Comments on: The value of James Anthony Happ

By: Nick

Nick — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 23:13:58 +0000

shag,
Drabek’s K/bb ratio is unreal, his velocity, command, and pitch assortment is perfect, scouts everywhere are saying hes one of the best arms they’ve ever seen.
How can you say JA Happ is a proven starter when hes hardly been a starter for half of ONE season??? Hes doing great right now and I love it but hes gonna come back down to earth.
Drabek is something special and youre blind if you dont see it.

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:40:31 +0000

Happ’s got the worst K to BB of any starter on the Phillies, Moyer and Park included. His BABIP is .254, which is well below league average, so when the hits start falling a little more he’ll be getting roughed up. His fielder-independent ERA is 4.50, meaning if the Phils quality of defense wasn’t behind him, he’d probably still not have great numbers.

And never, ever judge a pitcher by their record. Remember, Hamels was 14-10 with an ERA just specks above 3, and Livan Hernandez “won” a million games for Minnesota with a godawful ERA.

Happ is going to come back down to earth. All we can do is hope it’s for Toronto. I like the guy, but we have to capitalize on his value as it’s absolutely overinflated right now.

By: shag beta sigma delta

shag beta sigma delta — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:40:33 +0000

Nick you are stoned, Drabek has pitched half a season if not less in AA, and you are comparing him to Hamels, pass the joint,
I do not see anywhere in my post that says Happ has stuff of an Ace, but reasoning do you have to say hitters will catch up with his stuff, he is a good 3 maybe 2, also I do not think he will never lose a game, but be a guy that will go 7 8 innings, and give up 2 or 3 runs most of his starts, And he has pitched in a pressure situation, never gets frazzeled like KK, and is way better than Eaton.
Drabek has pitched in AA, that is all, how many can’t miss guys pitch great in AA and do nothing in the Big Show, plenty,
SI did a great story on can’t miss pitchers in the majors.
Get over yourself, a proven starter is more valuable than a maybe prospect

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:16:01 +0000

happ does NOT have the stuff to continue this success. Its only a matter of time before hitters catch on, his stuff is good enough to make his a solid 4-5 starter of a rotation MAYBE a 3, but lets be honest… if you think he’s good enough to be an ace or will keep putting up these numbers, you need a reality check.

Also I cant believe people are saying trade Drabek over Happ. What a joke. Drabek has better stuff than hamels.

By: karen

karen — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:57:16 +0000

I am just really, really, really happy that i am not the only one who loves happ as a player and as a future star…he is already at the major league level which is more than can be said about drabek, carrassco, carpenter, etc

By: shag beta sigma delta

shag beta sigma delta — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:57:13 +0000

Happ has pitched well when he was up last year, and is pitching well this year he has more than one pitch, and liked I stated before, but the next post made it clearer he has composure on the mound, you do not trade him, period. There is no reason he can not get better, what basis do you have in saying we are seeing the best of JA now and people will start to figure him out, he has good stuff, nothing to figure out, he is not a one trick pony. Also has proven he can come out of the bull pen and be a success, this kind of pitcher does not show up in philly very often.
As far as Drabek, I am not saying the surgery is a negative, but you really do not know what he will do in big time games. Do I want to trade him no way. But if they are insistant on getting Halladay and have to give some one up to that trade, I would no cry over losing Drebek. Even if he becomes an Ace in the American League, as long as Doc can bring us a title and resign for a reasonable amount for the next 2 or 3 years

By: Pat Gallen

Pat Gallen — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:28:55 +0000

Phils 09: Yes, he is better than Adam Eaton. My sister is better than him, so thats not fair. But in seriousness, I put Carlton up there to show that the numbers early arent much different. Kendrick was good but faded badly as wek all know.
Happ has the stuff to stick around a long, long time, plus is lefty, and good lefties seem to be hard to come by. I agree, there is quite a gap between the two, but I think he projects out to be near the top end of a rotation. Thanks for reading.

By: phils09

phils09 — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:01:12 +0000

“Let me reiterate, I do not think J.A. Happ is Steve Carlton. But in weighing the two schools of thought, I think he’s got the tools to be much, much better than Kendrick.”

There’s quite a margin there. That’s like saying he might not be Cy Young but he’s better than Eaton.

By: Mike59

Mike59 — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:56:40 +0000

My thinking in leading a Halladay package with Happ is that Halladay/Hamels/Blanton/Moyer/Pedro > Hamels/Happ/Blanton/Moyer/Pedro. While we don’t know what Drabek will be, he profiles as a #1 starter and could be up as soon as next year (though he probably won’t be an ace as a rookie). Happ has been terrific this year, but it is also possible that we are seeing the best we will ever see out of him right now. What happens when the league has seen him a few times? He profiles as a 2/3 type and if the Jays will accept Happ in place of prospects with higher ceilings, I’m in favor. Though losing Happ hurts.

By: christopher

christopher — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:48:55 +0000

re: drabek and tommy john’s, there is a school of thought that having tommy john’s at an early age actually makes you a better pitcher for the rest of your career. i wouldn’t cite that as reason to take him down a notch as a prospect.