Red Sox Scouting Stetter

[Mass Haas]

Boston Globe

Mitch Stetter, LHP, Brewers - More than anything, he's now known for giving up Gary Sheffield's 500th homer, but he's a situational lefty who is on the Red Sox' radar. Stetter, 28, has allowed lefties a .170 average (23 strikeouts in 47 at-bats) and righties a .151 average. The Sox, who scouted him last week, are simply being thorough and exploring options in case they come to need another lefty in the pen.

 

Yeah, because the Brewers are such also-rans; perhaps if the Brewers think Swindle can handle the job solo...ask for Youkilis.

[WisconsinSportsRule]

The Red Sox aren't very smart if they think we will give up our only good LOOGY.

[kramnoj]

Baseball guys have to write something, and they need to write more on Sundays. This isn't a story. That's one of the reasons that teams employ major league scouts, to file reports on other players in preparation of trades that never take place.

[Invader3K]

I hate the term "scouting" used in regards to talent already up at the MLB level. It's like it's implying the Brewers are a feeder team for the Red Sox or something.

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

I'd ask for the reigning AL MVP in return

[brewdude15]

If they want Stetter, then I'd ask for Delcarmen. We'd be out a LOOGY, but it'd be worth it I guess.

[JoeHova]

Odd, why would they think the Brewers would be especially interested in moving a guy who they have under control for 6 seasons? I don't know that Stetter is all that valuable, but really, that makes them less likely to deal him.

[TooLiveBrew]

I think the BoSox are just checking out good RPs around the league. I didn't see it as a slight. "Scout" is still the job title at the MLB level unless I'm mistaken.

[ILuvDaBush]

I could imagine some realistic packages that the two teams could come to agree on. The Sawx are about to be the benefeciaries of the uncommon problem of having "Too much starting pitching." Or perhaps this is just a reflection of Stetter's worth, as in of all the LOOGys out there, there southpaw the Sawx are most interested in would be Stetter.

[nate82]

I could imagine some realistic packages that the two teams could come to agree on. The Sawx are about to be the benefeciaries of the uncommon problem of having "Too much starting pitching." Or perhaps this is just a reflection of Stetter's worth, as in of all the LOOGys out there, there southpaw the Sawx are most interested in would be Stetter.

Masterson and Buchholz come to mind in a deal. I would rather get Kennedy from the Yankees over both of them though. Masterson and Buchholz is probably asking way to much in return for Stetter Masterson more so than Buchholz just depends on how far Buchholz stock has dropped in Boston.

[trwi7]

Really? I would take Masteron and Buchholz over Kennedy every day of the week. We would definitely need to add much more in addition to Stetter to get either Masterson or Buchholz though.

[nate82]

Really? I would take Masteron and Buchholz over Kennedy every day of the week. We would definitely need to add much more in addition to Stetter to get either Masterson or Buchholz though.

I believe Kennedy is more like a Dave Bush type of a starter. I'm not sold on Buchholz at all and he maybe all hype from the Red Sox. Masterson I like a little bit more but Kennedy is someone I would really like on the Brewers.

 

Yes more would be needed for Masterson but not much more would be needed to be added to get Buchholz depending on how far Buchholz stock has dropped with the Red Sox. If the Red Sox were confident in Masterson and Buchholz to be in the rotation I don't see why they would have gone after both Penny and Smoltz.

[kramnoj]

If the Red Sox were confident in Masterson and Buchholz to be in the rotation I don't see why they would have gone after both Penny and Smoltz.

 

Because teams often need depth in SP. And in the AL East, just a game or two from random AAA pitching could mean the difference between playoff glory or golf.

[ILuvDaBush]

I think the Sawx envision their long-term SP to be:

 

Dice-K

Lester

Buccholz

 

I could see them making Masterson available, but he's going to cost a good package, presumably Hardy+ (Stetter??). Buccholz is still considered to be a top pitching prospect. And as for the Kennedy proclamation, I don't see it. Perhaps you meant Phil Hughes, but he could be just as much a product of the hypefest that is New York. But that's neither here nor there because the Yanks don't seem to be interested in the LOOGy and I don't see them (nor us) attempting to fix an unbroken situation in centerfield.

[TooLiveBrew]

Hughes actually looked great in his most recent start. I still think he's going to be a good one for a long time.

[hauser42]

Really? I would take Masteron and Buchholz over Kennedy every day of the week. We would definitely need to add much more in addition to Stetter to get either Masterson or Buchholz though.

I believe Kennedy is more like a Dave Bush type of a starter. I'm not sold on Buchholz at all and he maybe all hype from the Red Sox. Masterson I like a little bit more but Kennedy is someone I would really like on the Brewers.

 

Yes more would be needed for Masterson but not much more would be needed to be added to get Buchholz depending on how far Buchholz stock has dropped with the Red Sox. If the Red Sox were confident in Masterson and Buchholz to be in the rotation I don't see why they would have gone after both Penny and Smoltz.

 

If you believe that Red Sox over hype their young players then you know that the Yankees do this even more. All kinds of Yankee players come up with all potential to never do anything.

 

Kennedy would be at best a #3 guy in the rotation and looks like he could end up as a #5/ long reliever type guy. He reminds me a lot of former Brewer farm hand Will Inman. Good stats at lower levels but plateaus when he reaches the higher minors.

