2029-02 Might as well write a TN about Marty Ssempa, I guess

[jiminyhopkins]

Phoeniz, AZ--

The Talons are hanging out around .500, selling out the stadium every night, and could have a legit superstar on their pitching staff. The two Talon All Stars this year's All Star Game were SP Martin Ssempa and SS Jonathan Archer. Ssempa was the fourth-highest vote getter among JL starting pitchers, while Archer was selected as a reserve by the manager to fill out the JL roster.

In this team news, which meets our minimum for the season, the focus is on Ssempa. Is he for real? What has made him so good? At first glance, he looks like a Greg Maddux type, if Maddux were left handed. Throws up to 6 pitches, tops out around 91, impeccable control and great movement. Ssempa even won 23 games two seasons ago for the Amsterdam Neptunes in the late great EBA.

Ssempa is averaging nearly 8 innings per start and is on his way to 7 or 8 WARs this season. Though he doesn't have superb strikeout numbers, Marty keeps the ball in the yard and is stingy with the free passes, posting a 5:1 K:BB ratio. Then again, the JL has some really good pitching, and Ssempa really doesn't pepper the leaderboard all that often, except in things like innings pitched and walks per 9. The good news is, Ssempa is under team control for 5 more seasons, so the Talons have the luxury of time to determine whether this guy really is the franchise ace.

So what do you think? Is Ssempa for real? Let us know in the comments!

[Lane]

Love me some Pastor Doctor! A classic crafty lefty.

I'm not sure if he's 8 WAR good, but as long as his movement and control stay, he'll be fine with the 6 stuff rating. Stoked to see a former Neptune having so much success.


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[udlb58]

Is he for real? Well, yes he's a good SP. Is he elite, top 20 SP good? Absolutely not. He's giving up .4 HR/9. That number will be more than double that in a normal season, double his HR allowed and you add 8-10 runs, that puts him at a 3.08-3.21 ERA. Now add in career best BB/9 and BABIP, and he's down a little more. Still very good, but not in the 'best SP in the league' discussion.

Still a hugely valuable player when you factor in his contract. He definitely lost out the most with expansion. He was set to become rich in free agency and now he's locked down at a reduced rate through age 33.

[ae37jr]

I would have thought he'd be a great RP conversion. But the way he's been pitching... I wouldn't touch a thing. Maybe some of his many 6 ratings are really just a touch off 7.

[jiminyhopkins]

I would have thought he'd be a great RP conversion. But the way he's been pitching... I wouldn't touch a thing. Maybe some of his many 6 ratings are really just a touch off 7.

Hmm, interesting. Guess I never thought about a possible RP conversion down the line. Wonder how that would turn out, ratings wise?

[bschr682]

I would have thought he'd be a great RP conversion. But the way he's been pitching... I wouldn't touch a thing. Maybe some of his many 6 ratings are really just a touch off 7.

Hmm, interesting. Guess I never thought about a possible RP conversion down the line. Wonder how that would turn out, ratings wise?

You are insane if you reliever convert that guy. He will be a solid SP for many, many, many years barring injury. Put a great defense behind him and he really is a top 20 guy.

[Ted]

He's actually not a great RP conversion candidate. Those two FIVE pitchers are probably somewhere in the 80 range, and the two SIX pitches he'll give up are at worst in the 90 range. That means he'll have about 40-50 points and two MPH added to either FB/CB (better) or FB/SPL (not as good). The worst version of him I can make converts to 7/8/10 with changeup and 6/8/10 with splitter. Not that great.