2010 Draft

[Scarey]

<!--quoteo(post=100604:date=Jun 9 2010, 02:55 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Jun 9 2010, 02:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=100603:date=Jun 9 2010, 02:51 PM:name=BT)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BT @ Jun 9 2010, 02:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Jim Callis explains the cubs first round pick:

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->Jim Callis: The Cubs saw Hayden Simpson throw 92-97 twice in four days at the D-II World Series, and they think he'll have four average or better pitches, love the makeup, believe he could move quickly. I don't think that was the consensus on him, but the Cubs saw him very well and were afraid another team with multiple picks might draft him before they could pick again. Stunned me, though.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
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I doubt we would draft him in the first round if Simpson's 4 pitches were only "average or better" as Callis says. I'm hoping at least 1-2 of his pitches is well above average.
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I'm certain one or two are above average. He explains them as average or better because he has <b>four</b> that are average or better which isn't very common. For instance, Cashner coming out of college had two above average pitches (fastball/slider) and one that needed work (change up). He's worked on the change up to the point that it's become average and it's made all the difference in the world in terms of keeping hitters off balance.

So, the statement that he has four pitches that are average or better is extremely encouraging. There's not many starters in the big leagues that have four reliable pitches. One example of one that does is Dempster, and you can see the success he has had since his resurgence as a starter because he knows how to utilize those pitches (which Simpson supposedly does too).