He looked like a 10-year veteran last night. I buckled in my chair when his first pitch was a slider. He was worth every penny he got last year in his performance last night.
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I posted this several months ago:
"In the Aug. 4 issue of Sports Illustrated, there is a very good article on David Price. I tried to find a link to post, but it looks like it's not on the web. I was struck by the first paragraph, which explains how midway through his freshman year at Vanderbilt, Price decided to quit school, quit baseball, and go to work at McDonalds. Seven months after having been drafted in the 19th round, Price met with his college coach to explain his decision. The reason? He had just gotten shelled in a preseason intra-squad game. His coach obviously was able to talk him out of his decision, but it just goes to show how important the mental game is in baseball."
It's pretty wild to realize that a guy who just led his team to the World Series almost quit baseball his freshman year in college. Talk about mental toughness in entering a bases-loaded situation with 2 outs in the 8th!
Here's another look at his performance last night:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4XsRJNEwjQ
"In the Aug. 4 issue of Sports Illustrated, there is a very good article on David Price. I tried to find a link to post, but it looks like it's not on the web. I was struck by the first paragraph, which explains how midway through his freshman year at Vanderbilt, Price decided to quit school, quit baseball, and go to work at McDonalds. Seven months after having been drafted in the 19th round, Price met with his college coach to explain his decision. The reason? He had just gotten shelled in a preseason intra-squad game. His coach obviously was able to talk him out of his decision, but it just goes to show how important the mental game is in baseball."
It's pretty wild to realize that a guy who just led his team to the World Series almost quit baseball his freshman year in college. Talk about mental toughness in entering a bases-loaded situation with 2 outs in the 8th!
Here's another look at his performance last night:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4XsRJNEwjQ
Kudos for Price. However, careers are full of ups, downs, and injuries. It was a great outing, but Garza set the tone and Price got to face a team "on the brink" with some favorable matchups. Taking nothing away from the performance, I'm a Price fan, but not ready to jump on the bandwagon after 1 outing.
He certainly was very good last night.
In my view, Matt Garza was the story last night.
I first saw him in late August of 2005 in the MWL and you could see something different even then.
For a 24 year old in the 7th game against the Red Sox and all the issues and pressures with the Rays having lost the prior 2 games, Garza proved what he has been proving over a much longer time.
With good health, the type of velocity and command he shows,combined with the confidence that can come from the type of starts he had in that series, at 24, things look awfully bright.
In my view, Matt Garza was the story last night.
I first saw him in late August of 2005 in the MWL and you could see something different even then.
For a 24 year old in the 7th game against the Red Sox and all the issues and pressures with the Rays having lost the prior 2 games, Garza proved what he has been proving over a much longer time.
With good health, the type of velocity and command he shows,combined with the confidence that can come from the type of starts he had in that series, at 24, things look awfully bright.
There have been lots of shining moments with both series. I tip my hat to Price though. To be a young guy just out of the gate so to speak, I thought he showed a great balance between youthful excitement and the poise of a veteran performer. I was impressed and smilin' the whole time I watched him.
No matter what happens in the future, this was a great sports moment.
This was a kid with ZERO saves in the Major Leagues before last night. He came in with the bases loaded to face one of the Red Sox hottest hitters. This when it looked like the Rays bullpen was going to blow another game.
I would think we will being seeing more of David Price in the World Series. Should he be the closer? IMO, Yes at least until he fails. Not many teams have lefties who can throw upper 90s with a great slider in their bullpen.
What he did last night was unbelievable given all the circumstances.
This was a kid with ZERO saves in the Major Leagues before last night. He came in with the bases loaded to face one of the Red Sox hottest hitters. This when it looked like the Rays bullpen was going to blow another game.
I would think we will being seeing more of David Price in the World Series. Should he be the closer? IMO, Yes at least until he fails. Not many teams have lefties who can throw upper 90s with a great slider in their bullpen.
What he did last night was unbelievable given all the circumstances.
I believe this young man can out-talent his inexperience. Out-talent his mistakes if you will. He is not infallible of course but I see them riding him at the end of games until he proves otherwise.
Garza maybe was the bigger story in the series but I gotta tell ya, I had goosebumps watching Price in that situation.
Watching that fist pump after striking out Drew was special. No matter what happens to Price over his career (and I believe he will have a successful one), he just had the kind of moment most players wait a lifetime for.
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Watching that fist pump after striking out Drew was special. No matter what happens to Price over his career (and I believe he will have a successful one), he just had the kind of moment most players wait a lifetime for.
"Price" less
Wasn't even in the Big Leagues until September! WOW!!! What an awesome performance! Talk about handling pressure! I wonder what Vandy's Coach said to him to change his view of himself? It's a shame the Rays probably won't be able to keep most of these guys for more than a couple more years. Won't be able to afford them.
