Discuss Cabrera Here

[Mark Carver]

And how often is that?

This guy has one or two solid starts a season....every other start he gets hammered.

The guy should have been dealt for a quality AA prospect prior to 2006 as I had suggested.

Please clarify what a 1 or 2 solid starts a season is. So far in 2007...

8.0-innings, 2-ER = 1

7.2-innings, 2-ER = 1

7.0-innings, 0-ER = 1

7.0-innings, 1-ER = 2

7.0-innings, 3-ER = 1

Anytime a starter can go 7 innings with only giving up 3 runs, is a solid start in my book. And so far in 2007, he's done that 6 times. A quality start in today's game is at least 6-innings and 3 earned runs or less, and he's done that 10 times.

He should have been dealt for a AA prospect prior to 2006?!?!?

[luismatos]

Sure, you could call up Olson instead and move DCab into the bullpen. Simple.

We have been waiting to see how many more starts we are going to give a guy who constantly shows he can't throw strikes in the first inning.

78 walks so far (NOT COUNTING TONIGHT) in 2007

104 walks in 2006

He is on pace to break his own BB record. Not good.

MSK

I don't know if anyone has responded to you here because I only read the first page, but he had 104 walks in 148 innings last year. This year he has already thrown 152.1 innings and he has given up 79 walks. I'd say that is significant improvement. I know he is on pace to break his record. But, he's also on pace to throw over 200 innings, and be the starter that despite giving up 4 runs in games, goes 7 or 8 innings. He is learning to control his walks. Sorta at least. And we have yet to have an 8 or 9 walk outburst from him. I think he has figured enough out that he's not blowing up, which is important. He's more composed. He's got a 4.14 ERA in his last thirty days. Yes, he hasn't had the year we all hoped for him. His K's are way down. I think his key is finding that third pitch. Whether it be a changeup or splitter or whatever. He was striking people out before because they couldn't catch up to his heat. Now that he has slowed the pitch down to get some accuracy, it is important for him to learn HOW to pitch and that might necessitate him getting a third pitch. His curveball at 95% of what it was in effective, but not quite as effective, his fastball isn't as well. Once he learns how to pitch and even locate pitches, his K rate will rise again. I think he could finish the season with a 4.4/4.5 ERA. I would say that would be a big step forward from last season considering that he was never sent to the minors this season, and he vastly improved his walk ratio. Am I happy with what Daniel has done this year? No. But, I am not willing to give up on him.

I think some other people are right, it might be nice to see him figure it out in another uniform and then we don't have to worry about his development anymore. But, it would be a lot nicer to see him develop in this uniform.

[Tomkingsize]

Please clarify what a 1 or 2 solid starts a season is. So far in 2007...

8.0-innings, 2-ER = 1

7.2-innings, 2-ER = 1

7.0-innings, 0-ER = 1

7.0-innings, 1-ER = 2

7.0-innings, 3-ER = 1

Anytime a starter can go 7 innings with only giving up 3 runs, is a solid start in my book. And so far in 2007, he's done that 6 times. A quality start in today's game is at least 6-innings and 3 earned runs or less, and he's done that 10 times.

He should have been dealt for a AA prospect prior to 2006?!?!?

I'm sorry. I meant he's good for a couple of one-hitters and then pretty much gets torched.

That's right, tough guy. He should've been dealt for Carlos Gonzalez!

[The Wedge]

That's right, tough guy. He should've been dealt for Carlos Gonzalez!

Do you realize how belligerent that "tough guy" business is?

[Tomkingsize]

Do you realize how belligerent that "tough guy" business is?

There was no profanity used.

Nonetheless, out of respect for the message board community, I'll refrain from any future name-calling.

I know I have strong opinions. I realize I'm in the minority in many of my views on the Birds.

Sometimes I can get carried away.

[square634]

I didn't realize until Frobby's 2/3 season thread that Cabrera has thrown more innings than Bedard. That's jiust some food for thought. He definitely isn't having as many starts where he completely blows up and is gone in 3 innings as in the past.

[The Wedge]

There was no profanity used.

Nonetheless, out of respect for the message board community, I'll refrain from any future name-calling.

I know I have strong opinions. I realize I'm in the minority in many of my views on the Birds.

Sometimes I can get carried away.

Thank you, even though I'm not staff or anything. However, not using profanity shouldn't be a barometer. I mean, what if I called you a harebrained knucklehead? No profanity, right?

All I know is that pretty much 95% of the time, if someone calls me "tough guy" in that context they're trying to goad me, you know?

