Tori Leverton

I play in a neutral park, 0,0,0,0,0,0 across the board.

I didn't know much about how important GB/FB is with a low velocity pitcher when I drafted him. First 2 seasons in the league and I'm not too thrilled with his numbers. Anyone have a good comparison to him? How many seasons should I give him before moving on?

I think his numbers are actually pretty decent considering he skipped right over AAA and straight to ML from AA. The best comparison I have at my ML level is this guy:

Matt Hearn

It's a rough comparison, but the closest I've got to Leverton. Hearn's overall rating is slightly higher, as are his stamina and durability, but not by a whole lot. The velocity is the biggest difference, as Hearn is much higher there. And he's got a better GB/FB too. But Leverton has better control and vL/vR splits. Yes, there are a lot of differences between these two guys, but it's a rough comparison like I said.

Leverton's ML ERA is almost the same as Hearn's, but Hearn has a few more years of ML experience. Hearn is getting lit up pretty consistently this season, but I'm in a hitter friendly park (2, 0, 2, 1, 1). The two seasons before I took over, he was in a pitcher's park (-2, -2, -1, -1, -1), and before that, in an even more pitcher friendly park (-2, -2, -3, -2, -2). Last season, in Hearn's first season in a hitter's park, after 5 seasons in the pitcher's parks, he put up numbers consistent with his prior stats, which surprised me considering the 180 degree change in BP factor. But his numbers this year are much much worse.

All that being said, I realize I don't really have a suggestion. This is only my 2nd season of HBD so you know more of what to expect than I do. lol

I think the two seasons you've got out of him are well within his expected performance levels.  Because his vR is nice and his control is decent, he may actually improve on Season 21 some years....but he will also have Season 22-like years to follow them up.  He's a cheap decent starter.  After his first arb year you may want to jettison him.

I like him better than moe... take his pitch count down a hair (maybe 80/85 instead of what looks like 85/90 now, you may have done this already) and with an average defense I'd expect more like last season than this season.

Thanks, I don't think he is bad enough to not sign to a long term contract tho

Poor gb/fb and vel can be overcome by other good ratings.  This guy has earned 2 Cy Young awards, 3 All Star teams, 2 WS titles and a no hitter, and has had at least 20 wins in 6 of his 7 seasons - Vic Lopez

Thanks Sho, that guy is similar to mine. And you play in a more hitter friendly park than I do. So would you say that Leverton should average out to a mid to high 3 ERA over his career?

Lopez has always had a good defense behind him, so that has helped a bit I'm sure.  I would expect similar numbers from Leverton as Lopez is putting up as long as your team's defense isn't lacking, because as noted above, low velocity = less strikeouts/more balls in play.

Another example of good other ratings and good defense behind him overcoming poor vel and gb/fb - Edgard Garces

Well this gets my hopes up. I was reserved to the fact that he would end up being useless. As far as my defense goes it's pretty solid. My only real weakness is RF...

Would you consider playing Bill House at SS? I need to make room at 3B for this guy Al Villalona (next season probably) <<< he may eventually be my starting SS, depending on how his defense improves. I decided to try out Nolan Scott at SS, he's a defensive specialist but he's on pace to have the same amount of errors at SS that House had last season.

My system rates him as a #3 starter with a projected 4.38 ERA.