Kazmir Released

[James52411]

Hard to believe that a guy that was once one of the better starters in the AL could get released outright.

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/m ... id=6665950

 

[zach]

If some team wants to roll the dice, he could be a steal. They would only need to pay him league minimum.

 

[bigalexx]

He's been shelled in 4 of his 5 AAA starts, and the other one was mediocre. I can't imagine him being a Major League Pitcher again.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

Its fascinating that baseball-reference.com says he's most similar to another guy who imploded - Dontrelle Willis - and its a very strong correlation at that.

I agree its amazing he's 'only' 27.

 

[NECpilgrims8]

Yankees in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.....

 

[Zymco]

Yankees in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.....

My exact thought. Also I think Butcher is a horrendous pitching coach, I think Kazmir could be resurrected with the help of a great pitching coach.

 

[wheeler281]

Yankees in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.....

why not they did the same thing with Colon might as well with Kazmir. Catching lightning in a bottle twice is always possible

 

[markakis8]

What happened that made him go from an all-star pitcher to this?

 

[19braves77]

Inconsistent release point.

Another pitcher that you can relate it to is Steve Avery. Got hurt and never could find the same release point.

but it goes back to the Minors: Avery, Kazmir, and if you want to throw in Kris Benson should have never been SP- All to small to be 200 inning workhorses.

 

[subpop77]

Well I can see Oakland trying to pick him up :|

 

[MacK]

I don't think Kazmir can be helped by a pitching coach.

If I were a team, I'd sign him, have him get checked out, and watch over his rehab.

 

[Big Mac McGwire]

Kaz pitched alot of meaningless innings in meaningless games for Tampa.

I would love to see if Dave Duncan could work his magic on him

Fingers crossed that he gets a shot in ST. Louis where careers are Resurected.

 

[George_Calfas]

Kaz pitched alot of meaningless innings in meaningless games for Tampa.

I would love to see if Dave Duncan could work his magic on him

Fingers crossed that he gets a shot in ST. Louis where careers are Resurected.

Papa Duncan is the answer....plus StL could use another arm.

 

[BrewerSuperCollector]

Duncan couldn't help Ankiel.

 

[cmnkb8]

Inconsistent release point.

Another pitcher that you can relate it to is Steve Avery. Got hurt and never could find the same release point.

but it goes back to the Minors: Avery, Kazmir, and if you want to throw in Kris Benson should have never been SP- All to small to be 200 inning workhorses.

Um, Benson and Avery were both 6'4, the ideal height for a pitcher. It had more to do with their pitching motion than size in those cases, and in Kazmir's case as well. Also, small size doesn't necessarily mean a pitcher will wear out quicker (see: Tim Lincecum & Roy Oswalt).

 

[sebpoo]

Duncan couldn't help Ankiel.

Nobody could have helped him. Period.

 

[19braves77]

Height is only half of it:

Weight:

Steve Avery- 174 pounds /230 IP in 1991
Scott Kazmir- 181 pounds / 186I IP in 2005
Kris Benson- 177 pounds / 217.2 IP in 2000

Thats is a lot of innings on some skinny kids pitching their 2nd full year. Avery would later go on to admit he hide injuries early on in the 1995 just like the Rays suspected of Kazmir the year they traded him.

Stud pitchers and their weight during their career year:

Félix Hernández - 200 pounds
Chris Carpenter- 220 pounds
Matt Cain- 230 pounds
Roy Halladay- 220 pounds

 

[mjbuchanan80]

Height is only half of it:

Weight:

Steve Avery- 174 pounds /230 IP in 1991
Scott Kazmir- 181 pounds / 186I IP in 2005
Kris Benson- 177 pounds / 217.2 IP in 2000

Thats is a lot of innings on some skinny kids pitching their 2nd full year. Avery would later go on to admit he hide injuries early on in the 1995 just like the Rays suspected of Kazmir the year they traded him.

Stud pitchers and their weight during their career year:

Félix Hernández - 200 pounds
Chris Carpenter- 220 pounds
Matt Cain- 230 pounds
Roy Halladay- 220 pounds

Many exceptions to your example though - Lincecum comes to mind.

 

[cmnkb8]

Height is only half of it:

Weight:

Steve Avery- 174 pounds /230 IP in 1991
Scott Kazmir- 181 pounds / 186I IP in 2005
Kris Benson- 177 pounds / 217.2 IP in 2000

Thats is a lot of innings on some skinny kids pitching their 2nd full year. Avery would later go on to admit he hide injuries early on in the 1995 just like the Rays suspected of Kazmir the year they traded him.

Stud pitchers and their weight during their career year:

Félix Hernández - 200 pounds
Chris Carpenter- 220 pounds
Matt Cain- 230 pounds
Roy Halladay- 220 pounds

To counter your point:

Tim Lincecum - 5'11 155 lbs / 227 IP in 2008
Roy Oswalt - 6'0 170 lbs / 233 IP - 2002
Cole Hamels - 6'3 170lbs / 183.1 IP - 2007

Being tiny, or tall and skinny doesn't automatically make a pitcher susceptible to injury due to workload. There are also big beefy power pitchers who didn't throw a lot of innings, yet still get injured (i.e Josh Johnson and Stephen Strasburg). It's more about the mechanics.