[nate82]

If you believe that Red Sox over hype their young players then you know that the Yankees do this even more. All kinds of Yankee players come up with all potential to never do anything.

 

Kennedy would be at best a #3 guy in the rotation and looks like he could end up as a #5/ long reliever type guy. He reminds me a lot of former Brewer farm hand Will Inman. Good stats at lower levels but plateaus when he reaches the higher minors.

I still believe Kennedy is more of a Dave Bush type of a pitcher. What is so bad about an at best #3 guy in the rotation. You can't have an ace at every spot in the rotation. Kennedy will be fine once he leaves the AL East and I believe he would thrive like Bush in the NL. He wouldn't be the greatest starter in the world for the Brewers but he will be someone that will be cheap and affordable for the Brewers.

 

Yes the Yankees hype their prospects all teams hype their prospects. I don't see Kennedy as a #1 or #2 type starter that the hype machine was making everyone believe Kennedy would be. At best Kennedy is a #3 starter I would put him in the rotation over Suppan and McClung right now if the Brewers had him.

[kramnoj]

Kennedy would be at best a #3 guy in the rotation and looks like he could end up as a #5/ long reliever type guy. He reminds me a lot of former Brewer farm hand Will Inman. Good stats at lower levels but plateaus when he reaches the higher minors.

 

Which stats is this referring to? I don't see much of a difference. I think the "Yankee Hype" has had a pendulum effect that has swung so far that some non-Yankee fans discount some Yankee prospects too much. How many Brewers prospects have stats that are better than Kennedy?

[trwi7]

Which stats is this referring to? I don't see much of a difference. I think the "Yankee Hype" has had a pendulum effect that has swung so far that some non-Yankee fans discount some Yankee prospects too much. How many Brewers prospects have stats that are better than Kennedy?

It's not just about stats, it's about stuff. Jeremy Jeffress doesn't have great stats, but he has great stuff. If he puts that stuff together, he's an ace. Kennedy on the other hand throws around 90 with decent off-speed stuff. He's always going to have to hit is spots because if he doesn't, he gets hits hard which limits his ceiling.

[kramnoj]

It's not just about stats, it's about stuff.

 

Yes. That's obviously true. [/i]

 

Kennedy on the other hand throws around 90 with decent off-speed stuff. He's always going to have to hit is spots because if he doesn't, he gets hits hard which limits his ceiling. [/i]

 

That certainly is the thing that holds him back in the minds of many. Yet he still finds a way to k 9.9/9 over his minor league career, and I don't find any minor league stops where he has been hit hard.

 

If Kennedy was in the Brewers system, would any prospect be clearly better than him to earn a rotation spot in 2010? How many are poised to be better than him in 2011?

[nate82]

Kennedy on the other hand throws around 90 with decent off-speed stuff. He's always going to have to hit is spots because if he doesn't, he gets hits hard which limits his ceiling.

You are describing Dave Bush here almost to a T. Really the comparison of Dave Bush and Ian Kennedy is very accurate. Bush has done well in Milwaukee and he has been showing why he is the teams #3 starter. I really don't see why so many people don't really like Kennedy that much. Yes his stuff isn't all that great but he is a #3 starter at best and he is very comparable to Dave Bush.

[dadofandrew]

Kennedy is only 24, and has had incredible success in AAA. If he can get healthy again, he'll make millions. A guy like Bush or even Suppan is not a bad comparison...heaven forbid he be a solid SP for 5-10 years in MLB.

 

He's unlikely to be a high ceiling guy like Yo, but few are.

[trwi7]

Yet he still finds a way to k 9.9/9 over his minor league career, and I don't find any minor league stops where he has been hit hard.

 

Right, good control, he's facing some younger batters, he's obviously not going to get hit hard. I'm talking about the majors. More experienced and patient hitters and his walks have skyrocketed, same with the number of hits he's allowed. He has to have perfect command to not get smacked around.

 

If Kennedy was in the Brewers system, would any prospect be clearly better than him to earn a rotation spot in 2010?

Who cares? Just because he would be the closest doesn't mean he's good. I would say Jeffress and Anundsen could be close in 2011.

 

I'm not saying he's bad. I'm saying he's just limited to a #4 starter most likely. That's fine, #4 starters making next to nothing have a lot of value, I'd just prefer Buchholz and Masterson over Kennedy.

[kramnoj]

More experienced and patient hitters and his walks have skyrocketed, same with the number of hits he's allowed.

 

I'm not seeing this.

 

Who cares? Just because he would be the closest doesn't mean he's good. I would say Jeffress and Anundsen could be close in 2011.

 

I care. The Brewers may need another starter in 2010, and will need a replacement for Bush and Suppan after that. Kennedy would improve the Brewers system. Anyone who is derisive of Kennedy's potential is ignoring how valuable he could be to the Brewers.

[Hate those Rodents]

I am not sure that we can trade Stetter at this point. Maybe if Swindle proves he can be an above average, we'd be able to. But the fact that conventional wisdom has most teams with two lefties in their bullpen makes me think a contending team like ours should have at least one good one. Stetter at this point is all we have to offer in that capacity unless you believe Swindle is ready to be the guy.