Well Rich, we know you've now seen Zack and Kazmir pitch this year. You start a team, who do you want? And...let's throw in Ankiel.

I can't have all three? Boy, you're no fun.

I would rank them as follows:

1. Greinke
2. Kazmir
3. Ankiel

Greinke is more fully developed than Kazmir and doesn't have Ankiel's past problems (control and elbow surgery) to deal with. He is the most polished of the three by far. However, Zack's stuff doesn't measure up to Kazmir's or Ankiel's. As such, Greinke may not have their upside but he is more of a "sure thing".

Another consideration: Although only 25, Ankiel is four years older than Greinke and 4 1/2 years older than Kazmir.

I'd like to open up that same question to the readers. Feel free to jump into the discussion.

I've only seen Greinke, but I was impressed enough with him to take him over an unseen Kazmir, whom, right or not, Rick Petersen diagnosed with bad mechanics and as a future reliever. That's very unfair to Kazmir, but Greinke strikes me as a pitcher's pitcher, which is amazing for a 20-year-old.

Ankiel. I don't like Greinke's stuff or Kazmir's mechanics, and I don't like how young they are. I do like that Ankiel's gone through physical and off-field problems that would ruin many players' careers and seems on the verge of putting it all together. He still has all the talent he always had and he's still young. If Greinke and Kazmir stay healthy, they may well turn out better. That's a big "if."

I'm not sold on Greinke at all, and both he and Kazmir are too young for me to be sure of anything except their injury risk.

If I had to choose one to keep, I'd choose Ankiel. If I had to choose one with an option to trade, I'd choose Kazmir.

I'm pretty risk-averse on pitchers, though.

I'll jump in and answer my own question. I think the pick here is Greinke, bar none. I don't know if Maddux applies, or Saberhagen, but I love him. 20-year-olds that know how to pitch are scary.

Next, I'll take Ankiel. I watched his second appearance, and he's back. Control, fastball, and boy is that curve back. And Rich, peaks occur at different ages, so it's entirely possible Ankiel peaks at 28, while Greinke or Kazmir peak at 24.

Finally, there is Kazmir. I'm still not convinced he won't end up relief, though he does have some solid stuff. His workload has never been tested, so I'm skeptical what will happen at the 150 inning barrier...

I've seen both pitchers live this year; Greinke twice, Kazmir once. I am much more impressed with Greinke. Based on that one Kazmir game, I'd agree with Peterson; unless Kazmir comes up with a better off-speed pitch than I saw, he's gonna end up a reliever. He'll have trouble getting through batting orders more than once or twice with nothing but hard stuff.

If you are talking pitching, I have to go with Jose Capellan as #1. Kazmir #2.

If you are talking Hitting, I'd go with David Wright #1, BJ Upton #2

David - The same Capellan who gave up six hits and seven runs tonight in one inning? The same Capellan who gave up two home runs and had no strikeouts?

: )

Felix Hernandez.

I would rank them as follows:

1. Greinke
2. Ankiel
3. Kazmir

Mainly because GAK is the neatest product since Flubber.

Jonah,

"You Can't Do That"

--John Lennon/Paul McCartney

1. Ankiel
2. Greinke

Oh yeah, I agree with Jonah. Besides, I'd take Prior over all of them. Wouldn't trade him for two of them together.

Kazmir? I agree with Rick Peterson on this one.

I don't know enough about the three of them to give any kind of educated answer, but Greinke sure looked nice the other night against the Yankees.

Can I take Danny Almonte? While he's older than Greinke and Kazmir, he's thrown a no-no during championship competition.....

Posted without comment:

The three players in question were all drafted out of high school.

One outing does not a player make. Greinke looks strong, but I do like the year Capellan has had. I thank the Mets for the Kazmir gift.

I'd go...

1.) Kazmir - so young, so talented and so left-handed. What he did against the Red Sox was impressive!
2.) Ankiel - could be the highest potential. I think Kazmir could be as good as Ankiel was. I hope Ankiel can be that good again. The age thing pushes him down the list.
3.) Grienke - I guess I would compare him with Maddux (as so many have), which probably means he'll be the best long term!
4.) Capellan - I do think he'll be very good too.