I think so but a lot of people don't. He had a terrific postseason versus the best lineup in baseball but his regular season wasn't that good. Do you think he can survive a whole MLB season starting since he hasn't really pitched untill the last couple of seasons. He really has struggled bad this spring but I think he could win 15 games with a decent offense. I also think he must get better on the road to reach that great level with Oswalt and Clemens.
I think he is. If you can pitch in a tight, pressure-cooker game like he did in the NLCS, against some of the best bats in the game today...then you're "for real." Depending, I guess, on how you define, "for real."
I'm more apt to believe that his regular season performance was more of what we will see from him as opposed to what he did in the postseason. If I am wrong, and he is more like the pitcher we saw in Oct, he could win 15-20 games.
Jeriome Robertson or whatever the hell his name was...won 15 games with great run support. I think we need to define, "for real." I don't know what you're asking. Is he a legit MLB starter...I'd say that with a fair degree of certainty. Not absolutely certain, because things change from year to year. But fairly certain. Is he a Cy Young winner?? I don't think so. So what do you mean by, "for real??"
I know alot of people say that spring training stats don't mean anything, but Backe had another rough outing today, taking his spring ERA to 6.57. I'm a little worried, but I'm hoping he can be a solid 4th starter for us this year. Anyone notice that former farm hand DJ Houlton pitched four scoreless innings against us today? He's got an ERA of around 4.5 this spring, I think he has to make the 25 man roster or we can bring him back. What are the chances that he makes the team?
DJ Houlton probley won't make the team now considering they just named Scott Erickson there 5th starter.
Backe seems like a guy who would not do very well in spring training, because he relies so much on adrenaline, and getting hyped up for the bigger games. That's probably why he ended up being a far better playoff pitcher than he was a regular season pitcher.
i agree.....but unfortunately, he needs to be successful in the reg season this yr if he is to get a chance to pitch in a big game...his doing well is no longer "gravy" for us....its more part of the main course