David Aardsma

[Omar]

After Cubs ripped the Giants to get Williams and Aardsma... I've always been interested in Aardsma's potential. I even drafted him for my fantasy team... So what are the chances of him making it to the majors this year? I dont pay much attention to minor leagues, so maybe I should...

 

Does anybody know a good scouting report? In MVP 2005, he threw a nasty knuckle-curve... But that's just a videogame...

[Brian]

He had a pretty horrible 2nd half at AA, i know that much.

[Outshined_One]

Apparently his stuff has gone into the crapper for some unknown reason.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I don't think his stuff went in the crapper so much as he could find the plate. His k/9 was pretty decent (for him), but his BB/9 was indeed crapola. His h/9 was pretty normal for him, but his WHIP skyrocketed thanks to all the walks.

 

I think he's overrated anyways, unless he pulls a Wuertz and starts dominating hitters (~7.5 k/9 in AA and below to ~11 in AAA and MLB). He really doesn't look like much of a closer. I think Williams is the best piece in the Hawkins for Aardsma/Williams deal.

 

Of course Wuertz didn't look like anything special (numbers wise) until he hit 24, so who knows.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I don't think his stuff went in the crapper so much as he could find the plate. His k/9 was pretty decent (for him), but his BB/9 was indeed crapola. His h/9 was pretty normal for him, but his WHIP skyrocketed thanks to all the walks.

 

I think he's overrated anyways, unless he pulls a Wuertz and starts dominating hitters (~7.5 k/9 in AA and below to ~11 in AAA and MLB). He really doesn't look like much of a closer. I think Williams is the best piece in the Hawkins for Aardsma/Williams deal.

 

Of course Wuertz didn't look like anything special (numbers wise) until he hit 24, so who knows.

 

His stuff has gone in the crapper, he has lost mph from his pitches since his days in SF and his offspeed pitches aren't as effective.

[Jon]

Was it Aardsma who had the two-out syndrome last season?

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I don't think his stuff went in the crapper so much as he could find the plate. His k/9 was pretty decent (for him), but his BB/9 was indeed crapola. His h/9 was pretty normal for him, but his WHIP skyrocketed thanks to all the walks.

 

I think he's overrated anyways, unless he pulls a Wuertz and starts dominating hitters (~7.5 k/9 in AA and below to ~11 in AAA and MLB). He really doesn't look like much of a closer. I think Williams is the best piece in the Hawkins for Aardsma/Williams deal.

 

Of course Wuertz didn't look like anything special (numbers wise) until he hit 24, so who knows.

 

His stuff has gone in the crapper, he has lost mph from his pitches since his days in SF and his offspeed pitches aren't as effective.

 

Where does this info come from? Not that I doubt it, but looking at the numbers (blindly), he doesn't look to be suffering from a lack of velo and movement. His k rates are in line with his career as is his batting average against. The only thing that really jumps out is his walk rate.

 

He also pitched 86.2 innings this year, quite a jump from what he's used to. The lack of velo could be due to conditioning if it just showed up post-trade.

[Outshined_One]

Where does this info come from? Not that I doubt it, but looking at the numbers (blindly), he doesn't look to be suffering from a lack of velo and movement. His k rates are in line with his career as is his batting average against. The only thing that really jumps out is his walk rate.

 

He also pitched 86.2 innings this year, quite a jump from what he's used to. The lack of velo could be due to conditioning if it just showed up post-trade.

 

BA Chat on the Cubs' system (access needed):

 

Q: Bill from Austin asks:

What is the short-term and long-term outlook for David Aardsma? Can we expect to see him in Chicago in April next year?

A:

 

Jim Callis: Aardsma's stuff has regressed since he began 2004 in the big leagues with the Giants. His fastball is now down to 89-92 mph, his slider is rarely a quality pitch and he hasn't been throwing as many strikes as he needs. I don't think he's close to being ready to help the Cubs. He needs to get himself straightened out first.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Was it Aardsma who had the two-out syndrome last season?

 

Yes. Including some outings where he gave up like 6 ER in 2/3 of an inning - and got the first 2 outs of the inning too.

 

Where does this info come from? Not that I doubt it, but looking at the numbers (blindly), he doesn't look to be suffering from a lack of velo and movement. His k rates are in line with his career as is his batting average against. The only thing that really jumps out is his walk rate.

 

He also pitched 86.2 innings this year, quite a jump from what he's used to. The lack of velo could be due to conditioning if it just showed up post-trade.

 

BA Chat on the Cubs' system (access needed):

 

Q: Bill from Austin asks:

What is the short-term and long-term outlook for David Aardsma? Can we expect to see him in Chicago in April next year?

A:

 

Jim Callis: Aardsma's stuff has regressed since he began 2004 in the big leagues with the Giants. His fastball is now down to 89-92 mph, his slider is rarely a quality pitch and he hasn't been throwing as many strikes as he needs. I don't think he's close to being ready to help the Cubs. He needs to get himself straightened out first.

 

Ron Potesta also read off his radar readings during broadcasts and they were noticably slower than his BA scouting reports from years past.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Thanks for the link. From what I've read, he's always had problems keeping his breaking stuff consistent (even in college) and his fastball hovered around 92 mph, which is scary for someone wanting to be a closer. Losing a few mph in that case is huge. Oh well, at least we got Williams.

 

I wonder who scouted Aardsma for the Cubs. They should have seen this. Maybe they knew it and he was included in the deal just as a gamble on our part.

[Chris]

Was it Aardsma who had the two-out syndrome last season?

 

Yep. I remember him commenting that if there were only 2 outs in an inning he would've had some great numbers.

[jaxxradio]

One of the funniest lines I heard last year was Aardsma talking about his problems on the mound:

 

"If baseball was just a two-out game, I would be a lock for the Hall of Fame."

 

I hope he turns it around. He's a great guy..

[Omar]

I thought Hawkins had it it bad...

[Omar]

Did he atleast show up for ST?

[Chris]

Did he atleast show up for ST?

 

He did. I recall seeing a picture of him in the ST Pictures thread.

[Omar]

On my fantasy league, I'm thinking about dropping Aardsma for Wade Miller. Should I? I drafted Aardsma because I have faith in him making the major league roster and being a success with the Cubs...

[CaliforniaRaisin]

On my fantasy league, I'm thinking about dropping Aardsma for Wade Miller. Should I? I drafted Aardsma because I have faith in him making the major league roster and being a success with the Cubs...

 

Wade Miller is more likely to contribute to the big league squad, imo.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

What fantasy league/how many players, etc?

 

Miller and Aardsma are far down the list, that's for sure.

[treebird]

sounds to me like aardsma's got a shoulder injury.

[badgercub]

Losing a few mph in that case is huge. Oh well, at least we got Williams.

 

Don't you mean "Oh well, at least we got rid of LaTroy."?