我想很多人都認為, 沒有受傷的曹錦輝是有著ace stuff的吧
這大概都是被他早期的球探報告, 甚至是台灣媒體的報導所影響
事實上
那個一開始去美國, 被評為有mid-90 mph fastball, plus slider的曹錦輝
只是存在於一些喜歡灌水的球探心中吧

來看看他2003的一篇球探報告, 原文在此

Velocity: His four-seamer tops out at 92 mph, his sinker and cutter at 94, his curve at about 75 and his changeup at 84 or 85. His hard slider is most effective at 87 to 88 mph.
這裡很明顯的是出錯了, sinker與cutter比4-seamer還快......
不過這篇很寫實, 他說曹錦輝的球速是92 mph
事實上2003年他上MLB擔任先發的時候, fastball大概都只能在low-90跑, 還常常有低於90 mph的球出現
所以, 以前那些球探報告很可能都是灌水, 因為小曹根本沒有辦法在先發的時候維持他的球速在mid-90

Command (on a 1-to-10 scale): 6

Areas of concern: His mechanics put a lot of strain on his elbow, especially when he throws a hard slider. He slings the ball with maximum effort, finishing his delivery with a violent head movement and a stiff front leg with serious recoil. This is a worry given his history of elbow injuries. He has a habit of dropping his elbow, which pushes pitches up in the zone. His glove-side command and control of his cutter and sinker need work. His hard slider needs improvement to become an out pitch at Coors. His four-seamer is not effective inside against righthanders. From the stretch, he misses high consistently with his four-seamer, which is easily read by hitters. He slings and hyperextends when throwing his cutter or slider across his body, diminishing his arm-side control of the pitches. He does little to hide his hard slider, which he trusts. After pitch No. 60, as his arm begins to tire, he tips his pitches--notably his slider.
這一大段點出了好幾個重點
His hard slider needs improvement to become an out pitch at Coors.
以往被台灣球迷吹噓的slider, 在球探的眼中連out pitch都還不是(雖然說多少受到Coors Field的影響)
換句話說, 就是no more than average.
His four-seamer is not effective inside against righthanders. From the stretch, he misses high consistently with his four-seamer, which is easily read by hitters.
fastball的水準也是令人質疑的

Outlook: Above-average hitters will start to hit him consistently after they have seen him a time or two. He must develop more deception. He projects as a No. 3 or No. 4 starter for a pennant contender, but he must improve his mechanics.
總結評價就是No. 3或No. 4的先發
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這就是修正之後的scouting report

不過被灌水的報告不只小曹一個
很多小聯盟的選手, 看他們的球探報告都會讓人驚為天人
一堆投手都是plus, plus-plus的武器
等到實際上MLB之後, 才赫然發現原來是唬爛的
真正馬上能表現出來的沒幾個
大家知道Red Sox的Clay Buchholz的報告有多誇張嗎
他有4種plus to plus-plus的球路, 而且fastball還是這4種當中最弱的, 一看就覺得是虎爛
他的stuff是很不錯, 但是哪有那麼誇張的
所以, 現在在看新秀球探報告的時候, 都會先在心裡有個底
就是一切要等到MLB站場上能見真章