The 08 Pirates are a FAR CRY from 1992. BUT Will Jeff Karsten's Aug and Sept be like Tim Wakefield's late 92?

Question

Around the EXACT SAME TIME of the season on July 31, 1992 an unknown rookie named Tim Wakefield came to Pittsburgh and ate the division alive with his TOTALLY UNHITTABLE Knuckleball in the last 2 months of the season........Of course these 08 Pirates are NO COMPARISON WHATSOEVER to the 92 Eastern Division Champs. And Jeff Karsten is a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT KIND OF PITCHER than Tim Wakefield was.........BUT will Jeff Karsten have the same "Unknown Kid out of Nowhere Dominance" that made Tim Wakefield a national story in 92?

WILL he put up similiar 1992 Tim Wakefield August and September numbers?

Answer 1

Well, it's possible. But here is a young player, spent most of his career in the minors, and he is shutting down the big leaguers. This can be attributed to many things. First of all, there may not be as much video on him, as he was in the minors. So now that he has pitched two outings, teams could always start to figure him out. But I am not saying he won't keep it up. It just will be harder for him.

Personally, I don't think that Karstens will be the same national story. The Pirates won't get enough attention, with the team they have, and the big playoff races coming with the Pirates not in there. Maybe he will be underrated and unnoticed, and emerge as a top pitcher next year, if the Pirates contend.

Also, with the Pirates offense, I can't see him doing as well either. WIth Bay and Nady gone, they are relying on some young guys to come through. When he threw the complete game, the Pirates only gave him 2 runs of his support and he was the reason the Pirates won.

So, I don't think this story will get national recognition (or any outside of Pittsburgh) because off the heated pennant races and ESPN's coverage of the East Coast.

But I do hope the Pirates come out next year and surprise! They have got a team for the future! Just hope Karstens isn't the next star they can't afford! My brother likes the Pirates, and they are my second favorite team

Answer 2

You will often see pitchers come up from the minors that have never pitched in the bigs, or have only started one or two games. A lot of times, the pitcher does really well. The reason for that is because the major league hitters have no scouting report on that pitcher-they don't know what that pitcher throws, when he likes to throw it, or where he likes to throw it. Major league hitters spend a ton of time going over scouting reports to prepare themselves for the at-bat. Only time will tell if Karstens will be a good pitcher....many times after 2, 3, or 4 starts, hitters start to figure them out.  

Answer 3

No he won't. When he pitched for the Yankees he gave up 6 or 7 runs a game. He might be ok in the National League.

Answer 4

I think Karsten will have a great finish! The Pirates have only played 24 games against the NL West and the West is down this year. Pittsburgh is also scoring a lot of runs this year.  

Answer 5

Just because Karstens did not pitch well with the Yankees, does not mean he will be a bust with the Bucs. He was in the minors all this season refining his control and has become a much better pitcher than he was last year with NY. The fact that he has given up no runs and just 7 hits in his first 15 innings, shows he has what it takes to pitch in MLB (against 2 1st Place teams, I might add)! The Pirates scouts knew what he could do. Just hoping he can continue the trend.....

Answer 6

I hope so, that would definately pissed off yankee fans.  But I don't know how good he will be, pitchers usually have an advantage against hitters they have never faced.  I was just thinking of that team.  I used to like Andy Van Slyke.