Elmhurst Steve wrote:
Keyser Soze wrote:
So Veal won't be part of the Peavy deal??
I have a feeling the cubs will get him back sometime during the season. No way he lasts the season in that atrocious Pirate bullpen.
I hope you are right. If he does not stay on the major league roster for the entire season, the Cubs can buy him back for just $25,000. Half of what the Pirates had to pay to claim him. The experience he may get at the major league with the Pirates, might be of some benefeit too. But why you believe he will pitch out of the bullpen, rather than starting, is one thing that puzzles me.....
It had a lot to do with the fact the GM said he'd be used as a reliever......
Quote:
Neal Huntington just spoke after the draft, and here are highlights: He acknowledged talks with Vazquez and "other free agents" but echoed that they are not complete. ... Veal was one of three names the Pirates had on their list, and they were "surprised" he fell to fourth. ... Veal will be a reliever in spring training, and it is no lock that he will be kept on the roster. He has to show better control, and the team's pitching coach and minor league pitching coordinator will work closely with him. "It speaks to our faith in Joe Kerrigan and Troy Buckley in what we can be able to do in spring training," Huntington said. "If it works, we'll have a very interesting left-hander. If not, nothing ventured, nothing gained." ... Asked if the lack of control was a concern, Huntington said: "Absolutely. That's why he's on a triple-A roster. He had a hard time throwing the ball over the plate. A year ago, this was one of the better left-handed prospects in the game. He went through some adversity this year, and we feel that influenced his performance. We do feel there's arm strength and a breaking ball." ... The Pirates clocked Veal's fastball at 95 mph in the past, but just 88-93 this past season. ...