Question of the day: Ben Sheets
Simply put, he's very good when healthy ... and he's very often not healthy. There are questions about his shoulder and elbow, both fairly important body parts on a pitcher. But with Derek Lowe (for all intents) off to new pastures, the Blue are short a high-end starter, and that could make Sheets appealing despite wild visions of Jason Schmidt, Part Deux.
So on to today's QOTD: Let's say it required a multiyear offer to get a deal done. Would you make a run at him?
Before you answer, it's worth reading this great breakdown from our friends at AZSnakepit.com, which looks at the positives and negatives involved.
BK
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I CANNOT beleive I am agreeing with someone that calls himself "Joe the Plumber" EEK!
BUT, I agree that Perez' effectiveess is the question and not his health. Do we REALLY want another potential Schmidt or Dreifort on our roster? Does anyone remember that Dreifort was drafted ahead of ARod and then proceeded to have a career filled with (very) brief glimpses of what he could have been and lots of periods (did I mention LOTS?) when he could not pitch at all? Perez makes more sense than Sheets given that we already have a staff full of younger guys - Billz, Kershaw, McDonald. What do we really expect in '09...no, really? That kind of a staff isn't taking you to the World Series...yet. But success is contagious and on a staff full of young guys with him Perez just might rise to his prior abilities. Plus, he's cheaper.
Posted by: Dan in Pasadena | January 05, 2009 at 06:25 PM
I understand that people are worried about the injury risk with someone like Sheets. Nobody wants another Jason Schmidt. But I'd rather have Schmidt than Brett Tomko. Schmidt sitting on the DL doesn't hurt the team as much as Bomko throwing every five days. So I'd rather take a flyer on Sheets being healthy than giving a multi-year deal to a mediocre pitcher and then wishing he'd wind up on the DL...
On the other hand, somebody made an interesting point about how the Brewers don't seem to be pursuing Sheets at all, despite his price falling, and that may be rather telling.
Posted by: Valmont | January 06, 2009 at 08:41 AM
Sheets throws a four-seam fastball clocked between 94-98 mph (151-158 km/h), a curveball in the 80-83 mph (129-134 km/h) range, and a changeup that arrives in the mid-70's. Sheets also has great command of his three pitches, as evidenced by the outstanding strikeout-walk ratios he has posted over recent seasons.
In 2004 his WHIP was less than 1.0 and last year was close to 1.1. He managed to pitch 198+ innings last season--which ain't bad for a guy who supposedly has health history problems. Understand, he's in his prime at around 30 and has never had to undergo reconstructive arm or shoulder surgery.
He once struck out 18 batters in a game and holds the record for ringing up 3 consecutive batters in one inning on just 9 pitches.
We haven't seen stuff the quality of Ben's since Drysdale retired. Hell, Drysdale didn't Ben's stuff!
If we can get him for 3 years 36 million and still sign Mannyman--we'd be half way to the world series.
Posted by: lawdog | January 06, 2009 at 12:55 PM
The Dodgers are a bunch of worthless TRASH! You guys are being manipulated like a SMALL MARKET Team! Bunch of frigging loosers!
Posted by: Yankees World Champs! | January 06, 2009 at 06:23 PM