You probably shouldn't have used Smoltz or Eck as examples. They were not "failed" starters... In fact, Smoltz went back to starting and finished his career that way. If Folty can be as good a starter as those two, look out.
I'm not saying I want him as closer and never try as mlb starter Just wondering if that is the plan of the front office And obviously, we could certainly use a dominant reliever Foltynewicz and McCullers, the next Lidge and Wagner
My general point is that you can move a player to the pen and he can be effective at the drop of a hat, but you're right I probably should have qualified that. Billy Wagner started every single game in the minors, he was called up mid season and never started a single game in the show.
Folty for a while had been seen as a failed 1st round pick. Another in a long long long line.... So if he's an elite level closer or an effective #2 or #3 starters, it's all good!!
He was never deemed a "failed" first round pick... that honor went to Kvasnicka (who was drafted the same year). I believe we had 3 first round picks that year... it was hailed as one of the most important drafts to getting the rebuild off to a right start. We took Deshields, Folty, and Kvasnicka. Even if DDJr and Folty don't pan out, it won't set this organization back. Hence another example that supports why I don't really put much stock in an MLB draft ever making or breaking a rebuild.
Indeed they do. It was unfair to expect greatness out of the door with him & DDJ. They repeated A-ball, and instantly saw their prospect stock back up where it was, and when Folty started throwing triple digits, his stock jumped way forward.
You've worded your stance carefully so it is hard to really disagree with, but if you don't think the Astros would look much improved with Chris Sale instead of Delino Deshields (or Taijuan Walker/Anthony Ranaudo instead of Kvasnicka) then you're nuts. Sure, a draft can't make or break a rebuild, but it sure as hell can make one easier/harder.
You can pretty much go to every team, and every draft, and find a player they "should" have gotten. How would 21 other team's current status have changed if they had drafted Mike Trout? Sure, if you get the "right" guy, you're set... but if you get the wrong guy (or don't sign anybody), you're not at all doomed (provided its a one year thing, and you don't make a habit of it like the end of the Drayton era). Its why I'm not hanging a lot of hopes on all the picks they'll have in 2015. If they can land just one great player, that will be enough to deem it a great draft.... but its such a crap-shoot. And, can't believe you're ready to write off DDJr and Folty before they really show what they can do at the MLB level. Both of them could still have WAR's better than the above players you just mentioned. Hard to argue when you're already writing off their big league careers before they've even started.
So if we both agree that one "great" player can have a big effect, then it would seem that having multiple shots at one (like we will in 2015) would be preferable, no? And nowhere did I write off Folty. I love him. And if stating that I would rather have Chris Sale than DDJ means I'm "writing him off", then yes, I guess I've written him off.
