Cashner, Ace ?

[AztecBill]

According to Baseball Prospectus, yes.

www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=21842

Padres RHP Andrew Cashner: "This guy is really coming fast with his ascent to the top of a rotation. His delivery is under control and he is repeating extremely well. He is one of the best athletes on the mound in the league and has really turned the corner with his pitch making. It looks like he has added a two-seam FB to his already dominant velocity and that could be a difference maker. I saw him pitch as well as he ever has this week and he is quickly becoming a legit ace."

[aztecmusician]

To soon to label him as an ace, after 4 great starts. However his recent dominance is very encouraging, lets see what we get next year.

[AztecBill]

Sept 26, 2013 10:28:05 GMT -8 aztecmusician said:

To soon to label him as an ace, after 4 great starts. However his recent dominance is very encouraging, lets see what we get next year.

4 great starts?

5 games ago: 7 innings 0 ER
6 games ago: 7 innings 1 ER

Post All-Star Game
11 Starts
75.2 Innings (4 outs less than 7 innings a start)
2.14 ERA
.191 Batting Average Against
0.96 WHIP

He has learned how to be a starter this year. He abandoned his knuckle slider for a traditional slider. He learned that his 97 MPH fastball can be saved for critical situations.

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His numbers are similar to Tyson Ross

Season ERA
3.09 Cashner
3.10 Ross

Post All-Star Game ERA
2.14 Cashner
2.80 Ross

Ross will turn 27 three weeks into next season.
Cashner will be 27 when next season starts.

Those two should be in their prime years.

Padres have Ross under control for 4 more years.
Padres have Cashner under control for 3 more years.

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If this year's success is not a mirage and Luebke and Kennedy come back to prior great levels, the Padres would have 4 pitchers as #1 and #2 type pitchers.

2011 ERAs
2.88 Kennedy
3.29 Luebke

Luck is part of the equation. If we had some real good luck the Padres could have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball.