October 2008 Survey Question #1
How could you not be impressed with the games that Cole Hamels and Jon Lester threw in Games 1 of their LDS series yesterday for their teams?
Cole Hamels is 24-years old. He broke into the majors at age 22 and did well (8 RSAA in 132.3 IP). And, last year, at the age of 23, he was already a star pitcher in the majors (23 RSAA in 183.3 IP).
Jon Lester is also 24-years old. And, this year he established that he should be considered a star pitcher in the league (with 28 RSAA in 204.3). Further, Lester was solid as a 22- and 23-year old in the majors (with 1 RSAA in 144.3 combined IP) – and probably would have pitched much better if he was not recovering from cancer.
Phil Hughes will be 23-years old next season. Will he be as good in the bigs as Hamels and Lester were when they were age 23? Will be be an “ace” star pitcher at age 24, like Hamels and Lester? Will Phil Hughes ever be as good a major league pitcher as Cole Hamels and Jon Lester? That’s today’s question…
Related, please consider taking the following poll:
Thanks in advance. And, please feel free to add comments on your opinion in the comments section below.
Will Phil Hughes ever be as good a major league pitcher as Cole Hamels and Jon Lester?
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MiL ERA, WHIP
CH: 1.43, 0.95
JL: 3.33, 1.31
PH: 2.40, 0.92
Maybe, maybe not, but I like his chances
Phil Hughes will be a better pitcher than Jon Lester in 2009, and will come real close to Cole Hamels, a pitcher who is three years older.
[...] question regarding the career starts of Cole Hamels and Jon Lester, as compared to Phil Hughes, posted here earlier today, got me wondering “If you look at the start of Hughes’ career, what [...]
~~Phil Hughes will be a better pitcher than Jon Lester in 2009, and will come real close to Cole Hamels, a pitcher who is three years older.~~
Why?
Raf – check out the career MiL ERA and WHIP of Kirk Bullinger
http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=17772
or Dan Giese
http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=20819
It would be mighty impressive if Hughes is better in 2009, as he will presumably have to earn his spot in the rotation and not have it handed to him. The difference between Lester when he reached the majors and Lester now is extraordinary. Coming up big in the post-season just reinforces the Pettitte comparison.
I think its quite possible that Hughes reaches Lester’s level, but he will likely require another season or so to figure it out and blossom.
I see Bullinger, and I see 2.27 ERA, and a 1.10 WHIP. I also see that he’s only started 6 games in 14 seasons in the minors.
Dan Giese? 2.89 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 10 games started in 2008. 2008 marks the first time he was a starter, having been a relief pitcher his other 9 years in the minors.
Inning are innings, no, regardless of if the guy started the game or not?
FWIW, at this point in time…
1 of of 5 who answered said
No, Hughes Will Never Be As Good As Them
and nearly 1 out of 4 have said
Not Sure
Sounds like 4 out of 10 fans are not ready to say that Phil Hughes will be an ace pitcher.
Granted that says that 60% think that he will be…
But, it shows that, as of this snapshot, fans are close to 50-50 on whether or not Hughes will be a star.
Interesting.
Inning are innings, no, regardless of if the guy started the game or not?
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Innings are innings, but there’s a reason why some pitchers start, and some relieve.
Hamels and Lester are lefty’s.
Big points in there favor.