I’m trying to figure out whom Adam Loewen reminds me of. I just read a scouting report talking about his mid-90s fastball. That’s not true. He does look he can throw a good curve and change, but his command is awful. That’s why he’s starting the year off at AAA-Ottawa. At least he’s progressing. The past couple seasons he’s been stuck in A-ball. The scary thing is that his walk rate was 5.45/9 IP last year. The scarier thing is that it was 6.12 in 2004. He’s young at 21. And you know there’s talent there (he was the 4th overall pick in 2002).

I saw Chuck James pitch in a spring training game last week and I could have sworn he was throwing 80 mph fastballs. Bobby Cox said this about James:

“Chuck James is something, I’m telling you,” Cox [Manager Bobby Cox] said after the rookie left-hander was charged with one run and two hits in two innings … When someone asked Cox if James, 24, could be compared with former Brave pitcher Tom Glavine, the manager didn’t dismiss the seemingly premature notion. He said the two had similar stuff, and James is working toward Glavine-type command. James, 24, will get more starts while Jorge Sosa is away for the WBC. “I think he’s legit,” Cox said of James, who had a 2.12 ERA with 198 strikeouts and 39 walks in 167 innings last season for four teams, starting the season at Class A Rome and finishing with a September call-up for Atlanta.”

Now James doesn’t have good stuff, but as a lefty in the NL he can post above-average numbers by limiting his baserunners and not surrendering HRs. Glavine was always giving up around 1 hit/inning. But he gave up less-than-1 HR/9 IP, and he limited his walks. Remember, this only works in the NL. And it’s still risky. Horacio Ramirez was also supposed to be another Glavine, and he throws a splitter and 2-seamer. But it’s a RARE pitcher who can have long-term success in the MLB if he doesn’t have the ability to throw his fastball by a batter. And at 89 mph for James you’re really pushing the envelope.

Kyle Davies could easily be the next Russ Ortiz next season. I’d expect him to have a rough 2006, but in 2007 he’ll get his act together, start throwing strikes (he had good command in the minors) and become a very good pitcher. His 2004 AA line was 2.32/62 IP/40 hits/73 Ks. He throws a change-up, which is always good, and he’s got kind of a weird arm action over-the-top.