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While I'm more in Matt's dugout on Jackson, it does illustrate the tricky reality of 'emerging' players.  For ANY player, pitcher, or hitter, who has a SINGLE quality season, it is no simple task to judge the up/down/stable for the year(s) to follow.  Lopez FINISHED with 4 great months, after a horrid start.  I view him as solid to maintain, with an upward trend more likely than regression.
I see Jackson, who had 4 good months, followed by two bad, as likely heading in the opposite direction, (stable to regressing).  And while I, like Matt, might not buy the fatigue argument in this case, I also understand the error in dismissing such arguments out of hand.  (Did Wash also swoon because of fatigue?).  Ironically, I typically believe that there is an over emphasis on September stats as "tells" for the future. (For me, it is the stats PRIOR to 2009 that are making me put more weight on Jackson's final 2 months that the months by themselves).
All that said ... I do like the concept of hunting for upgrades to the pitching staff.  As a rule, I view pitching and hitting as significantly different animals in regards to impact beyond the immediate position.  Junior and Sweeney clearly had a ton of value beyond their raw numbers to the club.  The offense really IS a "team".  But, pitchers I view as much more singular entities.  And despite tomes written last year about the impact of a true ace making the pitchers behind him better, mostly I think this is just felt in very demonstrable areas, (like less stress for bullpens, if you've got a workhorse like Halladay).  But, I'd say pitchers feeding off each other is likely rare in the extreme and casually overstated by the pundits. 
Unit and Schilling didn't "feed off" each other.  They were both great pitchers apart.  They were both great pitchers together.  At best I can see pitchers with vastly different styles having some benefit for the trailing pitcher, (though I'd always position the soft-tosser FIRST, and the hard thrower following -- except for knucklers -- most hitters are happy to see ANY pitcher after a knuckleballer.)
So, while I am in favor of allowing the young bats to get a chance to mature, I'm much more open to the club reeling in a quality arm to pair with Felix.  I just don't think Jackson is high enough quality.
 

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