Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The buzz surrounding the Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitching is still audible now even after they have been eliminated for a while. Most of that energy surrounds amazingly affective rookie Gerrit Cole. There may be rookies with better all around stats but none carried the load that Cole did during the postseason with the look of a veteran. Last season there was another name always mentioned alongside that of Cole but Jameson Taillon didn’t have the greatest season. Now he has been pulled from Arizona Fall League action because of an injury. Does this dampen the expectations on Taillon?
I don’t believe the expectations saddled on Taillon will lessen much if at all and for good reason. Cole wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire in the minor leagues last season himself. I think he was sort of bored with the situation because he knew in his heart that he was ready for the big time. Sure enough Cole delivered on every expectation and more when he arrived. Taillon looks to be set up to do the exact same thing.
Related: Walt Weiss Will Make Colorado Rockies Proud Before New Contract Ends
There is no way to know whether or not Taillon will be exactly as effective as Cole and he still might start the 2014 season in the minor leagues. For my vote, I’d throw him right in the start of the season if it weren’t for the need to watch out for his innings. He will be ready to go at the big league level just as soon as Cole was a year ago. When the two of them are together on this starting staff, look for them to be one of the best one-two punches in all of MLB, bar none.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
Related:
Pittsburgh Pirates’ Future and Present Looks Very Bright
Jameson Taillon: Promoted to Triple A, Could Make MLB Debut in June
