Jameson Taillon threw 104 IP last year and had a 3.38 ERA with a microscopic 1.5 BB/9 and an it’ll-play 7.4 K/9 coming off his 94 MPH fastball. I love Taillon. I can’t wait to draft him on every 2017 fantasy baseball team. Oh, the days will be fun when I can, said Grey sipping Cognac from a Pirate helmet snifter. Yet, said with a megaphone, I CAN’T FIND ANYONE THAT DOESN’T THINK TYLER GLASNOW IS MUCH BETTER. Like Taillon is a three, maybe two — it’s very hard to be a ten with a flat curve — and Glasnow is a bona fide ace. Together they do sound like a wrestling team Rowdy Roddy Piper (RIP) tried to get over, saying they were from Scotland. “Glasnow is close to Glasgow and Jameson Taillon doesn’t need any work to sell. I mean, Taillon is the chain hanging the metal medallion from a kilt and Jameson’s whiskey. Nuff said.” That was McMahon pitching the idea to Roddy in the 80s. On last midseason’s top 100 prospects by Prospector Ralph, Glasnow was 2nd overall. Prospector Ralph once took an 8×10 of Andrew Benintendi into a hot tub and asked his wife to give him ten minutes. And PR put Glasnow above Benintendi! Prospector Ralph once wore a Red Sox eye patch for a week, walking around saying, “My name is Yoan Moncada, you killed my father, prepare to die.” And Glasnow is above Moncada! So, maybe ETAs played into that ranking a tad bit — by the way, Tad Bit wanted to be a porn actor, but didn’t have the stuff — but Glasnow is obviously well-loved. Other places you look, Glasnow has similar fervor. Or, if Peggy Lee is reading, you give me fervor. Anyway, what can we expect from Tyler Glasnow for 2017 fantasy baseball?
Um, I don’t know. Imagine I ended it there. That lead up and pay off would’ve been like a Tad Bit sex scene. “Hey, Tad, can you move your pinkie finger from the shot. That’s not your pinkie?! Okay, who hired this guy?” I say I don’t know, because I see a very risky pitcher. Okay, I don’t know for 2017. I can see the stuff, and he does look like he can eventually be an ace. That means nothing until he harnesses his control. Yes, as of right now, at 23 years of age, he can walk out onto a major league mound and strikeout 9+ hitters in nine innings. Of course, it may take him three starts to get to nine innings because his control is so wonky. I see mentions throughout his prospect reports that he can control his pitches in the strike zone, but allow me to give you some numbers — you like numbers, don’t you? In Single-A in 2013, he had a 4.93 BB/9. In Rookie Ball in 2014, a 5.59 BB/9. In 2014 and High A, 4.1 BB/9. In 2015 and Triple-A, 4.8 BB/9. Finally, in 2016 in Triple-A, a 5 BB/9, and a 5 BB/9 in 23 1/3 IP in the majors last year. At some point, I don’t know, maybe I’m being silly, but I’d like to see actual control and not just talk about how he can control his pitches. Of course, the stuff is there. He can hit 99 MPH and strike out 9, maybe 10, guys per nine, so there’s huge upside here, and maybe his control will suddenly click and he’ll be a top 30 starter in 2017. There’s also downside here too, and he could be unownable, roofie’ing you right out from under your left and right kidneys. For 2017, I’ll give him the projections of 9-11/3.87/1.39/134 in 125 IP with much upside and downside from there.
