Kasey Kiker Interview

by jparks77 on Aug 25, 2008 10:37 AM CDT

Kasey Kiker on the heat in Texas:

"I shouldn’t have any heat-related issues. I played a game in high school when it was 110 degrees outside. The whole team in Bakersfield is used to the heat. Definitely no excuses out of me."

Is this the forgotten man in our system? In your opinion, does his limited size play a role in his somewhat diminished prospect status? Do you think he will be a starter at the major league level? Curious to hear your thoughts.

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great interview Jason

rec

Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.

by tricer on Aug 25, 2008 10:46 AM CDT 0 recs

Kiker is looking like the forgotten man without a doubt

No reason to not see a bright future for him though.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg1 on Aug 25, 2008 10:47 AM CDT 0 recs

why is he a forgotten man?

multiple mentions of it and i jjust dont understand.

"I’m sure you’ve seen Kiker before but I’ll just reiterate that the kid is mean on the mound. He is only 5’10’’ but he is an intimidator. He looks like he hates hitters. He has the juice for pressure situations."
-Jason Parks on Jul 22, 2008 10:08 PM

by Jayslick on Aug 25, 2008 12:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

When people talk about the top prospects in the organization

How many times do you hear Kiker’s name mentioned? He’s having a very good year this season and his development as a pitcher is going great but you mainly hear only about guys acquired last season and now Derek Holland who had to be a top 2 pitcher in our system to get real recognition.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg1 on Aug 25, 2008 12:18 PM CDT up 0 recs

i mean, i get that, but that seems like a very uneducated opinion coming from people who arent paying attention day in and day out

half the people here dont even bother to check shroomer’s site for the box scores of the farm system, and most of the beat writers for the rangers just play off whats said here and NMLR for their farm system analysis.

i just dont think that makes you forgotten.

by Jayslick on Aug 25, 2008 12:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

Again

as you said, there are a lot of people here that are fully aware of Kiker and what he has been doing. For most people, they are aware of the guys we traded for last July and some of the nice draft picks from that draft.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg1 on Aug 25, 2008 12:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

Well, I think THAT seems like an uneducated opinion

Kiker has been largely missing from the top prospect discussions this summer. He’s mentioned, sure. But he hasn’t been mentioned in the same breath as the other second tier (meaning all the guys below Dutch-Neftali) pitchers. That makes him forgotten in a way.

I pay very close attention to the minors and it does seem to me like Kiker’s status as a prospect has faded away a bit this season.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Aug 25, 2008 4:38 PM CDT up 0 recs

Starter

He WILL be a starter. Just how long he remains so is in question. He’s a lefty with some great stuff. He sounds coachable, well-grounded and has that demeanor that you’d want out of an undersized pitcher. I know all of this does not a good pitcher make, but it surely helps a whole heckuva lot.

That triumvirate of Kiker, Pveda, Phillips still has me excited even if they’ve all faltered at times this season.

But I agree Kiker’s a forgotten man in the system. Good for us, though, as a few years ago he’d have been one of those guys we’d hang all of our hopes on. Now he’s just another promising pitcher in the crowded stable.

And thanks for the continued links to the interviews. I likes ’em!

What's the rumpus?

by Hypo-Luxa on Aug 25, 2008 10:50 AM CDT 0 recs

these three

have got to be a little disappointed they didn’t get to skip or pitstop Bakersfield, a la Holland and Feliz. I think all three will open eyes next year in Frisco to varying degrees.

by clark on Aug 25, 2008 11:07 AM CDT up 0 recs

He will

start out as a starter and then get put in the bullpen which is a shame. He never was and never will be a starter in the MLB.

That is why I didn’t like that draft pick.

Today is the youngest you will ever be. Act like it.

by miles on Aug 25, 2008 10:52 AM CDT 0 recs

when you say

he “never was…a starter in the MLB” do you mean that he was never projected to be a starter? Because I remember things differently. I remember reading that he projected as a starter, but if he faltered at some point in his development that he could easily slide over to a late inning role because of his stuff.

by clark on Aug 25, 2008 11:09 AM CDT up 0 recs

Most people

never projected him as a starter at draft time.

I remember hearing comparisons of a closer, I compared him to Billy Wagoner.

Today is the youngest you will ever be. Act like it.

by miles on Aug 25, 2008 11:13 AM CDT up 0 recs

But if he turns into Billy Wagner...

Are you really upset with that? …

If we’re talking about getting a dominant bullpen arm out of a prospect most of us probably rate outside the Top 5 pitchers in our system, is that really a disappointment?

You’ve gotta figure just by looking at the pecking order and Kasey’s level of production he’ll be pushed to the bullpen eventually…

by N41D on Aug 25, 2008 11:47 AM CDT up 0 recs

he was a first-round draft pick...

…so yes… disappointing.

by oc on Aug 25, 2008 11:58 AM CDT up 0 recs

Eh...

I don’t see getting quality big league production from almost any draft pick as a disappointment…

It’s not like Kasey was some top-flight prospect that the organization failed to develop… There were questions as to whether or not he’d stick as a starter from the beginning, so you had to know that coming in…

Having an uber-prospect like Neftali Feliz, Clayton Kershaw type fail as a starter and end up in the bullpen would be a disappointment… Having a guy whose generally always been a good, but never great prospect end up in the bullpen because of organizational depth with pitchers just doesn’t bother me that much…

by N41D on Aug 25, 2008 12:17 PM CDT up 0 recs

if he turns into Billy Wagner

than at long last, we finally have our closer of the future

"Well, the Dallas Mavericks got beat by the New Orleans Hornets last night ending their season. Word is that someone on the team is dating Jessica Simpson." - Jay Leno

LSB facebook group ---->>> http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33345329288

by hinduplaya on Aug 25, 2008 2:47 PM CDT up 0 recs

Kiker

In your opinion, does his limited size play a role in his somewhat diminished prospect status?

