#27 Jorge Bucardo, RHP. BD: 10/18/1989. 6'1", 155 lbs. B-R, T-R.
Low A: 9-4, 2.21, 114 IP, 31 BB, 95 K, GO/AO= 2.17. A+: 2-2, 4.42, 38.2 IP, 19 BB, 26 K, GO/AO=1.75.
Jorge Bucardo was just listed as the top pitcher in the Giants organization by Jonathan Mayo of mlb.com, so I'm probably ranking him way too low here, once again. Bucardo had a very good season for Augusta at age 20 so he was fairly young for the league even though it was low A. He struggled a bit after his promotion to San Jose, but it was late in the season and he may have been worn down by then.
His numbers were similar to what he's put up in the past, decent K and BB rates with an extreme GB tendency. My problem with Bucardo is how that holds up at higher levels. Extreme GB pitchers are not all that uncommon in the low minors. The percentage who can maintain it at AAA and MLB is miniscule. They can be very good pitchers at higher levels but not very many make it that far. What you see more commonly are pitchers who were big strikeout pitchers in the low minors who learn to keep it on the ground at higher levels. Those are the guys who are more likely to make it. I haven't done an exhaustive study of the backgrounds of MLB pitchers so can't prove it, but that's my impression.
Bucardo has a wiry frame and a slinging low 3/4's or even sidearm delivery. He should start the season in San Jose where he will be again fairly young for the league. The Cal League is a tough place to pitch so it will be a good test for him. If he does well, I'll be forced to move him much higher on next year's list.
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I think it is fair to say that we need to lock up Cain and Lincecum long term. Bumgarner is in our control for a long time. The two pitchers that seem to be on their way out in the next few years is Sanchez and Zito. Sanchez is in almost every trade scenario and Zito is, well Zito. I am glad we have Wheeler, Surkamp, and Bucardo. Hopefully one or two of them will pan out.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I would pay any price to lock up Cain and Lincecum. Of the two it would be tougher for me to see Cainer pitching in another uniform. If it's going to take CC money to lock them up it might be better to trade them before it comes down to that. The Giants would need to get some high ceiling MLB ready prospects in return, at least one pitcher.
ReplyDeleteI have the same impression, pitchers like Kevin Pucetas and others who succeed at the lower levels but then falter once they reach AA or AAA or the MLB, big fallout rate for those who can't strike out batters.
ReplyDeleteSanchez is a goner, Scott Boras is his agent.
I think Cain will sign for a home discount or at least won't ask for the moon, he loves SF, lives in SF, married someone in SF area, the Giants are his team as he grew up not following any particular team, plus, as the controversy over Cain that erupted recently showed, teams will probably undervalue what he can do anyway and his money on the market will be less.
Lincecum, however, will ask for what he is worth, that is his history, from turning down the Indian's big bonus because he wanted $1M, to the Giants paying over slot for him at $2M when it should have been $1.8M, to his pushing to brink of arbitration last season. And what is a pitcher who won Cy Young awards in his first two full seasons, first ever to do it, worth?
I'm hoping they will be reasonable in exchange for a huge contract, sign 4-5 years for $20-22M per year average, so that they get the guaranteed money, but after that he will probably want $25-30M average, like Pujols is asking for. Or A-Rod. His accomplishments are in that range.
Hopefully the Giants can get the contract signed this spring, as I have hopes that he will be even better in 2011 than 2008-9, sub-2 ERA, given that he now have swing and miss pitches for both lefties and righties now, with his slider and changeup. He'll ask for the moon if he does that, so better to try to get something done NOW, after a relatively down season in 2010.