The Hardball Times take on Veal

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

I happended to run across this from Chris Constancio when I was reading The Hardball Times.

 

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/can-these-young-pitchers-turn-it-around/

 

During the offseason, Veal was widely praised as a top pitching prospect, occasionally inspired comparisons to Dontrelle Willis.

 

-------------IP W L SO BB HR ERA

2006 A 73.2 5 3 86 40 4 2.69

2006 A+ 80.2 6 2 88 42 3 1.67

2007 AA 89.0 5 7 87 56 8 5.36

 

A glance at Veal's fielding-independent ERA last year could have told you his 2006 season was a fluke. The reason is clear: Veal simply walks too many batters. He always has. And while the optimistic fan can dream of what kind of player Veal will become if he cuts down on his walks, the fact is pitchers rarely fix control problems if they are still struggling at Veal's age. If you look for southpaws with comparable strikeout and walk rates at Veal's age and level of competition, you'll find players like Joey Eischen, Luis Martinez and Adam Bostick. In other words, you don't see many good major league starters begin their career the way Veal has.

 

Prognosis: Not good, if he hasn't figured out how to throw strikes yet...

Edited July 17, 2007 by RonnieWooWooSanto

[TruffleShuffle]

i've never been that high on veal, for reasons of his control. Hopefully he can get some good coaching and harness his considerable stuff.

[BDWeav71]

I'm high on his potential. He has good stuff, coupled with a deceptive delivery and is still young.

 

He needs to learn how to consistently throw strikes if he is ever going to reach any of this potential, however.