Matt Harrison
by Adam J. Morris on Apr 3, 2008 9:28 PM CDT
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PrintNice debut for the Roughriders.
He's flown under the radar since arriving in Texas, but I wouldn't be shocked if he were in the Ranger rotation before the season is up.
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Should have been the 5th starter.
" Winning doesn't always mean being first,
winning means you are doing better than you have done before"
Matt Harrison has flown under the radar since arriving here?
Really? (I point to the comment by coolaid above, and rest my point)
huh?
There are only a couple of us guys who like Harrison as much as I do. I know jparks has a man-crush on him.
" Winning doesn't always mean being first,
winning means you are doing better than you have done before"
Yeah
But everybody here at LSB, at least, knows who Matt Harrison is. It's not like he's Tommy Hunter or something. Now there's somebody who was under the radar till recently.
by LSJ on Apr 3, 2008 9:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Harrison
was the the number one prospect in the ATL farm system before coming to Texas if you didn't know. People knowing who he is not really getting the recognition he deserves. He has been overshadowed by a lot of other guys. He was probably the best pitcher in AZL when he pitched and also had a pretty good spring.
If it was Hurley doing these things he would have probably gotten more attention but it really doesn't matter as long as he pitches well.
" Winning doesn't always mean being first,
winning means you are doing better than you have done before"
He was #2
Andrus was #1.
Hurley put up superior #s to Harrison when he was in AA and shows a better K-rate. That's the difference between the two right now.
I was taking about pitchers only but
yes he was second to Elvis as far as overall prospect rankings.
" Winning doesn't always mean being first,
winning means you are doing better than you have done before"
Yep
Harrison was a highly regarded prospect before last season. He was in BA's top 100 (in the 60s, I believe). On Eric Hurley, in the Ranger system, was rated more highly.
He pitched great in AA as a 21 year old, then got hurt and missed the rest of the year. It is like, because he has never pitched in the Rangers system, and he didn't get the pub that other guys in the Braves deal did, people have forgotten about him.
by Adam J. Morris on Apr 3, 2008 10:20 PM CDT up reply actions
He was #90
in his one appearance before last season. Hurley was 68 that year.
I was saying over the winter that I might start him at AA, but I think I'm pretty much ready for him to give AAA a try. He sure would be a boost if he could fill a spot in the roto.
by Brett Perryman on Apr 3, 2008 11:35 PM CDT up reply actions
I've been keeping an eye...
on the gameday feeds and even listening to the gameday audio for the Redhawks game.
If anyone hasn't noticed, www.milb.com has free audio for pretty much every minor league game. I don't know how often I'll listen in, but on nights when the Rangers don't play... it should be fun to get in to.
"that suzuki guy should go back to making cars" - My girlfriend after C.J.'s close in game 2
That's what I'm doing
Guess who just doubled - my boy, Salty!
by LSJ on Apr 3, 2008 9:34 PM CDT up reply actions
Redhawks game..
If you're listening then you are witness that Lonestarjon need not get too excited when he sees that Salty has a double in the boxscore tomorrow.
Sorry jon, it was a lazy flyball that was misplayed.
Yeah, I know... but it still went as a double
Rose-colored glasses, you know. :)
by LSJ on Apr 3, 2008 9:42 PM CDT up reply actions
Chris Davis
I am not too concerned about the Ks, but I want to see the walk rate up.
madrigal
that guys is a lot bigger than i expected him to be. there is absolutely no way he's only 200lb.
"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
Ryan Roberts wins it with a base hit up the middle!
The Memphis manager is upset, but according to the Redhawks guys Salty slid around the tag... I'd like to see that replay.
Harrison
Well I still don't like what (little) I've seen of his delivery, and I wish he'd get that K-rate up, but as long as he keeps the walks down and continues throwing up outings like that, I guess I can start getting maybe a little excited about him.
"Sabean did a good job on selling high on Liriano." Excel Hearts Choi
Maybe getting a little excited?
Have you looked at his stats and scouting rankings? He good. He may not be a K king, but he good.
Yes
I've seen his stats. I don't know what scouting rankings are, but I've seen his prospect rankings, and I've read various scouting reports. I'm far from ignorant with regards to Harrison.
But I also know that lefties without good control of mediocre stuff often get overrated in the minors, especially in the low minors.
Remember this guy?
If he stays healthy and keeps producing, obviously he's going to force his way into our long term plans. But he's one of those guys who's going to have to prove himself every step of the way as far as I'm concerned.
"Sabean did a good job on selling high on Liriano." Excel Hearts Choi
by thedirkatron on Apr 3, 2008 11:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Well
Ramos' BB-rate was skewed a bit by his time facing the more selective hitters in AAA, something Harrison has yet to experience. I'm not man enough to do the math myself, but their BB rates in AA appear more similar, though Harrison still gets an edge.
Look, I'm not saying Harrison is not a prospect, or that he won't be good, I'm just saying that a guy who gets by in the minors with great control of average stuff is gonna have to prove himself every step of the way.
Jeez, you'd think I was insulting someone's kid by the way some of y'all are reacting.
"Sabean did a good job on selling high on Liriano." Excel Hearts Choi
by thedirkatron on Apr 3, 2008 11:49 PM CDT up reply actions
His stuff
according to Goldstein it's low 90s with decent 2ndary stuff. Not great, but not exactly the 2nd coming of John Rheinecker either.
Ramos had his lowest BB/9 at age 23 in the Tx league at 2.69. Matt Harrison had his highest BB/9 while pitching in AA Mississippi at 2.62 - while hurt. Their AA years are somewhat comparable, but their command doesn't seem to be.
I'm sorry
Obviously I lead you to believe I thought Harrison is an exact copy of Mario Ramos. Well, I don't. You're picking apart very slim parts of my argument and then cherry-picking stats that refute it, while ignoring my actual point.
