Young starters trying to make the long-term leap

[RME JICO]

Gavin Floyd, White Sox (2-0, 2.03 ERA)

Floyd's penchant for exhaustive self-analysis helped brand him as "soft'' in Philadelphia, and his shortcomings were made more stark by the rapid ascent of fellow uber-prospect Cole Hamels. Pitchers usually don't give thanks when they're traded from the National League to the American League, but the Phillies did Floyd a favor when they sent him to Chicago in the Freddy Garcia deal.

 

Floyd's curveball has always been a show-stopper, and when he's on his game he has plenty of fastball and an adequate changeup. But the Phillies thought he was guilty of drifting back in his delivery and had become too deliberate and robotic on the mound. He never embraced the organization's efforts to change that.

 

Until Floyd strings together two or three good months, the questions will persist -- that he's too nice a kid, too plagued by self doubt and too lacking in the requisite mean streak. But he sure didn't look tentative in throwing 7 1/3 no-hit innings against Detroit last weekend. His teammates all noticed.

 

"It's still just two starts, but you see a difference in his demeanor on the mound, how he carries himself, the way he walks around in the clubhouse,'' catcher A.J. Pierzynski told the Chicago Sun-Times. "He feels he belongs here.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/stor...ce=MLBHeadlines

 

 

[SoxFan1]

They also mention John Danks out-pitching Eveland the other day.

[RME JICO]

They also mention John Danks out-pitching Eveland the other day.

Eveland is #7, so that makes Danks #6. YES!