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Bauxites have spoken. I tallied the votes using a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale and here are the results:

1. Dustin McGowan
2. David Purcey
3. Brandon League- tie
3. Francisco Rosario-tie
5. Zach Jackson
6. Ricky Romero
7. Shaun Marcum
8. Josh Banks
9. Casey Janssen
10. Chi-Hung Cheng

The hitters poll will be coming later this morning.

Top 10 pitching prospect poll results | 11 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Pistol - Friday, June 24 2005 @ 11:03 AM EDT (#120538) #
I realize we all used a little different criteria for our lists, but I was fully comfortable placing Romero first on my list based on the Jays recent history in the early rounds drafting pitchers and Romero's college record & scouting report relative to those pitchers.

I'd also say age is a factor in Romero's favor, but when Gerry asked Lalonde about that he didn't put much, if any, stock in that he was younger (which surprised me a little bit).
bill - Friday, June 24 2005 @ 11:40 AM EDT (#120546) #
I used the following criteria: pitchers who had not had injuries and operations, pitchers who were young, those who were left-handed, and those who had a fast fastball. You can develop control, but 98 mile an hour fastballs are a gift.
Mike Green - Friday, June 24 2005 @ 11:51 AM EDT (#120549) #
Romero was a tough one, and I decided to leave him off until he plays. His stuff was considered perhaps the third best available, and I place little stock in the fact that he is left-handed. I watched video of him, and was not "blown away". It seems that much of his value lies in his makeup. I'd like to see how he handles the inevitable tough times that will come on his road up before making a judgment about this.

McGowan's support shocked me. There is no question that his ceiling prior to TJ surgery was the highest of any of the pitching prospects, but the surgery in itself usually affects the way a pitcher pitches. Some adapt very well, and others not. To infer from a couple of good outings in the FSL that he is the same pitcher as he was before the surgery was way more than I was prepared to do. I have read no reports whatsoever concerning his stuff in his recent FSL outings. The Ks are definitely an excellent sign, but many, many prospects are able to strike out 8 or 9 per game in Dunedin.
Pistol - Friday, June 24 2005 @ 12:10 PM EDT (#120553) #
My support of McGowan had little to do with how he's pitched so far post-surgery, but on the success rate (and effectiveness) of pitchers coming back from TJ. Perhaps I'm overly aggressive in that regard.
Mike Green - Friday, June 24 2005 @ 12:27 PM EDT (#120557) #
Maybe my memory is fading, but I don't recall a starting pitcher ever who had TJ surgery and then dominated. Many have come back and pitched well, including Tommy John, but I just don't recall anyone coming back and being great.

Well, I checked, and the great success stories have all been relievers- Rivera, Gagne, Smoltz. David Wells and Tommy John are probably the most successful starters. With that in mind, maybe McGowan's future is as an ace reliever. We'll see.
Flex - Friday, June 24 2005 @ 12:41 PM EDT (#120560) #
Baseball Think Factory quotes a relative expert (compared to us) on the subject:

Rangers pitching coach Orel Hershiser said, “Tommy John surgery has produced more All-Stars and Hall of Famers than the greatest scout who ever lived.”
Flex - Friday, June 24 2005 @ 12:46 PM EDT (#120563) #
The quote was originally from an article in the Dallas Morning News, and it includes this insight:

"Players often report an increase in velocity after surgery. They attribute that to their new ligament, but there are other factors. The modern rehab program concentrates on strengthening the shoulder and forearm to limit future stress on the elbow. Pitchers use the time off to examine their mechanics and locate flaws that gave them problems in the first place."
Maldoff - Friday, June 24 2005 @ 12:56 PM EDT (#120566) #
Mike, how about Matt Morris, Kerry Wood, or Darren Dreifort? On second thought, scratch the last one!
Mike Green - Friday, June 24 2005 @ 12:56 PM EDT (#120567) #
That was the article that I referred to. If there are better starting pitchers than David Wells and Tommy John, I'd love to see them.

Don't get me wrong. The surgery has definitely helped many pitchers, and Dr. Jobe does deserve serious HoF consideration. I just don't think that the evidence is there to support the view that you can take a dominant starting pitcher, give them the surgery and have the pitcher continue to be that dominant starting pitcher. Smoltz' return back to the rotation this year might be an example to support the view.

Many recent minor league starters who looked like great prospects prior to TJ including Rosario and Riley, definitely do not seem to be the same after.
R Billie - Friday, June 24 2005 @ 04:40 PM EDT (#120611) #
Bedard was doing quite well up until he injured his knee. I'm not sure how many pitchers there have been that had TJ surgery who were McGowan's equal prospect wise.

I also think the reason there are more memorable relievers is that relievers need the surgery more often. Ace relievers especially face ridiculous amounts of stress on their arm, at times pitching 3 or 4 days in a row with no rest.

I think it's too early to say either way with McGowan. But I based my votes on what I think he's capable of doing if everything is right. No-one else in the organization stands out as a surefire success story so I put two guys with some uncertainty but probably the best scouting reports at the top of the list (McGowan and Romero).

Let's put it this way...if the Jays are relying on Shaun Marcum and Josh Banks as their best pitching prospects then the system isn't in great shape. These guys can throw strikes but they're middle rotation starters.
SparrowOD - Friday, June 24 2005 @ 06:09 PM EDT (#120622) #
Smoltz' return to the rotation and his stellar numbers after his first Marlins start should indicate that he is a better pitcher now than he was before.
Top 10 pitching prospect poll results | 11 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.