PROSPECT: David Shafer - RHP [AA] 2001 draft (RD 32) DOB: 3-7-82
 

What's the story on this guy? Sounds like a decent prospect to me.

His 2006 pitching stats so far in AA-Chattanooga (thru 6-14):

23 IP
14 H
7 BB
28 K
.91 WHIP
1.17 ERA
20 SAVES (1st in SL)

Coming into this season, through 4 years of Rk, A, A+, and AA he has put up 196 IP, 1.13 WHIP, 9.96 K/9, 2.66 BB/9, with 37 saves. Is there a future closer down in Chattanooga right now? Can anyone tell me what he's got?

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/playe...d-shafer.shtml

Re: PROSPECT: David Shafer - RHP [AA] 2001 draft (RD 32) DOB: 3-7-82
 

Kevin Goldstein doesn't seem to think so.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/ar...articleid=4986

Re: PROSPECT: David Shafer - RHP [AA] 2001 draft (RD 32) DOB: 3-7-82
 

I wonder if that means by May?

Re: PROSPECT: David Shafer - RHP [AA] 2001 draft (RD 32) DOB: 3-7-82
 

This is a serious question, not a knock on BP or other publications. But aren't these guys who proclaim what minor league kids will accomplish in the future just throwing out at best what could be called an 'educated guess.'?

If Kevin Goldstein doesn't think Shafer has a future, should David pack his bags and get a job a Wal-Mart? I don't read a lot of these mags, but what is there projection rate? Are they right on a lot of the time?

Re: PROSPECT: David Shafer - RHP [AA] 2001 draft (RD 32) DOB: 3-7-82
 

Goldstein didn't say that, he just said he didn't see him as a future closer.

Re: PROSPECT: David Shafer - RHP [AA] 2001 draft (RD 32) DOB: 3-7-82
 

Yea, I think that could be said. Goldstein was with Baseball America and just recently started at BP, for a little background. I really was just posting that in jest. Its really too hard to tell. This year is a big year for both Shafer and Guevera. If they perform in AA, then they might and should be viewed as legit prospects. Also, I don't think BA or others are ever going to call someone a future closer unless they have a huge fastball.

Certainly not. Shafer has his future in front of him, the Reds need as much help as they can get and he has performed well so far, a rare feat it seems in this system.

Re: PROSPECT: David Shafer - RHP [AA] 2001 draft (RD 32) DOB: 3-7-82
 

Thanks for the reply. As I said, I don't really read these things, but trying to gauge the future of minor league ballplayers seems to be an inexact science.

Re: PROSPECT: David Shafer - RHP [AA] 2001 draft (RD 32) DOB: 3-7-82
 

At some point you just have to throw them out there and see how they perform.

Re: PROSPECT: David Shafer - RHP [AA] 2001 draft (RD 32) DOB: 3-7-82
 

Shafer could certainly follow in the fine Reds reliever-developing tradition of Williamson or Dibble. But more likely he's a John Riedling-type. He has pitched quite well so far, and will get promoted before too long as soon as we figure out which Bats veterans don't have the mojo.

Re: PROSPECT: David Shafer - RHP [AA] 2001 draft (RD 32) DOB: 3-7-82
 

His 2006 pitching stats so far in AA-Chattanooga (thru 6-14):

23 IP
14 H
7 BB
28 K
.91 WHIP
1.17 ERA
20 SAVES (1st in SL)

Re: PROSPECT: David Shafer - RHP [AA] 2001 draft (RD 32) DOB: 3-7-82
 

Jeff Picoro said today that he only throws about 90 mph, and has Weathers type stuff. Is that accurate?

Re: PROSPECT: David Shafer - RHP [AA] 2001 draft (RD 32) DOB: 3-7-82
 

There's a difference between a 24-year-old that throws 90 and a 36-year-old that throws 90.

The 24-year-old might throw 94 when he's 27.

That's why junk like what Goldstein is spitting out has to be taken with a shaker of salt. All he's really able to say at this point is that Shafer wouldn't be the closer based on his stuff not being prototypically "closer"-like. That is, until he gains velocity, which happens all the time with professional coaching, or earns it by doing a heckuva job with what he's got.

I hate it when these prospect-hounds say it like that.

Re: PROSPECT: David Shafer - RHP [AA] 2001 draft (RD 32) DOB: 3-7-82
 

I don't know if it's accurate or not, but it probably is. You can probably assume that if Schafer threw 100 mph with a killer off speed pitch, he'd already be in the Reds pen, or at the very least, in Louisville.

Re: PROSPECT: David Shafer - RHP [AA] 2001 draft (RD 32) DOB: 3-7-82
 

11 K's per 9 and a .91 whip, with 21 Saves?

He must have something he throws good. Even if it is only double-A.

Re: PROSPECT: David Shafer - RHP [AA] 2001 draft (RD 32) DOB: 3-7-82
 

They had him a WLW on Sunday.

He throws a low 90's fastball and his out pitch is his slider. At least that is what he said.