PREFERS TEMPLE'S OFFENSE TO PRINCETON'S
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Since we are talking a lot about Roy Halladay trade scenarios, I thought it would be interesting to see which prospects people most want to hold on to. . . . I think that most of us would trade pretty much anyone for Halladay, but I'm sure there are certain players we would want to keep over others. Feel free to explain your answer in comments.
although Drabek has incredible upside and potential, I'd be willing to part with him more than Happ because Happ has experience, and so far has proven himself to be a solid starter. Keep Happ and your rotation is:
Halladay
Hamels
Happ
Blanton
Moyer
Drabek would be my choice. Happ is a nice pitcher and is already established in the bigs, but Drabek has a far higher ceiling. I'd trade anyone else to get Halladay. But I think the Jays would insist on Drabek.
There is no way you can even compare Happ with Drabek. Drabek can hit 94-95 consistantly and even push his velo up to 96-97. His curveball is a hammer and his fastball has late movement. While he projects as a solid number 2 or a closer, Happ has already proven that he belongs near the back of a rotation. It just happens that since Moyer and Blanton have struggled Happ looks good.
We know what have in Happ (a solid, not spectacular rotation guy), but Drabek, while clearly having more upside, is still an unknown quantity. Maybe his arm won't be able to take the beating it gets throwing that hard, he's already had Tommy John surgery for that reason. Maybe they decide to make him a closer. Who knows. I'd rather keep Drabek because of his potential, but Happ is an interesting case.
Happ is much more of a known commodity at this point. Granted he's not a top of the rotation guy, but if we're getting Halladay we don't need him to be one. With Halladay, Hamels, and Blanton, Happ will be just fine as a #4 starter.
I get that Drabek's ceiling is higher than Happ's. It's just that I don't know if it's worth it to create another hole in our rotation right now and gamble on Drabek reaching that ceiling at some unknown point in the future.
I can't help it. I know all about the objectivity of the job and all of that, but I really can't help it.
I really hope Shane Victorino makes it to the All-Star Game next week in St. Louis.
There, I said it. In fact, I told Victorino as much before Monday night's game against the Reds. Of course I told him this after I busted his stones about Pablo Sandoval having far superior statistics and that the Giants' rookie really suffered an injustice when he wasn't named to the National League squad.
