Rangers have had some success a working with tall

pitchers: Chris Young, Kam Loe. Maybe they see something they can correct in Nippert's delivery.

by rooster on Mar 29, 2008 1:14 AM CDT reply actions

If Kam Loe is considered

one of our success stories, we're officially f*****d.

"Sabean did a good job on selling high on Liriano." Excel Hearts Choi

by thedirkatron on Mar 29, 2008 1:32 AM CDT up reply actions

+1

A Lonestar in California

by LSJ on Mar 29, 2008 4:03 AM CDT up reply actions

Loe

A 20th-round draft pick who's pitched over 300 major-league innings? I'd call that a success.

"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky

by RCCook on Mar 29, 2008 8:20 AM CDT up reply actions

yes, he is

already a success story, and the final chapter is not yet even written.

by TitaniumJoe on Mar 29, 2008 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions

That is SO not the point

Yes, from that perspective everyone who makes the bigs is a success story. Kevin Mahar is a success story. Victor Diaz is a success story. Heck, Matt Kata is a success story, too.

The bottom line is that Kam Loe is not a good major league, and so counting him as a part of our team's successful ability to work with tall pitcher is sad.

The ability to develope young pitchers to the point where they can get to the big leagues and then fail miserably should not be a source of pride.

"Sabean did a good job on selling high on Liriano." Excel Hearts Choi

by thedirkatron on Mar 29, 2008 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions