April 26, 201114 yr I think the Garland comparisons are pretty spot on. Jon used to throw a pretty similar breaking pitch and they have about the same velocity on that sinker, if Humber can keep pounding the zone successfully, he will be a good 5th starter for a couple years, IMO.
April 26, 201114 yr QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Apr 26, 2011 -> 09:23 PM) I am hoping that Peavy is back May 8th in Seattle where I will be watching in person I'm hoping the same ad well - he's got at least two minor leauge starts ahead as a best case. One is planned for Friday the 29th. The next start would then be may 4th. So, it looks like a best case is may 9th - which is against the halos. I was hoping to see him in Seattle too.
April 27, 201114 yr http://www.csnchicago.com/04/27/11/Sox-Dra...&feedID=661 Sox Drawer: Humber's long road back White Sox starter Phil Humber took a no-hitter against the Yankees into the seventh inning on Monday night. (AP)Wednesday, April 27, 2011 Posted: 10:43 a.m. By Chuck Garfien CSNChicago.com If everything in life went exactly in a straight line, Phil Humber would not have been flirting with a no-hitter against the New York Yankees on Monday night. He would have been doing it for them. Drafted by the Yankees in the 29th round of the 2001 MLB draft, the Texas native chose to play college ball at Rice University instead. It would be the first of many twists and turns in the baseball career for Humber, once a can’t-miss prospect thought to be a Porsche, who would soon find himself treated like a Pinto. [READ & WATCH: Dunn drops back while he waits to go deep] He’d help Rice win its first national championship in 2003. He’d be drafted by the Mets in 2004 as the third overall pick, one selection behind Justin Verlander, nine ahead of Cy Young frontrunner Jared Weaver. He was making baseball look easy. Way too easy. “When I got drafted by the Mets, I kind of just assumed I’d make a few starts in the minor leagues and just get my 10-15 year career in the big leagues,” Humber said by phone Tuesday. “I didn’t realize how hard it is to actually get here, and on top of that how much harder it is to stay.” He wouldn’t stay long. Thrown into the fire of a late-September pennant race in 2007, Humber made his first major league start against the Nationals, and gave up five runs in four-plus innings. Humber didn’t lose the game, but the Mets eventually did, not to mention a seven-game lead in the final three weeks of the season to the Phillies. That winter, the Mets lost something else: their faith in their former No. 1 pick. [READ: Will Santos be the man?] Humber was shipped off to Minnesota in the blockbuster trade for Johan Santana. The hot shot prospect who didn’t seem to have a ceiling would soon be headed towards baseball’s basement. The Twins would designate him for assignment after one season. The Royals waived him next, followed by the Athletics. “I wasn’t having fun with baseball,” Humber recalled. But while pitching winter ball in Puerto Rico in 2009, the light went on for Humber when he finally decided to turn the spotlight off. “I just wanted to go forward and play for me and not think about expectations of being traded for a big-name pitcher or for being a first-round pick that hasn’t panned out. I just wanted to play for the fun of the game.” Throwing a no-hitter against the Yankees for six innings? That sounds like fun. But watching the stone-faced Humber coast through one of the toughest lineups in baseball, you wouldn’t know it. He looked like a guy spacing out in math class, not throwing a no-no at Yankee Stadium against Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano. [FOLLOW: Chuck Garfien on Twitter] “I wasn’t thinking about who was at the plate and how many hits they had in their careers,” Humber said. “I was focused on making my pitches and as the game went on, I got more and more confident. When you’re confident out there, you’re able to really let your ability work. So I think that was the difference.” There was also the advice he received as a 12-year-old from Robert Ellis, a former major-league pitcher (and White Sox draft pick in 1990). “He would tell me, ‘If I walk up and you’re pitching, I don’t want to be able to tell by looking at you if you’re up by 10 runs or down by 10 runs.’ That’s kind of what I’ve always tried to keep in mind. And I think it helps because the other team doesn’t know if you’re having a good day or bad day by looking at your body language.” Humber’s spot in the White Sox rotation is a currently a rental. He’s holding down the fort until Jake Peavy is healthy enough to return. But when Humber gets sent to the bullpen or even back down to the minors again, he won't be the shiny new car in front of the showroom getting all the attention. He'll be the stronger, wiser 28-year-old who got knocked down and battled back. “Now I have a much greater appreciation for where I’m at," Humber said. "I don’t try to predict the future anymore. I don’t try to say, ‘If I do well, am I going to stay? Or if I don’t, am I going to get sent down?’ I just go up there and do the best I can and try to remain grateful for the opportunity and concentrate more on the moment.” Moments like Monday night. There could be lots more of them. Chuck Garfien hosts White Sox Pregame and Postgame Live on Comcast SportsNet with former Sox Bill Melton. Follow Chuck @ChuckGarfien on Twitter for up-to-the-minute Sox news and views.
April 30, 201114 yr QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Mar 25, 2011 -> 03:23 PM) Same here. lol. Please don't let this team start 10-17 or some s***. It's gonna get ugly.
April 30, 201114 yr Am I the only one that prefers Humber over Peavy? After the past 2 seasons, I've kind of lost faith in Peavy, so I'd rather stick with Humber, even if it means the Sox carries a 6-man rotation.