It's a bit frustrating.
I've explained myself a number of times and you apparently have no intention of trying to understand what I'm saying.
So let me end this petty little blood feud by formally apologizing to the entire LSB community for expressing any doubt as to Harrison's beastliness.
I agree with you: Harrison is the perfect prospect. Harrison > Kershaw.
Happy?
"Sabean did a good job on selling high on Liriano." Excel Hearts Choi
by thedirkatron on Apr 4, 2008 12:09 AM CDT up reply actions
And I'm sorry
that you seem to think questioning comparisons is a personal attack against you. Yeah, I get it, control guy with low K rates sometimes struggle, even if they're lefties. For every Kenny Rogers there are other guys who don't succeed. But at the same token don't make ill-fitting comparisons to try to legitimize your point and don't get butt hurt when someone calls out how ill-fitting said comparison is.
Harrison has some questions about him, the 6.00 K rate is not exactly and indicator of future success, but from all sources his stuff is credible and his control has been either good or exceptional depending on your definition of such. It's perfectly fine to question the viability of prospects, but do it in a way that's actually factual.
LOL
Wow, you pwnd me. I was really hurt by your brilliant dissection of everything I believed. And your passive aggressive insults in that last post are almost too much to take...
Not.
Ramos actually is a pretty decent caparison. Of course it's not perfect, but it's in the same ballpark. Harrison has a few MPH on Ramos, and a slightly better BB/9 rate through AA at a younger age, but Ramos had the much better secondary stuff and no injury history that I remember anyways. But I never even directly comped them. I just threw him out as a cautionary tale, so to speak. They're obviously very different pitchers and I in no way, shape, or form said that Harrison was going to fail because Ramos failed. I just threw him out as an example of a finesse pitcher who everyone was all giddy about in the minors who flamed out. Since you're a "glass half-full" guy, maybe I should've made this comp instead. Would that make baby happy? Or are you now going to pout about how I comped him to a non-white non-lefty?
I just think it's funny that only after I expressed frustration with your ignorance did you finally admit that you'd understood my point. If you'd just come out and said "Yeah, I get it, control guy with low K rates sometimes struggle", then we'd be fine.
But you had to try to pwn me, and you failed and now you look silly.
Congrats!
"Sabean did a good job on selling high on Liriano." Excel Hearts Choi
by thedirkatron on Apr 4, 2008 12:36 AM CDT up reply actions
Oh god
I gotta say, we've both been on the board for awhile and there's perhaps nothing more annoying about you than when you get into one of your dick waving modes. Yeah, ok, congrats, now go bitch about Dwayne Wade.
I never saw the point of making comps between players when we're trying to prove a point. Why not just go ahead and cite the trouble area in the first place. Matt Harrison is a guy who doesn't strike out people compared to say: guys like Kershaw. I get that, and I also get that it's a trouble area. The problem comes when we make stupid statements like "lefty without good control of mediocre stuff" when it's blatantly untrue according to both people who've seen them pitch and most major scouts.
And speaking of blatantly untrue, I guess now that if people describe two players similarly, they must be the same person then, because that's the only way someone could make a comparison between Ramos and Harrison. I guess you can't be bothered to read numbers in post form so let's make it simple:
Minors #s:
Ramos Started at: Age 22
Harrison: Age 18
AA Season: Ramos - Age 23
Harrison: Age 21
BB/9: Ramos: 3.13 for his career, considerably higher before AA
Harrison: 1.93 for his career, lower before AA
HR/9: Ramos .87
Harrison: .63
"Stuff": Ramos: Mid-80s, best secondary change was a good changeup
Harrison: Low 90s, best secondary change are curveballs and sliders
Basic Physical structure: ramos - 5'll, 170
Harrison - 6'5" 193
Seriously, there's a lot of difference between the two players. If you can't see it, it's because you're just being needlessly stubborn or just being too much of an idiot to realize that you made a stupid comparison. Ramos was the 1st coming of Danny ray Herrera, nothing else. Now stop being such a cunt and just admit that you made a bad comparison for a change.
Wow
This was the most unexpected board-battle I've seen in a while.
If this is what a 1-2 start does to people, I'd hate to see a 0-3 start.
(I'm just mad that my Rice guy Ramos is being treated as the worst case scenario by both of you!)
Looks like
a nice first outing for Madrigal as well, 2 Ks and a save. Nice night for the bats, too.
A working class hero is something to be.
Don't waste
Harrison too early. Bring up E-Hurl.
by SarasotaRanger on Apr 3, 2008 11:19 PM CDT up reply actions
OT : Are you kidding me...
And he's back to the DL. Injured in warmups before he goes to start for the first time in almost 3 years. Unbelievable.
Just a quick question. Who do you think throws more innings this year, Pedro Martinez or Mike Hampton?
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
wow
is there a more injury prone guy out here?
How frustrating for the Braves, their fans, and probably him.
" Winning doesn't always mean being first,
winning means you are doing better than you have done before"
He and Chris Snelling need to have a child
"Sabean did a good job on selling high on Liriano." Excel Hearts Choi
by thedirkatron on Apr 3, 2008 11:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Nick Johnson
is too busy eating Little Debbie's and Ho Ho's to differ.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
slightly OT
but other things of note in the box from frisco:
madrigal dominated in his inning
Teagarden had a PB - even the best defensive catchers have bad days
Unless
you're Joe Mauer. I swear I don't think I've ever seen a pitch get by that guy, and I watch him every other day.
i said this in the other thread
but TT's PB was inexcusable. it went between his legs and allowed a run to score - should never happen. but it's early in his career and he just needs some reps at C. just goes to show that calls for him to be in the majors were ludicrous
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