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Monday, February 14, 2005

Scouting Report: Delvin James

Bio: 
Name:     Delvin Dewayne James
Birthday: January 3,1978 (27 on Opening Day) 
Height:   6-4
Weight:   222
Bats:     Right
Throws:   Right
Position: P
Acquired: Minor League Free Agent (2004)
Drafted:  1996, 14th round (424), TB
Roster:   Min. League
Contract: n/a
Stats (complete): 
YEAR(L)   G  GS IP    H   R   ER  HR  BB  SO  H/9  W/9 K/9  W  L  ERA  WHIP
----------|--|--|-----|---|---|---|---|---|---|----|---|----|--|--|----|---
2002(AA)  3  1  13.0  12  7   5   2   2   13  8.5  1.4 9.2  1  2  3.55 1.14
2002(AAA) 7  7  34.0  41  15  15  4   4   26  10.8 1.1 6.8  2  1  3.93 1.31
2002(MLB) 8  6  34.1  40  25  25  5   15  17  10.5 3.9 4.5  0  3  6.55 1.60
2003(AAA) 34 21 138.0 172 91  80  21  36  65  11.2 2.4 4.3  5  10 5.23 1.51
2004(AAA) 4  4  20.0  24  12  11  3   8   6   11.0 3.7 2.8  0  1  5.03 1.63
Pitching:
Pitch selection: 1) Fastball (high 90's), 2) Change, 3) Curve, 4) Slider. Works predominately off fastball. Fastball averages 94-96 MPH and has been clocked as high as 99 MPH. Throws curve to lefties and sliders to righties.

James was a former DRays farm hand and was once considered a fairly high-ceiling prospect. Drafted out of Nacogdoches (TX) High School having only played baseball his senior year, he slowly but surely rose through the Tampa Bay organization and saw substantial Major League action in 2002. That same season, James' career was put in serious jeopardy when he was shot three times in the left arm during an incident at a Raleigh, NC restaurant. Amazingly, he was back pitching in a matter of days - and pitching well enough to be recalled to the majors just 10 days after being shot. He couldn’t make it back to the majors in 2003, and was to allowed to walk as a 6th-year free agent after the season. James started the 2004 season with the Marlins, but when he failed to catch-on out of Spring Training he joined the Angels organization. He only appeared in 4 games for the Stingers, all relatively early in the season (injury?). Whatever happened to James last season, he appears to be fully healthy heading into 2005 and was extended an invitation to Spring Training.
Outlook:
Despite his age, James would tell you that he's still learning how to pitch. He's a project, and you know how much the Angels love pitching projects. Unfortunately James is a power-pitcher who doesn't strike out many hitters and finds far too many bats, and at 27 there's not a whole lot of time for him to put everything together. I seriously doubt this small gamble will pan out for the Angels. Expect to see him spend the season in the rotation at AAA Salt Lake. ETA: Never.
See the complete list of scouting reports here.

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