Comments on: Prospect Stew http://futureredbirds.com/2008/03/16/prospect-stew-9/ Baseball's Future in the Gateway City Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:27:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Bob http://futureredbirds.com/2008/03/16/prospect-stew-9/#comment-15082 Bob Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:02:39 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=1005#comment-15082 McClellen could go 2, 3, even 4 innings if necessary. Given his limited innings last year, a full workload of 150-160 IP this year might be a bit heavy--for these reasons, I kind of like Kyle as a MLB reliever to start the year (but just to start). As guys like Pineiro & Clement join the rotation, Thompson or Wellemeyer (or Looper?) can assume long relief duties, while KM goes to AAA to be a starter. That's my thinking, anyway. McClellen could go 2, 3, even 4 innings if necessary.
Given his limited innings last year, a full workload of 150-160 IP this year might be a bit heavy–for these reasons, I kind of like Kyle as a MLB reliever to start the year (but just to start). As guys like Pineiro & Clement join the rotation, Thompson or Wellemeyer (or Looper?) can assume long relief duties, while KM goes to AAA to be a starter. That’s my thinking, anyway.

]]> By: Bill http://futureredbirds.com/2008/03/16/prospect-stew-9/#comment-15081 Bill Sun, 16 Mar 2008 15:13:50 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=1005#comment-15081 Why not send McClellan to AA or AAA as a starter, to see if he can handle the workload? Several reasons, notably the strong likelihood that he can't. His arm trouble followed on the heels of a season where he did push his workload up into starter territory. Since he is looking like a useful reliever (to put it mildly), that provides powerful disincentive to risk breaking him again. Some other reasons: * He's still on the young side of what Will Carroll calls "the injury nexus." Carroll claims, with considerable evidence, that pitchers below age 25 should be handled with kid gloves unless proven otherwise, on the grounds that they're more susceptible to injury -- which surely isn't a surprise to readers here. McC turns 24 during the season. Pushing him on inning count would be a better idea a year from now. * It is not a bad thing to let a promising kid get a taste of the bigs under controlled conditions; it avoids the sprained brain that affected prospects like, notably, Zack Greinke, not to mention a certain Cardinals left-hander. * Remember that the major-league roster will start the season with 12 pitchers, but it certainly won't end with that many. If the weight of evidence suggests that McC will be better off getting some starts in the minors, the bullpen will be down-sizing some time around May, and he'll get the "opportunity" to be the guy demoted. * And there's always the Waino factor... Why not send McClellan to AA or AAA as a starter, to see if he can handle the workload? Several reasons, notably the strong likelihood that he can’t. His arm trouble followed on the heels of a season where he did push his workload up into starter territory. Since he is looking like a useful reliever (to put it mildly), that provides powerful disincentive to risk breaking him again.

Some other reasons:
* He’s still on the young side of what Will Carroll calls “the injury nexus.” Carroll claims, with considerable evidence, that pitchers below age 25 should be handled with kid gloves unless proven otherwise, on the grounds that they’re more susceptible to injury — which surely isn’t a surprise to readers here. McC turns 24 during the season. Pushing him on inning count would be a better idea a year from now.
* It is not a bad thing to let a promising kid get a taste of the bigs under controlled conditions; it avoids the sprained brain that affected prospects like, notably, Zack Greinke, not to mention a certain Cardinals left-hander.
* Remember that the major-league roster will start the season with 12 pitchers, but it certainly won’t end with that many. If the weight of evidence suggests that McC will be better off getting some starts in the minors, the bullpen will be down-sizing some time around May, and he’ll get the “opportunity” to be the guy demoted.
* And there’s always the Waino factor…

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