In defense of Dave Littlefield

he did try to build up the pitching, but failed miserably at it. For a scout he had no idea how to judge talent

Rendon, please.

Thank you.

That’s all well and good, but since the Pirates had the first pick in the draft, there is no way they should have gone with anyone but the best talent unless they had a signed and notarized letter from said player and his agent stating, “if you bitches draft me, I’m going to college.”

Littlefield had a hard-on for college pitchers because he felt they could get to the majors faster, when really all it meant is that their arms were worn out by managers who didn’t give a crap if the pitchers had a future, just that they won games in college.

plus try on this tidbit: training facilities/programs for college athletics are far superior to high schools. high school baseball teams in my area dont have anything to help a talent progress easier to the next levels. my high school didnt even have an outfield fence.

sure college pitchers have thrown alot of innings. but usually they throw about the same amount their first year in the pros, give or take of course. i know some will now say its not the actual number, but how they were used. but why is it more of a problem than say a high school pitcher? i know there are more college games than high school, this is true. but from what ive seen in most high school programs, the level of training is pretty poor. once again, im talking about schools in my area, not exactly a hotbed of baseball.

…of why, all else being equal, you take the guy with several years’ worth of plus velocity over the college guy whose stuff suddenly bumped up during his draft year. Pitchers will sometimes mysteriously gain a few MPH for a year, and when that happens they often lose it just as mysteriously before the next season. For a Pirate-specific example of this phenomenon in action, look at Justin Reid in 2004.