Answer:
His lack of productivity is what plays a role in his somewhat diminished prospect status. Size doesn’t matter.

by JTodd on Aug 25, 2008 11:07 AM CDT 0 recs

"Size doesn't matter"

Thats right, don’t let size hurt your self-esteem:)

by jcir454 on Aug 25, 2008 11:23 AM CDT up 0 recs

lol

by chrisR on Aug 25, 2008 12:05 PM CDT up 0 recs

Wow, are you

seriously misinformed…

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
"If you ain't got no money, ain't nobody calls you honey," Bo Diddley

by Rodney on Aug 25, 2008 12:29 PM CDT up 0 recs

Kiker

Ive always been a fan of his. He is on a perfect timetable to reach Arlington by about the age of 22. I think with these HS kids we have drafted the Rangers are going to be a little more cautious with them in the lower levels but get aggressive once they get to AA. I can see him being in AAA around August of next year with an eye on mid season 2010 for his ML debut.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Aug 25, 2008 11:10 AM CDT 0 recs

Wow

Really like that guy in an interview. Impossible to judge the verbal impression but I hear a lot of groundedness and confidence. Love to see him make a couple starts in Frisco this year, but the time draws nigh.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Aug 25, 2008 11:18 AM CDT 0 recs

Forgotten?

Not really, overshadowed maybe. A combination of the meteroic rise of Feliz and Holland, and all the attention paid to last years’ picks Beavan and Main, and the unusually quick success/status of several guys in the same draft class as Kiker from guys like Kershaw, Chamberlain, Longoria, etc.

Nice interview. I think Kiker has the stuff and the confidence to be a starter in a tough place like Arlington.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Aug 25, 2008 12:22 PM CDT 0 recs

What do you think about the Ballard comment?

Kasey Kiker Interview

by jparks77 on Aug 25, 2008 1:06 PM CDT 0 recs

Found that surprising, to be sure

He seemed to be really impressed with Ballard’s control. Still, I don’t think Ballard is anything more than a future 5th or 6th starter. It would be nice to have a spot starter not walk everyone, though.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Aug 25, 2008 1:31 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yeah

Definitely an impressive part of his game and probably a good sign that he is the kind of pitcher that impresses Kiker. Like you said, I still have to think it would be a big victory for Ballard to etch out any kind of major league role for a good period of time.

Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return

by zywica on Aug 25, 2008 1:48 PM CDT up 0 recs

well he is left handed

although his splits don’t indicate that he dominates lefties or anything, there is always the possibility that he could evolve into a LOOGY.

Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.

by tricer on Aug 25, 2008 2:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

Don't see it

I think sometimes we are too ready to call a lefty a LOOGY when we can’t figure out what else he might be good for.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Aug 25, 2008 2:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

well a lefty that can do any one thing really well

can oftentimes fashion a career in a ML bullpen. According to Kiker, Ballard has exceptional command.

I wasn’t predicting that he is the next Arthur Rhodes, but I have never thought of Ballard as ML material at all, and if Kiker’s assessment is correct, then he might make a LH reliever, that’s all I was saying.

Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.

by tricer on Aug 25, 2008 7:55 PM CDT up 0 recs

Ballard is miscast as a starter

in this organization like a lot of folks in the high minors…

by Goyogringo on Aug 26, 2008 7:35 AM CDT up 0 recs

youll see that change next year

as the AA/AAA clubs become more balanced.

by Goyogringo on Aug 26, 2008 7:37 AM CDT up 0 recs

not forgotten by me

that’s for sure.

to me, abortion is not a religious issue, it's a common sense one...

by Longhorn on Aug 25, 2008 1:43 PM CDT 0 recs

Very good interview

And I’ll confess to be one of those that lately just checks the Rangers Minors emails for Feliz and Holland results. I’ll stop doing that now.

Nothing pithy here. Please move long.

by WyoRanger on Aug 25, 2008 1:59 PM CDT 0 recs

yeah dont miss the boat!!

there is about 15 prospects i cant help but check on every night.

by Jayslick on Aug 25, 2008 3:57 PM CDT up 0 recs

War Eagle

down with the dirty water. I’ll still pull for him.

"Purity of heart is to will one thing" - Kierkegaard

by outofnace on Aug 25, 2008 2:37 PM CDT 0 recs

OT: Angels Fans

not suprising

I give up

by Steal Home on Aug 25, 2008 4:57 PM CDT 0 recs

Your interviews continue to impress, Jason

I’ve always liked Kiker as a pitcher, and reading this he seems to be a very well-poised dude as well. He seems to be really focused on building his strength and stamina up, which I suppose is going to be very important for him considering his size.

A Lonestar in California

We need to hire Chuck Norris to kick the ass of any Ranger fan caught booing one of our young pitchers at the RBiA.

by lonestarJon on Aug 25, 2008 10:32 PM CDT 0 recs

Great interview

Plaschke: Scioscia, the former Dodgers catcher, is the model manager who has created an atmosphere of winning.
Junior:It's that simple. Mike Scioscia brings a Glade Plug-In labeled "Winning™" into the clubhouse and everyone who breathes it in gains 15 points in average.

by TheBZA on Aug 26, 2008 11:46 AM CDT 0 recs