Any Jeffress news?

[silversurferr]

How has Jeffress looked this Spring?

[TheCrew07]

Pitched well in a recent scrimmage

[silversurferr]

Any chance he is ready for the bigs by August?

[TheCrew07]

There's always a chance, but it's small I would think.

[ILuvDaBush]

I continue to wonder if he'll be given the "Papelbon" treatment if the HoF goes down. He definitely has the arsenal and he could really thrive but much like I feel about Paps, it would be a gross misuse of his potential. He could be Clemens/Pedro-good.

[sheetskout]

Oh please don't get into the Papelbon/Joba scenario. I think Jeffress will be at the very minimum a serviceable #3 who will miss bats. I hope they don't shift him to the pen for future closer duties. Please! No!

[southpaw121505]

I'd also like to see him used as a starter until he shows he cant be a starter, which I dont see happening. With the lack of top end pitching prospects in our system I'm surprised people aren't more excited about him. Maybe it's just my perception, but it's surprising to me how few people are really high on a 21 year old with the disgusting stuff he has. I think he has the highest potential of anyone in the Brewers system. Maybe I've overrated him because of our lack of an ability to develop pitching?

[Tbadder]

I think Brewer fans have every right to be timid when it comes to pitching prospects. Last night on MLB Network they recognized Teddy Higuera as the organization best all-time pitcher! Teddy Higuera? You gotta be kidding me. He's the best we've produced since 1970? Isn't that a little sickening? Heck, I don't even believe in Parra, why get starry-eyed about Jeffress? I was really big on Gallardo, but now he's one injury away from forming a pattern ala Benny. So yeah, I feel completely gunshy about any pitching on the prospect radar. I think once the Brewers produce a real wave of pitchers, four, five, six of 'em just like Rickie, JJ, Corey, Braun, and Prince then we can find the confidence to believe.

[endaround]

I'm not sure you realize how sick Higuera was in 86-88. Sheets is a tick below but its close.

[silversurferr]

Yep, when thinking of Teddy H., people seem to remember the injuries and the contract rather than how great he was for those three or so years. Even after that, he was a decent pitcher. Two other noteworthy home growns: Plesac and Eldred.

[kramnoj]

I'm optimistic about Jeffress, but there's only so much to say while waiting for a prospect to develop. I certainly don't expect him to contribute to the club in 2009. Beyond that, it's just wait and see for me. As I look at it, he's at least a year behind Gallardo in terms of development at the same age. So with Gallardo becoming a good contributor to the Brewers at age 21, I see Jeffress doing so at age 22 at the earliest, and that will be hugely dependent on how he does going forward.

[Tbadder]

Oh I realize how good Higuera was. When it was 3-2, you just knew the hammer was coming and there wasn't a thing a hitter could do. It was a thing of beauty.

[mnevis]

I believe I read a scout's analysis of Jeffress as a Johnny Cueto/Ervin Santana type. If so, give me some of that. I love the approach of acquiring guys like Jeffress and Mark Rogers. If they get lucky with these guys, with the next wave of prospects The Crew can be fiscally sound and good. Even though Rogers' star his faded somewhat. I am sure that is the understatement of the year.