[The Wedge]

I didn't realize until Frobby's 2/3 season thread that Cabrera has thrown more innings than Bedard. That's jiust some food for thought. He definitely isn't having as many starts where he completely blows up and is gone in 3 innings as in the past.

He's kinda been a workhorse of sorts. Not a true innings eater, but I'll take it.

[Frobby]

You cannot possibly be an O's fan.

Cabrera just turned 26 a couple of months ago. He's 39-42, 4.79 ERA - pitching for lousy teams each year.

At the same point in Bedard's career, he was 12-18 with a similar WHIP and maybe a half run better ERA. Did you start a thread about Bedard titled Buh-bye - or whatever you had in that sickening title that got replaced?

All you have to do is look back to late May 2006 and you will see plenty of threads just like this one, but attacking Bedard. Who could forget the "send Bedard to the bullpen" thread, literally just before he turned the corner.

That said, the comparison between Cabrera and Bedard at 26 is a bit miselading. At ages 23 and 24, Bedard was undergoing surgery and recuperating. At ages 23 and 24, Cabrera was pitching for the Orioles. At age 25, Bedard had a lower ERA as a rookie who hadn't really pitched in 18 months than Cabrera had as a third year player. At age 26, Bedard started the season with a 2.08 ERA over 9 starts, a stretch far better than anything Cabrera has ever done, before an injury derailed him. He still finished his 26-year old season with an ERA almost a full run below where DCab's is now.

Simply put, I don't expect Cabrera to have a magical "light bulb" moment and suddenly become Bedard II. He is never going to be as consistent as Bedard now is. But I do think he's an OK 4th-starter type right now, who still has plenty of upside and is cheap.

[Say O!]

All you have to do is look back to late May 2006 and you will see plenty of threads just like this one, but attacking Bedard. Who could forget the "send Bedard to the bullpen" thread, literally just before he turned the corner.

That said, the comparison between Cabrera and Bedard at 26 is a bit miselading. At ages 23 and 24, Bedard was undergoing surgery and recuperating. At ages 23 and 24, Cabrera was pitching for the Orioles. At age 25, Bedard had a lower ERA as a rookie who hadn't really pitched in 18 months than Cabrera had as a third year player. At age 26, Bedard started the season with a 2.08 ERA over 9 starts, a stretch far better than anything Cabrera has ever done, before an injury derailed him. He still finished his 26-year old season with an ERA almost a full run below where DCab's is now.

Simply put, I don't expect Cabrera to have a magical "light bulb" moment and suddenly become Bedard II. He is never going to be as consistent as Bedard now is. But I do think he's an OK 4th-starter type right now, who still has plenty of upside and is cheap.

Well said, Frobby.

Here's to Cabrera pitching like tonight for the rest of season. Then, imagine the OH board debate:

Has Cabrera harnessed his potential (b/c he might now be considered a #3 or better) OR should he be dealt (b/c he could bring back a legit power bat)?

[El Gordo]

You cannot possibly be an O's fan.

Cabrera just turned 26 a couple of months ago. He's 39-42, 4.79 ERA - pitching for lousy teams each year.

At the same point in Bedard's career, he was 12-18 with a similar WHIP and maybe a half run better ERA. Did you start a thread about Bedard titled Buh-bye - or whatever you had in that sickening title that got replaced?

Cabrera is the hardest worker on the team - according to the O's tv announcers. They said he'd probably be the first one to the stadium tomorrow - after his start last night - to get in his running. So, don't you whine to me about "sour countenance". He presses too hard, because he wants so much to do well. Maybe he cares too much - especially when there are so-called O's fans who say they hate to watch him (which isn't just you, to our disgrace) and have already made up their minds that he'll never make it.

You know, with all the good feelings about Cal and the HOF, I was feeling good about being an O's fan. And then I read this thread - with the title that it had last night, and it stinks again. Maybe, I'll go to the Nats game tonight.

Hey don't do it! It s not the O's fault if some of their fans are stupid.

[Boy Howdy]

Why would any pitcher not named Sandy Koufax ease up on his stuff and try to "place" the ball? .

This is actually pretty common with hard throwers actually.

The fact that Cabrera is willing to take something off demonstrates that he is listening and he does, in fact, trust his stuff.

Joaquin Andujar back in the 1970's is just one of many examples. He could throw 95+ with little clue where it was going, or in the low 90's with more control.

It took Andujar years to beleive he didn't have to throw the ball as hard as he could to get results. The Astros got tired of waiting for him and dumped him to St. Louis where he had two 20-win seasons and won the seventh game of a World Series when he figured it out.

I think Cabrera's on the right track. The results will come.