Now that every baseball fan has access to Baseball Reference, one can find comps for every player that’s suited up. I’m of the belief that the eye test and context can provide equally compelling comps. The numbers guys love BR because the stats line up. They exclude circumstances, expectations, and organizational development and resources allocated in pursuit.
When I heard the White Sox sent both Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz to minor league camp, I couldn’t help but think parallels and comps. While both lefties are 21 years old and physically impressive pitchers (6’3 and 6’9, respectively), I immediately thought of Greg Maddux and Jamie Moyer. It sounds like the Sox are going to couple the two young pitchers for now and see where that goes.
39 years ago, Moyer and Maddux made their ML debuts with the Cubs. Neither guy got off to an especially good start and they weren’t teammates for too long. Moyer was part of the 1989 trade that brought Mitch Williams to Chicago. The Cubs selected Maddux in the second round of the draft and Moyer was taken in the 6th round. But, to prove the Cubs weren’t infallible, they chose Drew Hall in the 1st round.
By no means am I suggesting that Smith and Schultz will combine to win 624 games. Let that number sink in for a minute and consider what the Cubs reaped when they traded away Moyer and let Maddux sign with Atlanta.
Given how neither group of fans wants to see the parallels, I thought about one with a decidedly White Sox connection. Long before the ’84 draft, the Sox were cultivating their own starting rotation. As a kid and quasi-subscriber to Baseball Digest, I remember the cover and cover story touting Ross Baumgarten, Britt Burnes, Rich Wortham, and Steve Trout. The issue came out in either 1978 or 79 and I don’t have a copy although I may have gotten it signed at the time. BD was great about having group photos on the cover. I’m sure GM Chris Getz has a couple other youngsters that he’d like to groom with Smith and Schultz. If you can increase the size of the pool, you’re likelier to hit on one.
As I’ve never seen those particular pitching staffs compared before, I know nobody has pointed out that Ed Lynch and Ron Schuler pitched for the Cubs and Sox, respectively that year. Both would later generally manage their respective clubs.
For better or worse, I’m almost positive baseball reference won’t include any of this in their comp section.
