Crow vs. Matzek

[jcroemer]

I am curious whether people feel they would pick

over

. The links are to video of each pitcher.

Here is a scouting report on Matzek. And here's one on Crow with a breakdown of his mechanics. Here's another one on Matzek from SaberScouting.To be fair here's one more report on Aaron Crow.

So who would you pick if both were available when the Orioles pick fifth in the 2009 Draft?

[DennisTheOsFan]

I'd go with Matzek first. I know Crow is more advanced and closer to the majors, but sounds like Matzek he's got good potential too. I like the sound of a finess pitcher who has command of a variety of pitches. Matusz has sold me on this type of pitchers.

[allstar1579]

I could pull some shameless plugs here and refer you to a great scouting site to help with the debate. Long and short of it, you are deciding between projectability and college results at this point, not to say either are perfect by any means, but compare reports on Crow after his junior year in HS to Matzek now and see what you think. Here's a hint, Crow wasn't thought anywhere NEAR a top 5 pick then.

Oh, look at that, this was post 2k, I feel like I wasted it somehow...

[jcroemer]

I could pull some shameless plugs here and refer you to a great scouting site to help with the debate. Long and short of it, you are deciding between projectability and college results at this point, not to say either are perfect by any means, but compare reports on Crow after his junior year in HS to Matzek now and see what you think. Here's a hint, Crow wasn't thought anywhere NEAR a top 5 pick then.

Oh, look at that, this was post 2k, I feel like I wasted it somehow...

Thank you for the site. I'll bookmark it and refer back to it often.

[allstar1579]

Thank you for the site. I'll bookmark it and refer back to it often.

My pleasure! Glad you like it.

[YaBoyTopher]

Between these two guys I would take Crow, I like both guys but Crow will be ready way sooner and provides a serious power arm.

But I am still hoping Ackley or even better yet Green falls to us, I dont think Green falling is possible but maybe we will get luck with Ackley.

[ChaosLex]

As much as we talk about Matusz, Arrieta and Tillman, Bundy doesn't get a lot of press. At least not yet, and that's due entirely to his age. If you added Matzek down on the farm, him and Bundy would make a nice secondary crop, which barring any catastrophic injury, would hit the majors just a couple years after our big three. I could deal with that!

[Duke2010]

As much as we talk about Matusz, Arrieta and Tillman, Bundy doesn't get a lot of press. At least not yet, and that's due entirely to his age. If you added Matzek down on the farm, him and Bundy would make a nice secondary crop, which barring any catastrophic injury, would hit the majors just a couple years after our big three. I could deal with that!

I agree. I think we'd be lucky to grab Matzek at 5 because of his polish and command of 4 pitches that could be above-average to plus. Getting a top hitter wouldn't be the end of the world, and if you add Matzek to Bundy, then we'd really have something special. I really love what we're doing as far as developing pitching. After Tillman, Arrieta, and Matusz reach the majors, I really like Erbe and Britton as the next two big prospects. Then, a few years after that, Bundy and Matzek would be unbelievable.

With that said, I'm pretty split on Crow and Matzek, but in my mind, if Matzek develops we'd have another Brain Matusz, and if he really develops, we could be looking at another Clayton Kershaw. At this point, I'm hoping that Matzek doesn't blow up too much so that he's still there at 5.

[Pruke]

Crow - we need potential players who are steps away from the majors and not 3-5 years.

Until we're able to attract FA, we're so heavily reliant on our drafting and trades. Accordingly, having Crow create a pitching logjam still positions us to make a trade sooner than waiting for a high schooler to develop and be more projectable.

All college in the '09 draft IMO.

[Big Mac]

I'd take Crow in a heartbeat. I like Matzek and he has a lot of potential, but I am very against taking high-school pitchers this high in the draft. There is just way too much risk involved, IMO.

[allstar1579]

I'd take Crow in a heartbeat. I like Matzek and he has a lot of potential, but I am very against taking high-school pitchers this high in the draft. There is just way too much risk involved, IMO.

With Matzek you are looking at getting one of those prospects that we always look at in hindsight and get frustrated for not taking. Guys like Kershaw, Tillman, and other players are just like Matzek, lots of potential but people get scared or impatient with HS arms.

In terms of talent I think Crow is closer, but Matzek has a higher ceiling. Crow's delivery screams injury concerns to me, once you see him making the repetitions that pros make versus college guys, I think injuries will start to mount.

I think it is important to set the foundation to have prospects coming up in 3-5 years, to replace the guys like Crow and Matusz who may be looking at arbitration and closer to being shipped out of town. We can't build by stockpiling one shipment of talent and then bypassing future prospects until we realize we need them again. We need to draft with not only tomorrow in mind, but 5 years from now as well.