Lester always looked real good to me. Lefty, throws hard, good cutter, excellent curve, big frame. He reminds me of a yound Andy Pettite. No reason why he can’t be very successful, and he’s shown it so far.
Hughes is a diff story. Righty with good but not electric stuff. That alone should warn fans to temper excitement.
Steve has been correct so far, and I agree with his observations. He doesn’t hate Hughes, nor wishes for his failure. He’s simply been around long enough (like myself) to not fall for all the hype surrounding prospects.

FWIW, I was just trying to say that I’ve seen a lot of pitchers work in the majors. And, while it’s hard to define what it is that you see in the great pitchers, I know it when I see it.

_____________________________

OK. Did you foresee Lester doing what he’s done this season when you were enjoying his five inning/100 pitch outings and 1.5 WHIP? Or did you think “what is it they see in this guy?” just as you are asking the same question of others who have a different perspective on Hughes?

Use numbers to evaluate baseball players? That’s crazy talk. Word of the devil, I say. I prefer to evaluate pitchers based on those intangibles that you can’t quite observe, but you just know they’re there. You know what I’m talking about. It’s all about feel, things that can’t actually be measured or judged in any significant way. Anyone who says otherwise doesn’t know what he’s talking about, or is a witch.

Let’s just trade Hughes for Aaron Sele already. At least we’ll know what we have.

While we’re at it, is Mike Hampton available?

And, while it’s hard to define what it is that you see in the great pitchers
————
All you need to do is look at the numbers

Schilling threw high 90′s.

Legit.

Hughes is a decent #3 or #4 starter with an average fastball. certainly not a frontline starter.

Certainly not someone who should ever have been untouchable.

Sounds like the Supreme Court justice who knows pornography when he sees it.

FWIW, I was just trying to say that I’ve seen a lot of pitchers work in the majors. And, while it’s hard to define what it is that you see in the great pitchers, I know it when I see it.

Of course it is too early to make this kind of assessment of a 22 year old pitcher who has not yet broken 100 IP’s in his major league career! This is ridiculous!

Fill in the rotation next year. Give him a chance to compete for the 5th spot and let him work things out there. That’s how young pitchers do it.

Although I do bow down before your authority as someone who has seen at least 3,500 baseball games in your life. In fact that’s really how I think we should assess baseball writers’ opinions. I hope going forward, all baseball articles will show both the writer and how many baseball games that writer has seen in his life. That way I’ll know whose opinions to value the most and who to ignore.