How is Brandon McCarthy working out?

[Cochese]

After watching John Danks much deserved first MLB victory after he has pitched well enough to get a win in 3 games before hand, all in which he received little to none run support, I was wondering what the resident Rangers fans were thinking about this trade. I looked at McCarthy's stats and he looks like he has been awful. It really seems to me like the Sox made out like bandits with both Danks and Masset.

 

[peplaw06]

I'm not a Rangers fan, but I think it's a little early to be measuring up this trade. Right now McCarthy is struggling, but the Ballpark is not an easy place to acclimate yourself to as a pitcher.

I can see why the Rangers made the trade. Both pitchers were top-level prospects, and McCarthy had at least one season of big league experience, albeit as a reliever and spot starter. Danks had little to no experience. The Rangers needed someone to fill a spot in the top 3 of the rotation. McCarthy should have been in the rotation in Chicago, but there was a logjam of SPs there. McCarthy's young, so it's not like they mortgaged the future.

And as you mentioned, Danks just got his first win. He's got a lot of Ks, but it's not like he's been lights out. He hasn't gotten run support, but the Rangers lineup isn't exactly on fire right now. I don't know much about Masset, so I can't comment there.

I think this trade will probably work out well for both sides. McCarthy's too good to be this bad for too long.

 

[Cochese]

I think this trade will probably work out well for both sides. McCarthy's too good to be this bad for too long.

Thats the thing, I was never convinced that McCarthy was all that good. He was relatively good in 2005, but that year the stars were aligned for the Sox, everything went perfectly and a lot of guys had career years. Last year he really struggled as reliever. He is a 3 pitch guy that doesnt throw overly hard and has a tendency to give up the bomb. I always saw him as a 4/5 starter or a long relief guy, but havent gotten a chance to see him pitch yet this year. Maybe I'll go heckle him the next year when the Rangers come to The Cell.

 

[peplaw06]

Thats the thing, I was never convinced that McCarthy was all that good. He was relatively good in 2005, but that year the stars were aligned for the Sox, everything went perfectly and a lot of guys had career years. Last year he really struggled as reliever. He is a 3 pitch guy that doesnt throw overly hard and has a tendency to give up the bomb. I always saw him as a 4/5 starter or a long relief guy, but havent gotten a chance to see him pitch yet this year. Maybe I'll go heckle him the next year when the Rangers come to The Cell.

I don't see how he could have been considered "relatively good" in 05 then considered to have "struggled" in 06.

In 17 more IP in 06, he gave up 15 more hits, 14 more ER, 4 more HRs. He did nearly double his walk total, but it only went from 17 to 33. His WHIP only went up .12... ERA up half a run and his BAA went from .242 to .243.

No argument he's been bad this year, but like I said, give him some time.

 

[Cochese]

I don't see how he could have been considered "relatively good" in 05 then considered to have "struggled" in 06.

In 17 more IP in 06, he gave up 15 more hits, 14 more ER, 4 more HRs. He did nearly double his walk total, but it only went from 17 to 33. His WHIP only went up .12... ERA up half a run and his BAA went from .242 to .243.

No argument he's been bad this year, but like I said, give him some time.

So giving up almost a run per extra inning in 06 isnt struggling? Its more than the stats though, its watching the games. McCarthy had some gems (flukes?) in 05 like a game against Boston, and a few others where he was pretty good. Last year the impressive games came fewer and farther between. It could have something to do with coming in from the pen, but his struggles are continuing now. After 05, this guy was untouchable and the future of the team, after 06 Kenny Williams, one of the shrewdest GM's in baseball, would rather give Gavin Floyd a shot at the #5 starter role than McCarthy.