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Is Steve Matz the best young pitcher in baseball?

What are we considering young? Definitely too small a sample size to crown him anything just yet though. A lot of these young guys seem to start hot and then fade a bit once guys figure them out. I assume they won't even be debating throwing Matz in the playoff rotation, right?
 
Not even the best young pitcher on his own team (Noah Syndergaard)

Not the best rookie pitcher either (Carlos Rodon)

Probly somewhere around the 10th or so best pitcher 25 and younger.
 
Duck Rodgers said:
What are we considering young? Definitely too small a sample size to crown him anything just yet though. A lot of these young guys seem to start hot and then fade a bit once guys figure them out. I assume they won't even be debating throwing Matz in the playoff rotation, right?
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yeah, baseball players don't have the same career arc as basketball players where you can just kind of assume their body will mature and they will get better every year in their 20's (for the most part.)

I know we're talking about pitchers, but one guy whose career amazes me is Jayson Heyward. He was a legit MVP candidate his 2nd year in the league (I think) then, has never even come close to that offensive level in the 5 or so years since. His value is basically just his defense.

Baseball is so much harder to project, which makes it even more fun to track prospects IMO.
 
PG_AB said:
I dunno, 25 and under?

They've been pacing his innings to save him for the playoffs. He pitches well in big games.
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Extremely Small Sample Size.... We are talking about 35.2 innings here. Don't just get sucked into ERA or wins for that matter. They are a terrible stat when determining a pitcher's value. I say this thinking Matz could very well have a bright future if he can stay healthy(a big if with any pitcher it would seem these days)

His ERA in his 35.2 IP is 2.27 so far as you said. However, his FIP and xFIP are both (3.62) and (3.57). Meaning that given enough time(innings) he is probably due for some regression. Here's an explanation on how both work if you are interested. Keep in mind that I am not at all saying Matz can't or isn't going to have a bright future ahead of him. It also doesn't mean this is the pitcher he will be for the rest of his career. I just think it is worth looking at his stats deeper.

https://www.fangraphs.com/library/pitching/fip/

https://www.fangraphs.com/library/pitching/xfip/
 
PG_AB said:
David Wright had a ball go directly thru his legs tonight for Matz 3rd ER, Should've definitely been an error. It cost him the W(and inflated the ERA to 2.28). Career high 8k's though.

I saw a few of Steves HS games. I know him - played pickup basketball with him, his catcher and older cousin at a local college and ran fools off the court.

One of the games I saw him pitch was vs current Toronto Blue Jay Marcus Stroman. Steve had like 17k's in 7 innings it was a legendary game. Stroman was really good too, He was throwing like 88-90 at that time and Matz was throwing 93.


Steve got drafted straight out of my HS in 2009 but needed Tommy John Surgery right away, and It didn't heal fast. He's workaholic though, bigtime gym rat, so when he was ready to go he could get close to 97.

Been trying to keep track of him since he got drafted. I remember when he was just honorable mention in a list of the top 150 baseball america minorleague propsects, he's been tearing it up for a while now. I really wouldn't doubt him. He dominated the minor leagues, in a hitters league.
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Saying he's a top 10'ish pitcher under 25 years old isn't doubting him, it's probly being too generous. He's a good #2 or #3 pitcher, not an ace IMO.
 
PG_AB said:
I'm pretty sure he's an Ace, and better than Syndergaard. No doubt in my mind he's got what it takes to dominate. he's ultra-competitive, one of those quiet storm types - and just look at his pitch arsenal in the first post. I know he's topped out at least 97mph this year. so thats really upper echelon for lefty starters. David Price and CC Sabathia didn't throw harder than him..

I'll also say this. Just look at some of the swings he induces.. He's got the stuff for the standard, good morning, good afternoon, goodnight strikeouts. I know he had a bunch of near no-hitters in the minors, but is on a strict pitch count.



In his last start Reds(2nd time they've seen him) they got 10 hits off of him, It wasn't his best work, he let up a run in the first, struck out the side and started out with like 28 pitches, then he settled in.

In the 6th they were hitting him hard but there was more than a few plays the defense left on the field, including the 3rd run, went right thru Wrights legs and cost him the win. mostly going up to the plate trying to make contact with the first pitch. His 4 seam fastball is the key.



If the Mets go with Bartolo Colon with the 4th spot in the playoff rotation, which I don't think they will - As one NL talent evaluator said: “Somebody needs to get out Adrian Gonzalez. You can make that Matz’s job, whether it’s bases loaded in the fifth or a tough spot in the eighth. You tell Matz he can come in and throw 100 mph, because that’s his one batter.”
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Stopped reading at, "better than Syndergaard."
 
PG_AB said:
This is why I don't mind jumping to conclusions. Because ignorant people like yourself show up and out-do me. I count on **** like that. thanks.

As much as I'm jumping to a conclusion, your clearly doing it worse. He's never lost a game. Syndergaard has been roughed up on more than a few occasions.

How many Matz starts have you seen to pass that judgement anyway?? Or are you just aware of him because of fantasy baseball?
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The reason I'm aware of him is because of fantasy baseball, which makes me very very aware of each players stats and their upside.

Matz is a very good pitcher, but Syndergaards upside is HOF. He's a beast.

If both pitchers stay healthy, it is not close at all.

Matz is a very good pitcher and I dunno why he has to be the best or you aren't happy. Is he your little brother or something??
 
PG_AB said:
Matz let up 3ER once, and the 3rd ER was scored on this ball (0:25) ... that went thru the 3rd basemans legs, that should've been an error.
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Wtf does that have to do with the rest of his career?

There are hundreds of scouting reports to read on each player, I don't care about a ball going through a guys legs in a game one time.
 
PG_AB said:
LOLOL - It means that every single start so far in the MLB is 2ER or less.... Have you even seen him pitch a damn game?

How have you gauged his trajectory on such a small sample size?
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I watch highlights, but mostly gauge things on how highly regarded players are by scouts. Everything I have read about Matz is that he will be a very nice pitcher, but not an Ace, while Syndergaard has no limit to his potential.
 
UGLI baby said:
I watch highlights, but mostly gauge things on how highly regarded players are by scouts. Everything I have read about Matz is that he will be a very nice pitcher, but not an Ace, while Syndergaard has no limit to his potential.
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That fantasy baseball homework.
 
UGLI baby said:
Not even the best young pitcher on his own team (Noah Syndergaard)

Not the best rookie pitcher either (Carlos Rodon)

Probly somewhere around the 10th or so best pitcher 25 and younger.
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LOL. he's considered better than Noah.
 
UGLI baby said:
The reason I'm aware of him is because of fantasy baseball, which makes me very very aware of each players stats and their upside.

Matz is a very good pitcher, but Syndergaards upside is HOF. He's a beast.

If both pitchers stay healthy, it is not close at all.

Matz is a very good pitcher and I dunno why he has to be the best or you aren't happy. Is he your little brother or something??
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Holy ****, you're clueless here. Just stop.

Fantasy baseball. Oof.
 
I'm willing to be wrong Gyp, but show me a single prospect ranking or scouting report that has Matz rated higher than Syndergaard.

Not a recent article just based off the last few starts, but a legit scouting report.
 
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