Three strikes: Surging Garcia, hittable Jimenez and wounded Eckstein
Article By smcneal.tsn on 22nd July, 2010
Stan McNeal analyzes three hot topics in Major League Baseball:
Jaime Garcia is a leading candidate to win NL Rookie of the Year. STRIKE 1: Garcia is the top rookie starter
If you haven't been paying attention to Cardinals lefthander Jaime Garcia, it's time to. For a number of reasons, including:
• If the NL rookie of the year vote were today, Garcia would be the deserved winner. He is 9-4 with a 2.21 ERA and a .234 batting average allowed -- all easily the best of any rookie who has been up all season (and better than one who arrived later; Washington's Stephen Strasburg is 5-2/2.32/.216).
• You might be able to do what scouts haven't so far and identify exactly what type of pitcher he is. Garcia isn't a soft-tossing lefty, but he isn't a 95-mph fastball guy. "He's a pitcher," said one scout who watched Garcia beat the Phillies with a seven-inning, one-run performance Wednesday night. "He's got a good curve -- not an (Adam) Wainwright curve but a good curve. Good fastball, and good changeup. I've seen him since high school and he's always had the feel for pitching."
Garcia on his repertoire: "I started throwing a slider last year and I've worked a lot on my changeup. I've always had curveball and fastball. Now my sinker, slider and changeup are better."
He hesitates to use the slider in crunch time but none of the others.
• Unless the Cardinals trade for Roy Oswalt -- don't hold your breath -- Garcia likely will remain their third-best starter. Considering he had Tommy John surgery less than two years ago and pitched only 37 2/3 innings in the minor leagues in 2009, you have to wonder how well he will hold up in August, September and, who knows, October.
Garcia already has made 19 starts and worked 110 innings. The Cardinals have not said -- publicly, anyway -- what his max will be, but they will continue to closely monitor...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
Jaime Garcia is a leading candidate to win NL Rookie of the Year. STRIKE 1: Garcia is the top rookie starter
If you haven't been paying attention to Cardinals lefthander Jaime Garcia, it's time to. For a number of reasons, including:
• If the NL rookie of the year vote were today, Garcia would be the deserved winner. He is 9-4 with a 2.21 ERA and a .234 batting average allowed -- all easily the best of any rookie who has been up all season (and better than one who arrived later; Washington's Stephen Strasburg is 5-2/2.32/.216).
• You might be able to do what scouts haven't so far and identify exactly what type of pitcher he is. Garcia isn't a soft-tossing lefty, but he isn't a 95-mph fastball guy. "He's a pitcher," said one scout who watched Garcia beat the Phillies with a seven-inning, one-run performance Wednesday night. "He's got a good curve -- not an (Adam) Wainwright curve but a good curve. Good fastball, and good changeup. I've seen him since high school and he's always had the feel for pitching."
Garcia on his repertoire: "I started throwing a slider last year and I've worked a lot on my changeup. I've always had curveball and fastball. Now my sinker, slider and changeup are better."
He hesitates to use the slider in crunch time but none of the others.
• Unless the Cardinals trade for Roy Oswalt -- don't hold your breath -- Garcia likely will remain their third-best starter. Considering he had Tommy John surgery less than two years ago and pitched only 37 2/3 innings in the minor leagues in 2009, you have to wonder how well he will hold up in August, September and, who knows, October.
Garcia already has made 19 starts and worked 110 innings. The Cardinals have not said -- publicly, anyway -- what his max will be, but they will continue to closely monitor...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
Readers Comments
Related News
Featured Sponsors
Interested in getting MLB Tickets for this coming season? The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. Get your New York Yankees Tickets today!
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