We got home from my sons tournament in time to watch the last three innings. All we could say was WOW! Price is as nasty as it gets. When Varitek was up, 0-2 count, son says, here comes the slider. Varitek had no chance. That slider looked like Randy Johnson's in his prime. Simply nasty. When he is in the starting lineup next year, who do you think the odd man out will be?
"He was worth every penny he got last year in his performance last night."
They have him for six more years at the MLB minimum, plus what he got for his bonus.
They have him for six more years at the MLB minimum, plus what he got for his bonus.
Garza was great...heck Lester was pretty daggone good, Price was...well if you weren't on that kids side after that display of fortitude..you don't have much heart...that game is the reason baseball is such a great game....and it came down to a very scared looking guy getting the mvp to pop a fly on a mistake pitch he came a millimeter from driving out of the park..wow. It had all the fun and none of the bad.
quote:Originally posted by FormerObserver:
"He was worth every penny he got last year in his performance last night."
They have him for six more years at the MLB minimum, plus what he got for his bonus.
FO, isn't he arbitration eligible after 4 years?
For the Giants, that is a big issue with Lincecum, and why they are trying to get him signed to a longer term contract.
Lincecum came up in 2007 and will be arbitration eligible in 2011.
Going to arbitration where he can paint his numbers against a lefty on his team making $25,000,000 per year isn't a pretty picture for the Giants and quite a nice one for the pitcher.
Again, Price had a terrific night and was a lot of fun last night.
But he is one draft class later than Lincecum and 2 later than Garza. He has a huge upside and if he gets close, he will be getting an offer probably 30-40 times the MLB minimum to avoid arbitration too .
quote:Originally posted by jerseydad:
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I am with you. David Price is far mature beyond his years, one of the reasons why he was the first pick in 2007, college player of the year and played for USA and led in striKe outs and ERA. A power lefty, groomed by one of the best college coaches in the country, what he did was amazing, IMO. David Price had some failures as a freshman, but he was able to learn from them and get mentally tough. That is not an easy task. His success at Vandy, in the tough SEC helped him to develp the confidance he displayed last night. He also began his pro career over a year after he was drafted, he never played in 2007 (signed late and went back to school in the fall) and this season began late due to elbow soreness.
Whatever the Rays paid in bonus (just bonus), they made it all back last night. He proved his worth.
Karza and Lester were amazing, but as experienced starters, they were expected to perform at the highest level last night. Both have faced personal challenges and overcame them. Kudos to Karza for MVP.
Last evening's performance is something that he will be able to build upon to make him a better player, despite ups and downs he will have along the way. I expect to see him around for a long time.
Congratulations to the Rays.
quote:FO, isn't he arbitration eligible after 4 years?
3 maybe?
Great job by Price. I, too, had a big smile on my face as he was pitching. Good for him.
Gotta give that Price kid credit for coming in a spot like that considering he's a late season call-up and never won or saved a game before being put in that spot.
Guess we'll see how he turns out when he pitches full time and players around the league adjust to him when they see more of him.
Price was at an advantage since major league hitters haven't faced him much but it's still quite impressive to do what he did.
Looks like he could be the real deal.
Guess we'll see how he turns out when he pitches full time and players around the league adjust to him when they see more of him.
Price was at an advantage since major league hitters haven't faced him much but it's still quite impressive to do what he did.
Looks like he could be the real deal.
quote:Originally posted by FormerObserver:quote:FO, isn't he arbitration eligible after 4 years?
3 maybe?
Yes, arbitration starts after three years of service time. Although, I don't think Price threw enough innings this year to get a year of service time. Assuming he's up all of next year, I believe he'll be arb eligible after the 2011 season.
I watched a story on ESPN about DP. He grew up in Nashville before attending Vanderbilt. He struggled mightily freshman year. So much so, he went to Coach Corbin and announced he was leaving Vandy, quitting baseball to attend a juco and work at McDonald's so he could just be a "normal kid". Coach Corbin talked him out of that plan. Mrs. Price said she was glad Coach Corbin talked David out of quitting.
Most late season callups would have been shaking in their cleats and wiping their sweat off the ball.quote:Originally posted by zombywoof:
Gotta give that Price kid credit for coming in a spot like that considering he's a late season call-up and never won or saved a game before being put in that spot.
Guess we'll see how he turns out when he pitches full time and players around the league adjust to him when they see more of him.
Price was at an advantage since major league hitters haven't faced him much but it's still quite impressive to do what he did.
Looks like he could be the real deal.
He also has the advantage of a mid 90's fastball, high 80's slider, a Vandy education, the will to win and a $10m contract.
"Who could ask for anything more!" 
I forgot. He's a lefty too. 
Movin' up in the world
GO MUNGUMREY BISCUITS!! (formerly Orlando Rays)