Abe Alvarez

[stocker323]

From Rotoworld

Derek Lowe is not expected to miss his next start.

Lowe was knocked out of yesterday's start both literally and figuratively after taking a ground-ball off the shin. His bruised shin should be fine by Thursday.

As said before the announcers were making a bigger deal about it than it was. When Tito took him out I didn't think it was because of the injury I thought it was more the way he was pitching.

[yankeessuck013]

scouting report on him? when is he predicted to make it to the bigs?

[BoSox Rule]

Here is his scouting report from www.soxprospects.com

"Scouting Report: Tall and lanky lefty. Has been compared to Orel Hershiser and Jamie Moyer. Changes speeds well and hits his spots with consistency. Fastball isn't fantastic, topping out in the mid to high 80s, but throws all of his pitches with pinpoint control. Best changeup and command in the Sox farm system. Curveball needs some work. Very mature, knows what he needs to do to prepare for each game. Very focused. Legally blind in his left eye. Wears his hat to the side to balance the lighting in his blind eye - not as a fashion statement."

ETA from the same site: Late 2005

[Sox fan in Tex]

When I first read his stats consisting of 5 IP with a 9.00 ERA I knew I was missing something... then I saw that his one start was against Baltimore which is understandable considering how we played against them this past year.

The guy is 23, but I'm hoping there are some good stats that I am unable to find somewhere.

[Edit: There are some great stats. While playing for the Portland Sea Dogs in '04 he received 3 awards (2004 Portland Sea Dogs most valuable pitcher (fans), 2004 Portland Sea Dogs pitcher of the year & 2004 Eastern League All-Star.) He was an outstanding pitcher at Long Beach State and at Portland this past season had a record of 10-9 with a 3.66 ERA.]

[Zenny]

Excellent knowledge of how to pitch combined with excellent control and an outstanding changeup. The problem is that he doesn't throw hard, his curveball still needs a little work and if he's off, he can get shelled.

[AgentAnni008]

Half way through this season Alvarez is putting up good numbers in AAA. 7=3 record, WHIP is at 1.10 and his K:BB is better than 3:1. He leads the team in innings pitched and K's. Every level this kid pitches at he is successful. He will win games at the major league level someday.

[stocker323]

And guess who just got called up. No word if he was brought up to start tonight, Mantei was indeed placed on the DL with a sprained right ankle.

[riverside sluggers]

cool i like abe alvarez, probably will do better than matt mantei

[YanksHater213]

I remember I saw Abe's first career start... it wasnt pleasant.

[riverside sluggers]

well would you rather seeing him relieve, or see mantei give up 4 walks in the same inning--as far as i know, lets go Abe, lets go

[riverside sluggers]

wait hold the phone on boston globe's website its saying wells is reoccuring effects of the injury he suffered back in april and tonights starting job could go to a starting pawtucket pitcher.

If Mantei, whose mechanics are noticeably different from the pitcher who saved 29 games for Arizona in 2003 (in the absence of arm trouble, could he, like Curt Schilling, be favoring an ankle?) has to go on the DL, the Sox might reach down to their minor league system. Not for another reliever -- not yet -- but for a starter, because tonight's scheduled starter, David Wells, has physical issues of his own -- plantar fasciitis in his foot.

Jeremi Gonzalez has been Pawtucket's best starter and was an earlier call-up, but he pitched last night for Pawtucket. Lefthander Lenny DiNardo, who has limited big league experience, pitched the night before. Scheduled to pitch tonight for the PawSox is Chris Narveson, the lefthander who came from Colorado in the B.K. Kim deal. He could be summoned on an emergency basis tonight. The other possibility may be in Portland, where top prospect Jon Papelbon is scheduled to pitch tonight for the Sea Dogs. Papelbon missed his last start with a hip flexor and was lit up in his previous outing, one observed by GM Theo Epstein, but the Sox liked him enough this spring to give him a start in Florida, and showed last season with Abe Alvarez that they have no compunction about calling up a Double A pitcher.

[BellhornLove]

When he pitched for us last season against the Orioles in that Double header I thought his name was Ave. haha

[BrentD22]

They shouldn't even allow him to wear his hat like that. It looks unproffesional and tells me a lot about Abe. He seems imature, cocky, stupid, and I sure hope one hell of a pitcher. I also hope he is made to straighten out that hat and act like real major league ball player. We need a good pitcher that is cocky! Just not stupid or imature!

[AgentAnni008]

Originally Posted by BrentD22

They shouldn't even allow him to wear his hat like that. It looks unproffesional and tells me a lot about Abe. He seems imature, cocky, stupid, and I sure hope one hell of a pitcher. I also hope he is made to straighten out that hat and act like real major league ball player. We need a good pitcher that is cocky! Just not stupid or imature!

He definitely isnt cocky or stupid. He is only 22 but according to the RedSox they are most impressed with his maturity. I hate the way he wears his hat too but to say he is stupid and cocky and imature just from one look at his picture seems to be a little ignorant. And with the hundred different ways major leaguers wear their uniforms (pants to their knees, pants around their shoes, gold chains sticking out, hair longer than my mothers) who is the "real major league ball player" that you are refering to for him to act like?...anyways leave the kid alone until he stinks up the joint and plays horribly then you can call him stupid and imature.

[stocker323]

He wears his hat like that because he's legally blind in one eye. It makes it much easier for him to see where the hell he's throwing the ball to. So it's not because of immaturity.