Abe Alvarez

[yeszir]

Age: 21
Born: October 17, 1982
Resides: Fontana, CA
Height: 6-3
Weight: 185
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Drafted: 2nd Round, 2003
How Acquired: Draft
College: Long Beach State
High School: Fontana High School
ETA: late 2005

Scouting report (from http://www.soxprospects.com):

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.

He is considered, as of right now, to be the frontrunner as a replacement on the big league club in case Schilling goes down with that ankle injury.

[RedSoxRooter]

FIX THAT DAMN HAT

[yeszir]

Hat aside, here are his stats:
GO TROT GO TROT GO TROT (he just hit a homerun)

Pitchers W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	GF	SH	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WP
A.Alvarez	6-5	3.84	13	13	0	0	0	0	70.1	72	38	30	9	19	52	1

[Zenny]

At the big-league level, he'll fall somewhere between Tom Glavine and Jamie Moyer. That's great company to be in.

The hat and the hair are really going to piss people off, but don't let it fool you. He's a hard worker, mature and very focused.

[yeszir]

If the biggest complaint about him is his hat, I say we have a winner.

[yagmaster]

At the big-league level, he'll fall somewhere between Tom Glavine and Jamie Moyer.

Is he really this good? We're talking 20 game winners. I think this might be too much optimism for a pitcher with mediocre stuff.

[Zenny]

Originally posted by yagmaster@Jun 16 2004, 10:06 PM

Is he really this good? We're talking 20 game winners. I think this might be too much optimism for a pitcher with mediocre stuff.

No, it's really not over-exaggerating. The only thing "mediocre" is the speed on his fastball. He controls the fastball amazingly well, has a superb changeup (a 70 on the 20 to 80 scouting scale) and a great, and still developing, curveball. Once people get past the fact that he throws 88, they'll find the 20 game winner under there.

[yagmaster]

I hope you're right, we could sure use a homegrown ace.

[YanksHater213]

Originally posted by yagmaster@Jun 16 2004, 11:26 PM
I hope you're right, we could sure use a homegrown ace.

especially a lefty one at that

[yeszir]

Alvarez is legally blind in his left eye. That's amazing that he can still pitch at a high level.

[Zenny]

Another thing to keep in mind about Abe is his age. He's only 21 in a standardly 23 to 24 year-old's league. So, take in the ~3.85 ERA and ~1.30 WHIP and you say, "he'll be OK". Then factor in the age, the great hitter's league that the Eastern League is and the fact that his pitches are still developing and you have a lot of factors working against Abe, yet he's doing great.

[yeszir]

Tonight, he faces off against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. I'll make a post after the game.

[yeszir]

The Sea Dogs lost, but he only have up one run. His line:

Abe Alvarez	6.0	2	1	1	0	6	1	3.76

6 K's and only 2 hits in 6 IP is not too shabby if you ask me.

[Zenny]

Yep, Abe was very good tonight (well, it's now Saturday, so I guess it's yesterday). He has given up a lot of homeruns, but his 1.23 WHIP and 3.10 K/BB ratio only suggest that his ERA is going to continue to decline. Don't forget, he's still about two years younger than the rest of the league.

[Old Hoss]

Originally posted by yeszir@Jun 18 2004, 11:41 PM
Alvarez is legally blind in his left eye. That's amazing that he can still pitch at a high level.

How the hell did that happen?