Choose Your Own Adventure: David Price Version

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 1, 2009 12:11 PM EDT

Let's say some divine presence offered you two paths for David Price's career to take. One is Mark Prior, a walking medicine cabinet; and the other is Jose Contreras. This means, over the next six years, Price will either throw 660 innings or 980 innings and accumulate 15.8 WAR. The risk with the former is evident, you can't count on him for extended periods of time, but yet he's really, really good. The latter gives you dependability for the most part, but he's not exactly an ace. On a graph, the two look like this:

Prior_medium

Contreras has longevity and consistency, Prior? Not so much.

So, which do you choose and why?

There really isn't a reason for choosing these two examples. I could've used Ben Sheets and Derek Lowe. Or John Smoltz and Carlos Zambrano. Or even Kelvim Escobar and Aaron Harang. The common theme is still present.

Poll

Take the career path form of...

Mark Prior

62 votes

Jose Contreras

73 votes

135 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 24 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Is it cheating to know that in Prior's non-ace seasons, he threw fewer innings, meaning the Rays have more opportunity to plug in decent starters, making the team better?

If that’s legal, I’d go with Prior.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Jun 1, 2009 12:13 PM EDT reply actions

I didn't say it was illegal...

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 1, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I would imagine that Prior's injury risk could be mitigated with a A+++ training staff and a non-Baker manager.

Until Next Time,
The Sports Chief

by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jun 1, 2009 12:44 PM EDT reply actions

Meh. Prior's really one of those cases where most scouts missed on the piss poor nature of mechanics.

Unlike Price, Prior’s mechanics are all arm. Dusty Baker didn’t help things, but Prior was going to fall apart eventually. It’s entirely possible the Cubs knew this and tried to use up as many bullets as they could to win a championship.

by Suttree on Jun 1, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Who has said Prior's mechanics were bad outside of Kyle Boddy?

Tools Whore

by Tyler on Jun 1, 2009 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Rick Peterson when he was with A's.

by Suttree on Jun 1, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

And Chris O'Leary.

And probably Mike Marshall, FWIW.

"Clogging up the bases isn't that great to me." -Dusty Baker on OBP

by vtcub on Jun 1, 2009 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Also, unlike Prior, they did a decent job of protecting Price in college

See link: Most abused pitchers 2001 NCAA

Today, we are all Honkballers.

by RATW on Jun 1, 2009 1:12 PM EDT reply actions

Switzer, Jon Arizona State 265076

Fantastic.

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 1, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Nevermind, Price was high on the list in 2007 too.

Welp, here’s hoping mechanics/genetics/minor league usage outweigh college pitching patterns.

I’d take Prior and hope the Rays can correctly forecast his flameout and sell high (unlike Kazmir?).

Today, we are all Honkballers.

by RATW on Jun 1, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn't be surprised if the Cubans really abused Joses arm also

But they also have the greatest doctors in the world!!

by matthan on Jun 1, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

In Mark Prior's analysis

on the abuse report:

He’s had no arm problems at all, as far as I know.

B Rad the Ray Fan

by BWoodrum on Jun 1, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions

so he either shoots high and flames out?

or has a slightly above avg career?

by davidsmarch on Jun 1, 2009 1:29 PM EDT reply actions

I'm not saying Price will take either route.

And I could’ve used any pitcher.

I just wanted to know which path people prefer.

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 1, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I went with Prior

cause he’s more fun to watch.

by Gator80 on Jun 1, 2009 1:30 PM EDT reply actions

Prior

If you only have the guy for 6 years might as well make them good

Rays Win!

by Sandy Kazmir on Jun 1, 2009 1:38 PM EDT reply actions

Prior

Because I want to see Price fall down a well.

Then climb up and out. And then eat the head off the person who pushed him.

RD over and out.

by ReasonableDoubt on Jun 1, 2009 2:13 PM EDT reply actions

I like the Randy Johnson path, personally.

Hello.

by killa3312 on Jun 1, 2009 2:20 PM EDT reply actions

I'd rather not have Price wait until he's 30 to "figure it out"

Jeter Sucks.

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Jun 1, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Kinda hard to argue with

299 wins (soon to be 300) and almost 5,000 K’s though, isn’t it?

"Clogging up the bases isn't that great to me." -Dusty Baker on OBP

by vtcub on Jun 1, 2009 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions

This one is too obvious

WHO HAS MORE WORLD SERIES RINGS? CLEARLY IT’S CONTRERAS.

Plus, all we need is some good, consistent starting pitching to keep us in games… Longo can supply the wins by following the career path of Albert Pujols.

by ChiBurbRaysFan on Jun 1, 2009 7:43 PM EDT reply actions