April 30, 201114 yr Humber has shown some talent, but Peavy has the expereince, Whether Peavy has the stamina and health to come back remains to be seen. I enjoyed watching him in the NYY game. He was real good
April 30, 201114 yr Author QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Apr 30, 2011 -> 11:51 AM) Am I the only one that prefers Humber over Peavy? After the past 2 seasons, I've kind of lost faith in Peavy, so I'd rather stick with Humber, even if it means the Sox carries a 6-man rotation. You might be, yes. One's a former Cy Young winner. The other has played for like 6 teams.
April 30, 201114 yr QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Apr 30, 2011 -> 11:51 AM) Am I the only one that prefers Humber over Peavy? After the past 2 seasons, I've kind of lost faith in Peavy, so I'd rather stick with Humber, even if it means the Sox carries a 6-man rotation. It sounds crazy, but I don't completely disagree. Humber is pitching his ass off and we very well may have caught lightning in a bottle for this season. But we're just going to immediately relegate the guy who's arguably been our best starter so far to the bullpen when Injuries McGee comes back? I think it's neither fair nor the best move for the team. QUOTE (Heads22 @ Apr 30, 2011 -> 12:16 PM) You might be, yes. One's a former Cy Young winner. The other has played for like 6 teams. That's the key. He hasn't been nearly that caliber in two seasons. There are other former Cy Young winners that I don't want pitching for my team either.
April 30, 201114 yr QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Apr 30, 2011 -> 11:51 AM) Am I the only one that prefers Humber over Peavy? After the past 2 seasons, I've kind of lost faith in Peavy, so I'd rather stick with Humber, even if it means the Sox carries a 6-man rotation. Kinda. Because Peavy doesn't really exist. He's like death from family guy. But even a semi-healthy Peavy easily trumps Humber.
April 30, 201114 yr Hopefully he keeps pitching great and we use a 6 man rotation when peavy returns.
April 30, 201114 yr Author QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Apr 30, 2011 -> 12:27 PM) It sounds crazy, but I don't completely disagree. Humber is pitching his ass off and we very well may have caught lightning in a bottle for this season. But we're just going to immediately relegate the guy who's arguably been our best starter so far to the bullpen when Injuries McGee comes back? I think it's neither fair nor the best move for the team. That's the key. He hasn't been nearly that caliber in two seasons. There are other former Cy Young winners that I don't want pitching for my team either. Well, for starters, we're paying Peavy a lot to start, so he's absolutely going to. He's still building arm strength and from all indications is on track right now to be up in the next two weeks. I'll still take my chances with Jake.
April 30, 201114 yr QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Apr 30, 2011 -> 01:27 PM) That's the key. He hasn't been nearly that caliber in two seasons. There are other former Cy Young winners that I don't want pitching for my team either. You mean, you WOULDN'T want Bartolo Colon in your starting 5?! ARE YOU NUTS!?
April 30, 201114 yr Author QUOTE (TitoMB @ Apr 30, 2011 -> 02:46 PM) You mean, you WOULDN'T want Bartolo Colon in your starting 5?! ARE YOU NUTS!? Colon's more productive than either one this year.
April 30, 201114 yr QUOTE (hi8is @ Apr 30, 2011 -> 12:51 PM) Hopefully he keeps pitching great and we use a 6 man rotation when peavy returns. Not ever, ever, ever going to happen.
April 30, 201114 yr QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Apr 30, 2011 -> 09:58 PM) Not ever, ever, ever going to happen. What makes you say that? I'd love to see some support to your very very very opinionated post
April 30, 201114 yr QUOTE (Heads22 @ Apr 30, 2011 -> 03:51 PM) Colon's more productive than either one this year. And if he is going to be hitting 95, he will be their second best starter this year.
April 30, 201114 yr QUOTE (Heads22 @ Apr 30, 2011 -> 12:16 PM) You might be, yes. One's a former Cy Young winner. The other has played for like 6 teams. Edwin Jackson? I'm with you though.
April 30, 201114 yr QUOTE (gatnom @ Apr 30, 2011 -> 06:25 PM) Edwin Jackson? I'm with you though. No, he means Humber. Humber has been on Mets, Twins, Royals, and now the Sox. So, 4 teams.
April 30, 201114 yr QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Apr 30, 2011 -> 05:35 PM) No, he means Humber. Humber has been on Mets, Twins, Royals, and now the Sox. So, 4 teams. I just thought it was dumb that he used how many teams he's been on to say that he's not good instead of the reasons he's not good.
May 1, 201114 yr QUOTE (gatnom @ Apr 30, 2011 -> 06:37 PM) I just thought it was dumb that he used how many teams he's been on to say that he's not good instead of the reasons he's not good. Well, you can deduce that the fact he has bounced around from team to team, but only 1 was through a trade is a bad sign.
May 1, 201114 yr And I imagine NO ONE thought Humber would be our best pitcher going into May. to him!
May 1, 201114 yr I really respect that job Humber's doing. He definitely has a plus curveball. I hope we find enough starts for him the rest of the way to see if we can pencil him into the 2012 rotation.
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