Assessing the players: David Price

The Rays had a great season, winning the AL East and making the playoffs for the 2nd time in three years (even though the sting of the playoff loss to Texas lingers). There were many players that contributed to the successful season and over the next few weeks I will assessing each player and giving them a final grade based on their regular season performance (the post season was far too bitter and short to give a grade for anyone in that series). So it is time to start assessing and assigning grades to the players, first up is David Price.

Price emerged as one of the most dominate pitchers in league. Price finished the season with a 19-6 record, a 2.72 ERA, recorded 188 strikeouts and gave up 79 walks. Price pitched an impressive 208 innings and kept the opponents’ batting average to a low .221. Price is a candidate for the Cy Young award and will be the Rays ace pitcher starting in 2011 (step aside No Game Shields).

Coming off of a 10-7 season in 2009, there were some that questioned if Price could become a dominating starting pitcher, or was he simply a fastball pitcher. Price answered the critics, dominating opponents, starting the All-Star game, and even making it to the cover of Sports Illustrated. Price learned to mix his pitches, adding off-speed pitches to go along with his electric fastball.

Price lost both games in the playoffs, but this grade doesn’t include that performance (plus the offense didn’t help him out very much either). Overall, Price was nearly unbeatable. Price showed the league that in his second full season as a starter, he is among the best pitchers. Final grade: A+