Keith Law: "O's Mishandling Bundy"

[The Rick]

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=7828638

"Bundy should have started his career at AA, that's a mistake by the Orioles."

"It's compounded by the fact that he's not being stretched out by only pitching 3 Innings."

Listen in to hear more at about the 38 minute mark.

I hear what Law is saying, but nothing here is hurting him, so he's being over the top, per the usual.

BTW, Rick Peterson is much better than Keith Law.

[Frobby]

Just silly, IMO. You could argue for handling him a different way, but to say he is being "mishandled" is ridiculous, especially on April 18.

And I doubt many teams would have started any high school pitcher in AA. Bundy will be there soon enough.

[waroriole]

Why does anyone pay any attention to Keith Law? If he's so good at what he does, why wouldn't he take the Astros job? Keep up your schtick Keith.

[The Rick]

Just silly, IMO. You could argue for handling him a different way, but to say he is being "mishandled" is ridiculous, especially on April 18.

And I doubt many teams would have started any high school pitcher in AA. Bundy will be there soon enough.

Yeah, he's just being a fool, yet again. He was asked about the mishandling word choice on Twitter, and this was his response:

Mishandling is exactly the right word. This is no way to develop a starter.

[Can_of_corn]

Yeah, he's just being a fool, yet again. He was asked about the mishandling word choice on Twitter, and this was his response:

I asked him on twitter what he would set as an innings cap for Bundy this year, he didn't respond. Assuming he would set a cap near where the O's are then having him pitch more now would just lead to a August 1st shutdown. Not sure how that would be better.

[waroriole]

I asked him on twitter what he would set as an innings cap for Bundy this year, he didn't respond. Assuming he would set a cap near where the O's are then having him pitch more now would just lead to a August 1st shutdown. Not sure how that would be better.

Of course not, then he'd have to come up with an explanation and not just complain about everything.

[RVAbird]

I've defended Law on a lot of topics, but he's wrong on this. It's April 18. Bundy will be in AA by June and hit his innings cap in August before his arm falls off.

[Slappy]

Criticizing losing teams is his schtick. How did the Jays do when you were there, Keith?

[TGO]

I've defended Law on a lot of topics, but he's wrong on this. It's April 18. Bundy will be in AA by June and hit his innings cap in August before his arm falls off.

Same here. I usually defend him 'round these parts. Not now. This is stupid.

[wildcard]

I have to agree with Law. He says in the audio that he " doesn't get it". That is pretty hard to disagree with. He doesn't.

[jonesing4pie]

Legitimately the reason could be as simple as building Bundy's confidence more (I know it is pretty high) and these few starts are worth it. As long as it doesn't last too much longer I see absolutely nothing wrong with how they have handled him. Like you all have said, its April 18th Keith, go outside and enjoy the weather and stop being bitter.

[MurphDogg]

Right, if he is as good as everybody thinks he is, he should be in the Majors by the end of next season. Does anybody really think it is wise for him to go from hitting an innings cap in early August in 2012 and then expecting him to pitch in the big leagues into October in 2013? It seems to me that it is a good idea to get him stretched out not only innings-wise but also to the idea of a full five month season in the minors in 2012, especially if we hope that he will pitch a six month season between the minors and majors in 2013.

[baltfan]

Perhaps Law thinks starters should throw 9 innings in their first Spring training game as well. Whole point in starting with a few innings is so he can last the entire year and not be shut down? Moreover, why would you risk starting him in AA and failing? Much better to succeed early.

I want to see if he was for Strasburg starting in the minors. BTW, who was the last high school starter to begin in AA? Even Harper, who is all-world, started in the SALLY.

[hoosiers]

Is there a precedent for how the Os are handling Bundy?

When I think of the best, fastest moving HS pitchers in the past 25+ years, I think of Dwight Gooden, Steve Avery, Josh Beckett, Todd Van Poppel, Felix Hernandez, Rick Porcello, etc and juco arms like Loewen, Zito, etc. IMO, it certainly sounds like Bundy belongs in this elite group. Perhaps I could use a refresher, but I don't recall any of them being developed in this manner.

Young prospects should be at levels that they should succeed and develop confidence, but I also like to see a prospect somewhat challenged in a league relative to his skill level. That's not happening here. Bundy is in the same rotation as Tim Berry and a level below Simon and Wright.

I try to give the Os the benefit of the doubt for their logic in instances like this, but IMO their handling of Bundy leaves them open to legit criticism of the kind being leveled by Law.

[RVAbird]

Is there a precedent for how the Os are handling Bundy?

When I think of the best, fastest moving HS pitchers in the past 25+ years, I think of Dwight Gooden, Steve Avery, Josh Beckett, Todd Van Poppel, Felix Hernandez, Rick Porcello, etc and juco arms like Loewen, Zito, etc. IMO, it certainly sounds like Bundy belongs in this elite group. Perhaps I could use a refresher, but I don't recall any of them being developed in this manner.

Young prospects should be at levels that they should succeed and develop confidence, but I also like to see a prospect somewhat challenged in a league relative to his skill level. That's not happening here. Bundy is in the same rotation as Tim Berry and a level below Simon and Wright.

I try to give the Os the benefit of the doubt for their logic in instances like this, but IMO their handling of Bundy leaves them open to legit criticism of the kind being leveled by Law.

It's a month of short stints in Delmarva vs. a month on the beach in August after he gets shut down. I'd prefer the first option.