<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Orioles say Norris will debut for them tomorrow night vs. Astros.</p>— Danny Knobler (@DannyKnoblerCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/DannyKnoblerCBS/statuses/362700054475186179">July 31, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
He's a very good prospect, but, let's not kid ourselves, he still has things to work on. And at some point soon it will be so late in the season that to bring him up you'd have to be willing to trade a few weeks on the major league roster in a completely lost year for one entire year of free agency when the team has an actual shot to be playoff contenders.
Its more translatable to have a high walk rate and be able to hit pitches in the strike zone vs. being a free swinger/low OBP guy who hits it out when he actually makes contact. Plate discipline and knowledge of the strike zone is tougher to instill in a player's overall repertoire.
Keith Law: Astros get less than expected for Norris The Orioles' acquisition of Bud Norris gives them needed starting pitching depth, especially with Jason Hammel going on the DL on Wednesday, but also could help bolster their right-handed relief corps, if everyone comes back healthy and available. The Astros get a 4A position player, who gets on base, and a lottery-ticket lefty with arm strength but a long ways to go. Norris was the nominal No. 1 starter in Houston, but is, at best, a fourth starter in a good rotation like Baltimore's. He's got velocity, but not movement or command, and is much more of a two-pitch pitcher. His changeup is below-average and left-handed hitters have always hit him well (.282/.356/.460 since the start of 2011) because of that weakness. Several front-office execs told me they view Norris as a potential setup guy who would likely reach the upper 90s with a plus slider in that role. However, he at least offers durability in the rotation and can fill in while Hammel is out. For Houston, it's a lower return than I'd expected given how much interest there seemed to be in Norris this month and even last offseason. Hoes can only play left field; the Orioles tried to convert him to second base, but he struggled badly, with an error every five games, and he's not quick enough to handle center. He has a short, high-contact stroke from the right side and has always had solid walk rates, with a .406 OBP this year in Triple-A. He could be a bench guy or below-average regular in left. Hader was my sleeper prospect for the Orioles this year, ninth in their system. He's a hard-throwing lefty who can reach 94 regularly from a low three-quarters arm slot, but with poor command and fringy secondary stuff right now. He's just 19 with only 113 innings in pro ball and has an arm the Astros can dream on, but even in a best-case scenario, he's three years away.
No, assessing future starters. Springer will play every day and given every opportunity once he is called up. Lesser prospects will have shorter opportunities to prove themselves.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Jeff Luhnow tells me he's very high on next year's draft, so that's why he's so happy about the comp pick from Baltimore in Norris deal.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/362701077876973570">July 31, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Luhnow on comp pick: "It’s important. It’s essentially another 1st round pick at the end of the 1st round."</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/362701406479716352">July 31, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Jeff Luhnow tells me he's very high on next year's draft, so that's why he's so happy about the comp pick from Baltimore in Norris deal.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/362701077876973570">July 31, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Luhnow on comp pick: "It’s important. It’s essentially another 1st round pick at the end of the 1st round."</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/362701406479716352">July 31, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Jeff Luhnow on Springer and Singleton: "They're Triple-A and that's where they'll stay for now."</p>— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/statuses/362701437576290304">July 31, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>JL: "It's an opportunity for us to bring another talent into our system and somebody that we choose. It’s a good opportunity for us."</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/362701497420627969">July 31, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>More JL: "Between our pick, this pick and our 2nd-round pick, we’re going to be picking relatively high with our 1st 3 picks."</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/362701734524628992">July 31, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Again, the rest of this year does not shorten his service time with us. He's better than the players we have up here now... and he's almost older than most of them now as well. Frankly, I care more about his overall MLB career starting when it should vs. simply when he's an Astro (or no longer an Astro). If he's as good as he's been in the minors, he'll deserve the contract the Astros or whatever other team out there gives him... and if it honestly takes 6 more years (when his service time would be up) for the Astros to become playoff contenders, that would mean the Astros whiffed on everybody else they've been developing thus far anyways.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>JL: "It's an opportunity for us to bring another talent into our system and somebody that we choose. It’s a good opportunity for us."</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/362701497420627969">July 31, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Why do you think so? I think if Grossman fizzles again its just time, maybe that's what they're waiting to see before September.
I hate to keep a conversation no one cares about going, but how is saying I hope we keep a guy unless we get a legit return whining? Seriously dude, I'm sorry you don't like my views on our players, but damn all I want is for us to get a good return on them or keep them. I can't imagine seeing everything we do and thinking it has to turn out bad
I don't think it is, and I don't think the people making that decision can perfectly predict his performance one way or the other. If he comes up and struggles, its because he needs a longer adjustment period. IF he comes up and is an MVP candidate right away, one can make the case that he could have been doing this earlier. Either way points to calling him up as soon as he demonstrates mastery of every level.. and if he has some things to work on such as 2 strike approach, he should be learning it against MLB level pitching, not AAA type pitching.
Yes. Because they have lower ceilings, you would be more willing to have an increase in sampling error.
Look, I get that there's no perfect formula on how to evaluate prospects/bench players/future all-stars... and adding Springer to this club does not do much for the team as a whole (but may do a ton for the player). I also understand that the Astros get criticized unjustly for having a low payroll and not even attempting to field a competitive MLB team all in the sake of getting the #1 pick... which will help them more in the future than finishing in 3rd place will now. I'm just saying that based on what he's done throughout his college and minor league career... based on what every single prospect has done in the history of baseball... he deserves to be given a shot now. I defend this organization as much as the next guy... but no matter the outcome, I can't defend Springer still being at AAA.
It all depends on how well his hit tool translates. He has a great BB%. If he hits .300, his OPS will be about .790. If he hits .285, his OPS will be about .760. I don't see .765 as out of the question.
