Do you think they try out Liriano in the role of closer? His injuries have made his starting seem iffy.
Why not? Smoltz and Schilling proved the closer role fits with a rehab program for a starter.
Somebody has to do it, too, and this is an expensive time of year to go shopping for a key performer.
That is pretty much my thinking, even Woods was fairly effective making the switch.
They’re looking pretty hard at Heath Bell right now. Liriano is looking extremely good in spring training, and needs to be pitching more innings for them. Long relief will give him the flexibility to pitch extended amounts of innings when he can, rather than having the constraints of the closer role limiting his time on the mound.
They’ve already said they won’t be considering Liriano as the closer, for what it’s worth. Probably a good idea since he’s still only, what, 26 and I’m sure they still maintain high hopes for him as a starter. If they make him the closer, in a way, the best case scenario would create a weird kind of a problem when Nathan returned after missing only one year and Liriano had a lot of success in short relief.
I find that kind of dilemma fascinating, and it happens a lot these days: Joba, Neftali Feliz, Papelbon, Ryan Dempster, Brett Myers and Ryan Madson and even Chan Ho Park are all guys who were great in relief but who also had some pedigree as a starting pitcher. Johan Santana too, sort of; I don’t think the Twins ever considered not moving him into the rotation. Nathan and Rivera and a few others went the other direction. It’s like, how valuable is a great reliever vs. what are the chances he can transition into being a great starter, and how willing are you to take that risk, and on the other hand, what kind of damage could it do to his development to move him around? Offhand I can’t think of a similar situation in any sport: “well, he’s a fantastic punter, but he might make a great quarterback!”
Except a player doesn’t need to be as good at starting as relieving to be worth starting. 200 good innings is more valuable than 70 great ones. The other question is do pitchers really break down less in the bullpen? Just looking in spring training, Bailey, Street, Wood, and of course Nathan are already hurt.
In Liriano’s case I think you have to start him. Not all players come back from tommy john surgery at the same speed. He looked great in winter ball. You have to give him every chance to prove he can be an above average starter before moving him to a one inning role.
The Blue Jays have tabbed Shaun Marcum to be their Opening Day starter.
Interesting story. I don’t know if it’ll get any traction or if the result will pan out, but apparently there were some dirty deals in the Tigers/Yankees/Diamondbacks trade. It could result in the Tigers getting Granderson and Jackson back?
Uhh…April Fool’s, LOUNE.
:smack:
Goddammit. If you actually planned this, gonzomax, there are going to be problems between us.
Baseball tonight! I’m going to see Jake Peavy pitch a few innings as the Chisox come to town to play their AAA club, the Charlotte Knights. 4:20 until baseball!
Looks like the Blue Jays pitching staff is set. (for now, anyway)
Starters: Shaun Marcum, Brian Tallet, Ricky Romero, Brandon Morrow and Dana Eveland.
Disabled List: Dustin McGowan, Marc Rzepczynski.
Bullpen: Scott Downs, Kevin Gregg, Casey Janssen, Jeremy Accardo, Merkin Valdez and Shaun Camp
And starring: Jason Frasor as The Closer.
Brett Cecil and Josh Roenicke were the last two cuts.
I thought i’d come in here and give a shameless plug for my MLB 2010 Prediction Competition thread.
I hope all the resident fanatics will put in an entry.
Actually, I can think of a direct comparison: the fantastic kick-returner who the team tries to turn into an everyday wide receiver.
Mets projected opening day lineup
- Alex Cora SS
- Luis Castillo 2B
- David Wright 3B
- Mike Jacobs 1B
- Jason Bay, LF
- Gary Matthews Jr. CF
- Jeff Francoeur LF
- Rod Barajas C
- Johan Santana P
Thank god there is fantasy baseball.
The Cleveland Indians:
Fausto Carmona will have a comeback year.
Grady Sizemore will remain overrated.
The Indians 2010 payroll is $60 million, $11 million of which is going to Travis Hafner. Even worse, they’re on the hook to Hafner for $26 million over the next 2 years.
See you in 2013, Indians.
I am really scared for my Rockies this year. They are being picked very high this year, which means they will suck.
ESPN predicts the 2010 baseball season - ESPN
Most have them in the playoffs, some winning the NL and a few have them winning it all.
The Jays are paying Roy Halladay and B.J. Ryan each more this year than all those guys put together.
Of course, that’s about how much the Red Sox are paying Julio Lugo to play for Baltimore.
Hey MOID, is Pronk done?
He’s coming off shoulder surgery, so there’s a chance he may have somewhat of a resurgence this year (though I’m not holding out hope). Even if he gets back to 2006 form it won’t matter because they’re not going to contend again until 2012 at the earliest, by which time he’ll probably hurt something else. Or get traded at the deadline to a contender. Whatever.