His control is impeccable, walking only 70 batters over 280 innings the last two seasons. Hacker also threw 7 innings of perfect baseball early last season in Tampa, but was removed due to the mandatory early season pitch count.

Check out this blog from the opening game of the first round of the playoffs, a game which Hacker started and got the victory:

http://nybaseballdigest.com/?p=1187

I had mentioned in the piece that Hacker reminds me of Greg Maddux. But, there is no way Hacker throws 95 MPH, not with a prior shoulder surgery.

‘Eric Hacker is a guy to keep an eye on. He’s one of those proverbial “under the radar” guys, but there’s a good chance he’s going to be in the majors this year, either as a middle-reliever or as a spot starter. Basically, he’s pitched well whenever he’s been healthy, and over the past year, both his four-seamer and his slider have improved. If he were not with the Yankees right now, I’m certain he’d be competing for a big league rotation spot with some other team.’
Basically Brian Bruney or Brian Stokes type and come on man lets chill w/ the he’d be on a ML roster, he’d be in the minors getting seasoned unless someone on the NL wanted to risk pushing him, I wouldn’t rate him above Dunn or Delarosa or Garcia or Sanchez or Hughes, although he’s on the 40.

No.
Bruney has always been a very hard thrower. Hacker’s always been a pitcher.
Hacker’s had +control throughout his minor league career and has always thrown 3-4 pitches. He’s had trouble staying healthy.
This past year, Hacker was able to bump up his fastball a couple of notches, so that he now can throw 92 consistently, and occasionally 94-95. He’s got a very good slider and a decent curve and change. On top of that, he’s a mature individual who takes a very strategic, thoughtful approach to his job.
Those other guys you mentioned are quite different. Sanchez, Dunn, and probably DeLaRosa are all being groomed for bullpen work. Dunn and DeLaRosa are lefties.
Hughes has got +stuff all around and is much younger than Hacker. Garcia has ++stuff and has always been a starter. While you are correct that Hacker doesn’t rate as highly as those other guys, he’s major league ready. And, yes, he would be competing for a rotation spot with some other clubs. No doubt.

Thanks for the follow up. I am appreciative. Good Luck. I will follow the scores. What is Wake getting for points?

Again, safe travels and have a good week.

-dennis

I don’t want to watch Giese-Albaladejo-Igawa relieve Hughes lol