Dillard, how much of a prospect?

[Tbadder]

I was just reading Hardball Times, and they were saying that Dillard could be a back of the rotation guy as soon as this year. 60% ground balls, good command. How reliable is HBTs? I've not seen it until today. Thanks for any help/opinions.

[TooLiveBrew]

THT is widely respected, from what little knowledge I have. What I know they're respected for is statistical analysis, and I don't really have a clue regarding player projection. Seems a bit rash to me to make that kind of a statement about Dillard, but maybe the comment was contextualized to mean 'on some MLB team,' not necessarily the Brewers. Our pitching just seems too deep this year...

[Tbadder]

Yeah, I was thinking along that line, but if the Brewers make a serious playoff run who knows what wheelin' and dealin' Melvin does. And maybe he's good enough to be long relief if Villy finds his way into the rotation via trade, injury, etc.

[DHonks]

Dillard's supposedly a sinker-slider pitcher, and has always been mentioned as a potential late inning reliever (like Wickman was for much of his career...making his living as a sinker specialist). However, the Brewers opted to keep him in rotations as long as he was thriving (2005 minor league pitcher of the year I think), and to allow him to add innings as he didn't begin pitching fulltime until around age 20 (he'd been a catcher).

 

We're now seeing more sinkerballers converted back to rotation spots as teams are trying to keep balls in the park. Derek Lowe was a good closer, now really a 2 pitch starter (and doing a heck of a job, despite what most Brewerfan.net regulars will have you think). Braden Looper has closed, but is doing very well as a starter. Brandon Webb was taught the sinker in the minor leagues and is a Cy Young candidate each year.

 

I see him helping the pen in September.

[dadofandrew]

His K rate is extremely low, those guys always seem to not make the jump to the bigs very smoothly.

[pogokat]

dillard's going to be a major leaguer for awhile...that along makes him a good prospect...i doubt he has the career of derek lowe...but the potential is there...