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Around SBN: Miikka Kiprusoff Wins 300th Game, Buffalo Crushes Boston

Tonight's Starter: Cory Luebke

I'm going to tonight's game. These are my season ticket seats so I've been scheduled to go to this game for a long time. That being said, I probably would have gone to game anyway because I love seeing talented young pitchers make their debut. I was there for Adam Eaton's debut, Jake Peavy's debut and Mat Latos' debut. I went bought tickets special for Eaton, I had tickets to the Yankees-Padres tilt for Peavy and Latos' first start was lucky enough to be on a season ticket day. I'm excited about this.

However, my enthusiasm is tempered. Luebke is very talented and has all the makeup one would want in a major league starting pitcher, but he's still a rookie. Let's look at some rookie debuts in an unscientific study.

Star-divide

Adam Eaton (5/30/2000)

IP H R ER BB K ERA
5.1 5 3 3 2 4 5.06

Oliver Perez (6/16/2002)

IP H R ER BB K ERA
5 4 2 2 4 7 3.60

Jake Peavy  (6/22/2002)

IP H R ER BB K ERA
6 3 1 1 2 4 1.50

Chris Young (8/24/2004)

IP H R ER BB K ERA
5.2 4 3 3 3 4 4.76

Tim Stauffer (5/11/2005)

IP H R ER BB K ERA
6 4 2 2 3 5 3.00

Clayton Richard (7/23/2008)

IP H R ER BB K ERA
4 7 5 4 1 7 9.00

Wade LeBlanc (9/3/2008)

IP H R ER BB K ERA
4 8 5 5 3 1 11.25

Mat Latos (7/19/2009)

IP H R ER BB K ERA
4 3 2 2 1 4 4.50

So what does this tell us? Well, nothing profound really. It's just that these sort of things can go either way. All of these pitchers we are fairly familiar with. All of them were considered fairly talented at the time. And all of them have had some sort of major league success.

Of course, I could have included some of the pitchers who were talented, even highly thought of, that fizzled out (your Dennis Tankersleys, Mike Bynums and Dewon Brazeltons) but I 'm trying to stay a little more positive than that. I guess I also could have talked about the guys that came through early on and then fizzled out (your Brian Tollbergs, Mike Thompsons, and Justin Germanos), which, with all apologies to the Luebke family and friends, we'd probably take right now. However, Luebke is a little more talented than those guys anyway.

I guess all I'm saying is that I wouldn't expect this kid's to come through with a big start to get us back on track to the playoffs. However, I wouldn't tell anyone not to hope for it. Maybe my point is that we need to believe that he'll come through with all our hearts, but if we turn our rational brains on we can't possibly expect it. Or maybe I don't have a point. Wouldn't be the first time.

This FanPost was written by a member of the Gaslamp Ball community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Gaslamp Ball managers or SB Nation.

Comment 13 comments  |  2 recs  | 

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Nice post...

Don’t expect anything, but don’t feel bad for hoping.

I rec’d this for the Mike Thompson reference. I was in love with that guy at the time. Gave us some solid starts in… what 2005? And the stunk in 2006?

"This team looks dangerous, like a convict with a temper, nothing to lose and a switch blade." -jbox

by MrDanielX on Sep 3, 2010 1:12 PM PDT reply actions  

Cory's scouting report places him above Thompson (and I think he throws harder, too)

Doesn’t mean jack, but it gives me some reason for optimism. IIRC, Cory fell in the draft because he was old and people didn’t like his mechanics. The Padres took a chance on him, cleaned his mechanics and he has been pretty consistent. Here’s his baseball cube page and here’s his milb.com page.

Ehhhh, I don't deserve a signature...

by sdchicken on Sep 3, 2010 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions  

The Eaton debut was pretty sweet

Especially seeing him rope a double in his first Friar game.

Ehhhh, I don't deserve a signature...

by sdchicken on Sep 3, 2010 1:54 PM PDT reply actions  

my daydream

we get some quality starts out of CY, Luebke and Stauffer down this stretch, giving us some needed wins and our young arms a breather.

by jayman66 on Sep 3, 2010 3:54 PM PDT reply actions  

He has another rehab start with a 60-pitch cap.

It would be nice to see him come back, but I won’t hold my breath. Poor guy doesn’t have a great health record. :-/

Ehhhh, I don't deserve a signature...

by sdchicken on Sep 3, 2010 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions  

I'll be out there tonight

i always like to see Major League Debuts

"You know, I was thinking of getting my bartender's license." Alan -The Hangover

by icaughthundleys#4 on Sep 3, 2010 4:57 PM PDT reply actions  

I have a 20 game ticket package

and have probably been to 3 or 4 additional games. And somehow I have not seen a single Mat Latos start. I even went to a Friday and Sunday game in San Fran and he ended up pitching on Saturday.

by WillytheKid on Sep 3, 2010 5:39 PM PDT reply actions  

Wow.

I counted 8 or 9 games for myself. I’ve never seen Latos. And only just saw Garland for the first time at the last game I went to. It was all LeBlanc and Correia. But you’ve presumably been to more games so far than I have. What luck.

by scout1222 on Sep 5, 2010 9:21 AM PDT up reply actions  

That streak will continue too

Mat is pitching Monday against LA and will pitch against SF on Saturday.

No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Sep 5, 2010 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions  

I have the same 20 game package

I’ve only seen him twice. Once because I traded in a Friday game to go on May 29 to get the soccer-style scarf (which I love) and then another time because I went to 7 Padres road games on their SF-Chi-Mil road trip and he happened to pitch one of those games (in Chicago) that I attended.

No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Sep 5, 2010 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions  

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