2k13 Drew Pomeranz

[schlesinj]

Speaking of Rockies hit hard last year he had a rough season on top of the fact he ended up in the 4 man rotation.

Couple of homer questions do they plan on keeping that plan in 2013? If so, does that make any starter worthless since most guys will not go more than 4ish innings.

He had some decent hype last year, so he may be someone to grab late if available.

[BigJonEmpire]

I'm pretty sure they've abandoned the idea. It was always a bad one.

Pomeranz does not have the control to pitch very effectively with his low strikeout rate. It is even more difficult to do in Colorado. His k-rate could get a little better I guess, based on his minor league stats but probably not a lot better. The key for him will be improved control. At least in 2012 his only decent pitch was his fastball. Here is the scouting report before the start of the 2012 season (from John Sickels):

Drew Pomeranz was an ace starter at the University of Mississippi for three seasons. He posted a 4.16 ERA with an 81/30 K/BB in 71 innings as a freshman in 2008, a 3.40 ERA with a 124/37 K/BB in 95 innings as a sophomore in 2009, and a 2.24 ERA with a 139/46 K/BB in 101 innings as a junior in 2010. As you can see, he improved every year, earning a spot in the first round of the '10 draft, where he was selected fifth-overall by the Cleveland Indians.

He made his pro debut last season in the High-A Carolina League, posting a 1.87 ERA and a 95/32 K/BB in 77 innings with 52 hits allowed. He posted a 2.57 ERA with a 17/6 K/BB in 14 innings for Double-A Akron, then was a key prospect in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade with the Rockies. Slowed by an emergency appendectomy in August, he still threw 10 shutout innings for Double-A Tulsa, then posted a 5.40 ERA with a 13/5 K/BB in 18 innings for the Rockies down the stretch, despite lacking his best stuff.

Strongly-built at 6-5, 230, Pomeranz works consistently at 92-94 MPH and hits 95 on his best days. His velocity was down late last year, as low as 87-88 at times, but he wasn't at full strength after the appendix incident and has his stuff back this spring. Even at lower velocity, his heater has good movement. He combines it with a knee-buckling breaking ball. His changeup is still a work in progress, but has improved enough to the point that the Rockies don't think he needs additional minor league seasoning. Tuesday's start was just a tune-up to keep him in shape until his spot in the rotation comes around on the 15th. He did have a minor glute injury this spring but hasn't shown significant ill-effects.

Pomeranz has made substantial improvements with his control over the last year. He has just 28 innings in Double-A/Triple-A, which from an analytical standpoint is the only real caution flag here. Although some inconsistency seems plausible (he is a young pitcher, after all), Pomeranz has the stuff and command to be an anchor at the top of the rotation once he settles in.