I’m very happy for Brian Bannister.  The guy doesn’t have good stuff, that much has been declared by scouts and most MLB teams.  But Bannister does have excellent control and a strong mind for pitching.  It’s always nice to see, in this world of machismo and muscles, a guy who can survive without being able to throw the ball through a brick wall. 

I don’t want to harp on the Mets singularly, because although they have traded away two pitchers in the last decade who are now good and great starters, respectively, it’s awfully hard to project a guy like Bannister (no excuse for Scott Kazmir.  None.)  Banny (as the illustrious Joe Posnanski refers to him) never was really awesome in the Minors, but he was always steady.  The thing is that what makes a pitcher steady at Double-A will probably make him a piñata in the Bigs.  But Bannister also seemed to realize this, so he got smarter.  According to Poz, Bannister is now a numbers guy (just like his manager, Trey Hillman), so he can see trends in pitcher performance.  Sadly, for Bannister, I see one that’s not going to last for him: .178 BABIP.  Whoa.

What’s the problem with a .178 BABIP?  BABIP is the measure of “Batting Average on Balls In Play”, or, essentially, what percentage of the balls hit into play (in this case, against Brian Bannister) go for hits.  .178 is worse than Neifi Perez!  Now, to be fair, Banny’s career BABIP is fairly low, .264.  Still, his 2008 mark is an astounding .178.  When that comes up, his low K rate won’t be able to sustain the .86 ERA he’s thrown up.  I’d expect about a 4.50 ERA at year’s end. 

It’s usually not smart to ruin against your theories and opinions, but I’d be very okay if Bannister made me look like an idiot and won the Cy Young with a sterling win-loss record and barely over 100 strikeouts in 225 innings.  I think that’d be sweet.

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Barry Zito.  (Please, no jokes about that insane 7 year, 126 Million Dollar albatross of a contract he signed.)  He starts tonight (tonight meaning Wednesday).  He faces the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team that has the ability to swing a slightly rounded off object with high amounts of force.  I don’t like The Other Big Z’s chances.

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The Mets fans booed Johan Santana after he got pounded in his home opener at Shea.   I tried to warn you, Omar Minaya, but you just wouldn’t listen.  What else did you expect to happen?  You went and traded Phil Humber for that joke?   No fretting though, Metropolitan fans!  He’s doing better than Frosty Top ever did.

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Yankees!  Red Sox!  Wang!  Buchholz!  I know, I know, nothing is harped on more than Yankees and Red Sox (by the way, in Robby Neyer’s chat over at the Four Letters That Shall’nt Be Named, a question included the dandy ‘Epstein Steinbrenner Programming Network’ in it’s wording.  I thought that was great).  Still, I’d like to talk about them because, well, IT’S THE YANKEES AND RED SOX!

I watched with supreme anticipation Sunday night as Phil Hughes (!!!) stepped onto the mound in Fenway for his first dance with the guys who wear the socks with Red.  Both good and bad happened, the way I see it. 
 
 His stuff looked dynamite; as good as I’ve ever seen it.  Very crisp and snapping 93-94 MPH fastball, including one that he blew Manny Ramirez away with.  His curveball was also nasty, and he tore Dustin Pedroia up with one in the first inning.  Still, Hughes only went 2 innings, but he made it worth it, giving up six hits, seven runs (six earned) with walking and striking out three.  His first inning was long and very tedious, and all came down to his command.  It simply wasn’t there.  He couldn’t consistently get strikes over the plate, and when he did, often times it was a fastball over the heart of the dish.  Those pitches won’t work, sorry. 

However, that’s no reason to fret.  Hughes is 21 years old, you know.  He struggled, it happens.  I’m pleased to see that his velocity and break on his pitches is as strong as ever, and even though he didn’t have the command Sunday, I’m still giddy with excitement over his future.  He’s going to be really, really good, and even if it takes until next year for him to lock in, that’s okay. 

 The kid’s going to be a star. 

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Speaking of stars, Justin Upton could be arriving a year earlier than I expected.  Holy crap.  If the Diamondbacks start to bloom (they’re loaded) then watch out.  Upton, Chris Young, Conor Jackson, Stephen Drew… with Eric Byrnes and the best right handed starter in the sport, all on the same club?  Watch out, because that team can win a pennant.

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One last thing before I go.  Wanna know how I know it’s early?  A Pittsburgh Pirate has an OPS north of a thousand.  Gotta love baseball.

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