Batter's Box Interactive Magazine

Bob Elliott has another good player profile in the Sun, on Doug Linton:

Each time Tosca mentions the four candidates for his final two spots in the rotation he names Mark Hendrickson, Justin Miller, Pete Walker and Linton.

I've been wondering about that, as I've (optimistically) touted Mark Hendrickson as #4 and assumed a three-man battle for fifth. But the more I think about the big lefty getting 120-140 lower-pressure IP in middle relief, the better I like the idea. Jason Kershner and Scott Wiggins both stand by in Syracuse in case Doug Creek doesn't do the LOOGY job. That would make Linton a lock. When you look at his MLB career it's misleading; this guy has been one of the best starters in AAA for years, and just kept improving in his 30s. He led the International League in strikeouts last year, had a 160/26 K/BB ratio in 174.1 IP, then made 11 excellent starts, with similar command, in the Puerto Rican winter league. His ERAs were 2.53 for Richmond and 2.08 for Bayamon.

To me, Walker and Miller are interchangeable as #5/swing man, and Doug's better than both of them. His return to Toronto is another very practical move by Team Ricciardi, with a sweet nostalgic bonus for those of us who were there.

Posted by Coach on Friday, February 14 2003 @ 09:50 AM EST.

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Dave Till - Friday, February 14 2003 @ 10:02 AM EST (#96290) #

Looking at Linton's record, I'd guess that he learned a new pitch two years ago. His strikeout rate was fairly consistent before then, but went up in 2001 and stayed up in 2002.

I'll be curious to see what his out pitch is. I hope it's not the spitball.

_Spicol - Friday, February 14 2003 @ 11:08 AM EST (#96291) #

As with many AAAA players, I have to question, who is he striking out? Everyone, or just the guys fresh out of AA who haven't ever seen such breaking pitches? I'm not trying to be negative (because last year's stats were amazing) but asking a valid question because we've all seen this before with more senior players. If he's sneaking in too far on corners and throwing sliders in counts where the player knows a slider is coming but just can't hit it, that stuff won't work in the Majors as well as it does in AAA.

_R Billie - Friday, February 14 2003 @ 01:25 PM EST (#96292) #

I would cautiously estimate that Linton may be capable of duplicating the type of success Walker had last year...i.e. a guy capable of being around .500 support neutral. It's probable he's learned a new pitch or a new approach, but one always has to take the stats of older players at AAA with a big grain of salt. Familiarity with that level of competition (especially having had experience in the majors) is a large advantage for Linton.

The good thing is that he seems to walk almost no-one while striking out his fair share. That suggests his command is good (rather than him just getting poor hitters to chase). He'll definately get hit harder and more consistently in the bigs but if he can keep his walk rate in the same territory he should be helpful.

_Matthew Elmslie - Friday, February 14 2003 @ 03:58 PM EST (#96293) #

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B19921484.htm
In the homepage field is a link to Linton's moment in the sun, the most crucial game (as I recall it) of the '92 AL East race.

_Matthew Elmslie - Friday, February 14 2003 @ 05:18 PM EST (#96294) #

Oops. How did I not notice that the link was already there? Forget I said anything.

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