Is Andrew Cashner a Ground Ball Pitcher?

Not really.

almost 2 years ago Harry Pavlidis 14 comments 0 recs |

Comments

who calls him a ground ball pitcher

I’m mildly curious, because I’ve never thought of him that way. He’s a power arm that goes with 4 seamer and slider, while occasionally mixing in a 2 seamer and trying to develop that change (and I don’t think the 2-seamer percentage rate is all that high).

by toonsterwu on Mar 2, 2010 6:30 PM CST reply actions

I was mostly picking one one site

ACB.
Keith Law correctly called him a GB pitcher but not an extreme one. Cashner talks about getting grounders with his circle change, and, as you mentioned, you doesn’t throw many two-seamers
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=9977

He’s remarkably average on batted ball distributions. But he avoids walks and strikes out more than average.

by Harry Pavlidis on Mar 2, 2010 7:01 PM CST up reply actions

Perhaps if he hangs around Maddux long enough?

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim

by Doggie Stalker on Mar 2, 2010 7:25 PM CST up reply actions

Greg Maddux was a ground ball pitcher

So was Rick Reuschel. Seemed to work out pretty damned well with those fellas.

Personally, I think the Cubs are mis-managing Andrew Cashner. And I’m not the only one who thinks it very odd to try to ram him into the role of a starting pitcher. Then have the stupid audacity after all of that to say he has excellent shot to make the Cub bullpen in 2010.

Cashner appears to be a Rick Aguilera type pitcher. Hence I’m guessing why Genius Jim and the putrid “how do on earth do I still have a job” Oneri Fleita think they can have him shift roles and not screw up his development and ability to reach maximum potential.

The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.

by BLou on Mar 2, 2010 9:02 PM CST reply actions

Many people think

It’s advisable to have MLB relievers build arm strength and durability as starters in the minors. I’m not going to disagree. I would prefer Cashner start in Tennessee/Iowa in 2010, and then fill whatever role comes along in 2011. It’s not like they’ve been bouncing him through roles in the minors.

If he is markedly better than the seventh man in the pen, I’ll not be terribly upset him pitching in Wrigley this year. I think June 2010 would be a reasonable compromise.

BTW, we should have a decent number of reasonably good available options in Tennessee and Iowa this year for shuttling up and back.

by timh815 on Mar 2, 2010 9:26 PM CST up reply actions

Andrew Cashner shapes up as the best pitching prospect in this system

Therefore I REALLY don’t like the notion of jerking him around in terms of role. It Genius Jim and his sidekick Oneri Fleita REALLY think he has a future as a starting pitcher, then let him spend the season starting down in the minors. But I suspect the “braintrust” doesn’t have a friggin clue on how to properly treat Cashner.

I absolutely cannot wait for the press conference announcing that Hendry is being whacked. And that day is coming folks.

The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.

by BLou on Mar 2, 2010 9:47 PM CST reply actions

I 100% agree.

A 0-0 record is unacceptable.

by mgrace17 on Mar 2, 2010 10:50 PM CST up reply actions

In which sense of the word do you mean "whacked?"

whack (hwk, wk)
v. whacked, whack·ing, whacks

v.tr.
1. To strike (someone or something) with a sharp blow; slap.
2. Slang To kill deliberately; murder.

v.intr.
To deal a sharp, resounding blow.

n.
1. A sharp, swift blow.
2. The sound made by a sharp, swift blow.

Phrasal Verb:
whack off Vulgar Slang
To masturbate.

Idioms:
have/take a whack at Informal
To try out; attempt.

out of whack Informal
Improperly ordered or balanced; not functioning correctly.

whacked out Slang
1. Exhausted.
2. Crazy.
3. Under the influence of a mind-altering drug.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/whack

"A waist is a terrible thing to mind." - Terry 'Fat Tub of Goo' Forster
@Twitter as @brommmietze

by eths on Mar 3, 2010 4:57 AM CST up reply actions

fired

by ol Pete on Mar 3, 2010 7:56 AM CST up reply actions

OT: Nice Article on Carpenter and Wainwright

Harry,

You wrote a great article comparing Carpenter and Wainwright in the Cardinals Maple Street Annual. I believe by a very thin margin I would take Carpenter, but there truly was not much difference in performance between the two.

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Mar 3, 2010 12:12 PM CST reply actions

Thanks

I lean towards Wainwright, since he’s been healthier

by Harry Pavlidis on Mar 6, 2010 11:35 PM CST up reply actions

Point Taken

If I were a GM, I’d definitely prefer to have Wainwright because of Carpenter’s injury history. I thought Carpenter was an ever so slightly better pitcher than Wainwright last season.

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Mar 9, 2010 5:30 PM CST up reply actions

I Do

Nice plug for your blog, you can’t change the facts.He has a career 47.4 GB% and a GB to FB rate of 1.48. Do you even care how many ML starters had a rate that high? ONE

2008 Four
2007 Seven
2006 Five
2005 Seven
2004 Four

Saying he has an average ground ball tendancy is grossly understated.

I reject your reality and substitute my own.

by WayneCampbell08 on Mar 4, 2010 2:47 PM CST reply actions

You can

but there’s a reason to compare MiLB stats to their own peers/league, not major league pitchers. The overall distribution is different, GB rates predictably drop as players advance.

I also said he’s above average, not by a lot, but he’s clearly above average. 104 > 100

by Harry Pavlidis on Mar 6, 2010 11:36 PM CST up reply actions