Which young SP's are for real?

[bellings]

My question, is which young SP's are the real deal? Liriano and Felix are obvious. But what about these guys:

1. Josh Johnson
2. Casey Janssen
3. Ian Snell
4. Oliver Perez (Is there any hope at all?)
5. Anyone else you care to mention

[jealousblues]

add:

Felix
Hamels
Verlander
Liriano
Zumaya

[Secret Avatar]

I picked up Snell a while ago and had to endure some horrific starts but he has settled in and won 5 in a row with some dominating performances. He has the skill set of a solid fantasy #3 or even #2: nice K/9, decent-to-good control, durability, NL in good home pitchers' park, and decent-to-good run support and relief support.

He's a rookie so you can expect some bumps in the road, but if you are looking for some cheap quality arms with upside on the FA list, then you should grab him if he's still there.

Ollie Perez is for those with strong stomachs only. There's no doubt he has the skills to be a #1 fantasy starter -- see his 2004 stats -- but he has been just atrocious since then (while still showing flashes of his former self) and just can't find the K zone. The upside is still there but the risk is HUMONGOUS.

Verlander and Hamels are also the real deals although they are probably long gone in all but maybe a 5-team league.

I was pretty bullish on Juan Cruz as well, but he has gone on the DL. Keep an eye on him. He too has endured some horrific starts but his underlying skill set is strong. I would also add Claudio Vargas to the list of bargain SPs with some upside.

[mak1277]

I picked up Snell a while ago and had to endure some horrific starts but he has settled in and won 5 in a row with some dominating performances. He has the skill set of a solid fantasy #3 or even #2: nice K/9, decent-to-good control, durability, NL in good home pitchers' park, and decent-to-good run support and relief support.

He's a rookie so you can expect some bumps in the road, but if you are looking for some cheap quality arms with upside on the FA list, then you should grab him if he's still there.

You like Snell over a guy like Sean Marshall?

[mathias]

Weaver's been doing well.

[Secret Avatar]

"You like Snell over a guy like Sean Marshall?"

Yeah, I do. I think Snell's skill set has been better (better K/9 and K/BB) and I like his peripherals (NL, very good pitchers park). Neither are even close to elite options at this point, but if you are even looking at these guys then you are probably hard-up for decent arms on the cheap -- as I am -- and for those purposes I would take Snell over Marshall.

[paiger]

The Eclipse!

Soler for the Mets gave a very prominant showcase last night.

[mak1277]

"You like Snell over a guy like Sean Marshall?"

Yeah, I do. I think Snell's skill set has been better (better K/9 and K/BB) and I like his peripherals (NL, very good pitchers park). Neither are even close to elite options at this point, but if you are even looking at these guys then you are probably hard-up for decent arms on the cheap -- as I am -- and for those purposes I would take Snell over Marshall.

I'm in an NL-only and really struggling for arms. Marshall is my 4th/5th starter right now with Lieber and Sheets on the DL and Clemens in a holding pattern for another week and a half or so. It's ugly.

[DevilDriver]

Scott Kazmir

[Prooks25]

You guys never mention Kazmir in these young Pitcher threads...Hes just as young, if not younger than all these guys listed here. He should still be mentioned even though hes been in the league for 2 years.