Comments on: Time for Garza to realize potential

By: Cubs reportedly close to acquiring Matt Garza | HardballTalk

Cubs reportedly close to acquiring Matt Garza | HardballTalk — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 07:18:43 +0000

[...] Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Carlos Silva. The 27-year-old has shown flashes of brilliance, throwing a no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers last July 26, and a one-hitter in [...]

By: Ick McWang

Ick McWang — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:18:30 +0000

Garza has phenomenal stuff. His only problem in the years I’ve watched him on the Rays is that he sometimes can’t control his emotions, or lets a bad call get in his head, and gets shelled for 4 or 5 batters. He could win 20 games if he can get his head right.

By: ryanbyrne19

ryanbyrne19 — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:08:03 +0000

In defense of Bud Smith he was a top prospect for St Louis’s (#39 rated by Baseball America) when he was a rookie in 2001. He finished 4th in the ROY voting that year. His no hitter wasn’t any more out of no where than Braden or Galarraga. I think he hurt his arm which lead to his quick downfall.

By: malavya

malavya — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:52:52 +0000

You should get fined. You’re always supposed to say ‘wide-eyed rookie,’ not ‘wild-eyed’

By: BC

BC — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:14:59 +0000

I saw him pitch for New Britain (Twins AA) a while back. Absolutely devastating stuff. Fastball really moves and he can crank it up to 97 or 98 when he needs to.
You never know, though. Maybe his emotions mess with things. Or if you completely dominate coming through the minors, then in the majors you don’t, that has to mess with you.
I remember seeing Todd Stottlemyre years ago when he first came up – sat right behind home plate in I think the old stadium in Cleveland. His pitches moved all over the place – I think he threw like a 4-hit shutout. I was convinced he was going to be really good. Ending up being serviceable, but I wouldn’t call him even above average. Pitching is a fickle thing, I guess.

By: Matt S.

Matt S. — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:21:19 +0000

He’s only 26? Wow.
I remember him coming through Rochester (Twins’ AAA), and that seems like forever ago.
Good for him – he’s always a guy I root for.