Kazmir Hype Machine...Again

[deerayfan072]

Any more news on Kaz? As it is today where would you feel safe taking him in a 12-team 5x5? 6th round too early? 7th? 8th?

News on him is that they are letting the swelling go down before doing anything else. He is receiving treatment (ice/hot etc) and then they will re-evaluate when he can throw again. He is still on track to throw in about a week and half. Scotty is adamant that he will start the opening day of the season, but the Rays are being very cautious so u may see them hold him back a few starts if they think it is best.

[moochman]

Any more news on Kaz? As it is today where would you feel safe taking him in a 12-team 5x5? 6th round too early? 7th? 8th?

News on him is that they are letting the swelling go down before doing anything else. He is receiving treatment (ice/hot etc) and then they will re-evaluate when he can throw again. He is still on track to throw in about a week and half. Scotty is adamant that he will start the opening day of the season, but the Rays are being very cautious so u may see them hold him back a few starts if they think it is best.

Are they planning on another MRI once the swelling is gone to see if anything was missed?

[deerayfan072]

Any more news on Kaz? As it is today where would you feel safe taking him in a 12-team 5x5? 6th round too early? 7th? 8th?

News on him is that they are letting the swelling go down before doing anything else. He is receiving treatment (ice/hot etc) and then they will re-evaluate when he can throw again. He is still on track to throw in about a week and half. Scotty is adamant that he will start the opening day of the season, but the Rays are being very cautious so u may see them hold him back a few starts if they think it is best.

Are they planning on another MRI once the swelling is gone to see if anything was missed?

Not at this time. They are confident that the first MRI showed what was going on. I think if he starts to throw and there is any swelling, they will do another one

[jlm53089]

Now my question.
If he starts the season the DL, will they replace him with someone or go with a 4 man rotation?

[deerayfan072]

Now my question.
If he starts the season the DL, will they replace him with someone or go with a 4 man rotation?

They said they will replace him. It will be one of Jackson/Hammel/Howell. Whoever does not make the 5th starter

[deerayfan072]

Just to let you guys know

The swelling in Kaz's arm is gone and he is now working with the trainers using a towel and some of those rubber band things to simulate throwing for the next couple days. He is on track to start long tossing in about 2 days. He is confident he will not miss the opener

[Sensei]

Thanks for the info. As one of many Kaz owners or those considering him for a keeper, gotta love the valuable info

[guffee]

This latest news aside, I see big things for Kazmir this year. I try not to get too caught up in split stats because it's too easy to make the data say what you want to hear. But there is a real story behind Kazmir's 2007 splits. I owned him in one league and watched a lot of his first half starts in frustration. I also watched his first post-break start and it was immediately obvious he was a different pitcher. If you watched at the time, it was evident that Kazmir had found his command. Whatever was wrong during the first half (health, approach, mechanics) had been corrected during the break and he kept building from that first start back. The turnaround was very dramatic, but it made so much sense if you saw it for yourself.

Perhaps there will be some regression over the full season, but I would draft expecting him to be in line with his second half.

Rays changed his mechanics early part of 07 and he went back to his old mechanics right around the ASB.

They did this to change his chances of getting an injury and now he is injured again. Will he continue with his regular windup or will he be experimenting again?

[Nene]

I have Kazmir in both the leagues I just drafted. I'm feeling good about him putting up the same solid numbers as last year - or better.

[deerayfan072]

This latest news aside, I see big things for Kazmir this year. I try not to get too caught up in split stats because it's too easy to make the data say what you want to hear. But there is a real story behind Kazmir's 2007 splits. I owned him in one league and watched a lot of his first half starts in frustration. I also watched his first post-break start and it was immediately obvious he was a different pitcher. If you watched at the time, it was evident that Kazmir had found his command. Whatever was wrong during the first half (health, approach, mechanics) had been corrected during the break and he kept building from that first start back. The turnaround was very dramatic, but it made so much sense if you saw it for yourself.

Perhaps there will be some regression over the full season, but I would draft expecting him to be in line with his second half.

Rays changed his mechanics early part of 07 and he went back to his old mechanics right around the ASB.

They did this to change his chances of getting an injury and now he is injured again. Will he continue with his regular windup or will he be experimenting again?

Thats not why they changed his mechanics. They did it to allow him to have more control of his pitches on the outside of the plate. It didn't work. Is change in mechanics had nothing to do with injury concerns