Theory Verses Practice

In theory, the Ten-Day Disabled List should be a wonderful thing for pitchers, but initial results are not so good.  It appears that after being off for ten days a starter just is not quite in-sync. Ryu was obviously out of sorts (maybe he is injured) and McCarthy also looked like he needed another start before coming off the DL.  So, in reality, while it might be a tool to keep the bullpen fresh, it hasn’t worked well for starters.  Ryu and McCarthy both looked like they needed a rehab start to get back in sync… maybe two.  So, in reality the 15 day DL might be just what was needed.  I don;t blame FAZ for trying it but after giving two games away, I have seen enough.

Alex Wood has earned a spot in the rotation and frankly, who is looking for another Number Two?  Wood looks a lot like that guy.  Hill could be that guy.  I think his blister issues will go away.  The big mistake was to rest it all winter. His finger was smoother than a baby’s butt due to rest when in reality he should have been tending to that callous.  It looks like they are on top of it now with a plan.  I think that plan includes no more than 5 or 6 innings for a while (maybe a pitch count of about 70).  The there is Julio Urias who had a 1.06 ERA before Coors,  This guy is too good to not pitch.  Finally, there are McCarthy, Ryu and Maeda.  Brock Stewart will be back in the mix after the All-Star Break and Trevor Oaks, Jair Jurrjens and Justin Masterson are at AAA.

It looks to me that someone is going to be the odd man out.  Kershaw, Hill, Wood and Urias are locks, but Ryu and McCarthy are both tradable if they are healthy and to prove they are healthy, they have to pitch!  Lots of teams need starters.  Even Maeda could be dealt.  If he pitches well in his next start, he could be in demand.  Due to Maeda’s “Team Friendly Contract,” it’s hard to put him in the pen.  A couple of those starters could be parlayed into some bullpen arms.  Dayton and Romo are struggling to some degree, and there are too many other options.

Sooner or later something has to give.  I loved Wood in the pen, but he has shown he belongs in the rotation, so there is that.  I’m also tired of the dumb lineups.  Cut the crap!  It’s not smart to put Grandal at #3, OK?  It’s another lefty tonight and here is all I want to see:

1. Taylor 2B
2. Seager  SS
3. Turner  3B
4. Bellinger  1B
5. Gutierrez  LF
6. Barnes C
7. Puig  RF
8. Pederson  CF (leave him alone)

Minor League Report

Right HERE