Joe Orsulak: Putting Dylan Bundy In Orioles' Rotation Would Risk His Future (He's starting anyway)

[Can_of_corn]

The Mets could have gone just as far had they shut him down. He made about 9 starts from mid August, the time they were considering shutting him down. The team went 5-4 in those starts and won the division by seven. They scored 13 runs for him in the division series and then swept the league championship series.

If people want to complain that we didn't need Miller because we won by so many games, then the same line of thinking can be applied by Mets fans.

Miller was acquired for the playoffs.

[backwardsk]

Miller was acquired for the playoffs.

So people on here haven't made the claim that we overpaid because we won the division so convincingly?

[Can_of_corn]

So people on here haven't made the claim that we overpaid because we won the division so convincingly?

Honestly I don't recall folks making that argument.

If you say they did I believe you.

[survivedc]

So people on here haven't made the claim that we overpaid because we won the division so convincingly?

Whether or not we overpaid is still up in the air IMO.

[LookitsPuck]

Ultimately, Bundy may be as valuable to us in the pen as rotation right now anyway. He'd only be a 5 inning guy at the most. If we get into the playoffs then maybe he can start a game or come in early relief and give you 4 innings or so. The time to fix the rotation was over the winter.

It's a bit too late for that as Bundy is on a starter's schedule regardless of whether he comes in the 5th inning or the 1st.

[Barnaby Graves]

Hypothetical: The Orioles put Bundy in the rotation and he wins more than he loses. The O's make the playoffs, Bundy pitches some postseason games and the O's win the World Series. Next spring, his arm starts to hurt and it's determined that he needs a second TJ surgery. He is never a successful major league pitcher again.

Worth it?

Yes. Though it's hard to answer that question from a purely tactical standpoint when there's moral implications.

For my part I don't want to start Bundy because a) I think he's more likely to get injured than most and b) I have no indications he'd be particularly effective and I don't think he'd be better than the current 5th slot.

[brianod]

Either "our analytical posters" were wrong or you misinterpreted what they were saying. You never prove anything in 20 innings unless someone's arm has become detached at the shoulder and can't be put back.

The analysis stated he wasn't missing enough bats. My response was give him time, all that matters is his health. I said give him time to develop and the 20+ innings at the time was meaningless. I'm not making this up but I just got off the field after coaching a game tonight and don't have the energy to look it all up.

[brianod]

But let's never take about a player's career beyond their six years of team control as if it is something that a team can value. If they resign, they get paid full value.

I disagree. Bundy will be under team control for five years making a paltry salary. The team has the advantage to extend him. We can offer him lower than market value in year 2 or 3 of the deal and set him up for the rest of his life. Say, he's worth 100 million in 3 years. We can offer him a five year extension for 80 million and have a good chance of him signing. The economics favoring the team for a resigning has got to be taken into account in the complicated decision on whether to baby him this year or not.

[scOtt]

Spock for GM?

Isn't Dan really Spock?

Life is like a box of tribbles.

[scOtt]

Ultimately, Bundy may be as valuable to us in the pen as rotation right now anyway. He'd only be a 5 inning guy at the most. If we get into the playoffs then maybe he can start a game or come in early relief and give you 4 innings or so. The time to fix the rotation was over the winter.

I agree with this. Bundy on a starter's schedule, out of the pen, multiple innings each time. He's become an effective member of the pen. If it ain't broke... Push him to about 100 innings this year doing what he's doing. Of course if he keeps being effective. Then next year starting for as long as he can go.

[PeteU]

Joltin' Joe?

Mind you, I don't live in the Maryland media area anymore so I had no idea he was covering the team. I believe I was at the game in 1991 where his 21 game hitting streak ended.

[srock]

they shut him down at the 80 inning mark and would not let him pitch in the playoffs.

I strongly consider using him in the playoffs as the first guy out of the pen.

[atomic]

Bundy had additional injuries that delayed his return to pitching.

Harvey went over the recommended 180+ innings and might be career over.

But his injury doesn't have anything to do with Tommy John surgery does it?

[Redskins Rick]

But his injury doesn't have anything to do with Tommy John surgery does it?

Who knows, the team and Harvey has come out and said, maybe last year was a mistake on their part.

[atomic]

How much does starting Bundy increase our chances at being a playoff team? How much does increasing his workload risk injury? I don't know but those are the twoquestions in DDs risk analysis that he has to answer before deciding. Personally, I'd baby Bundy and think long term

I don't know that inning limits actually help a pitcher avoid another injury. It is all conjecture. I would say if he pitches well when starting it improves are playoff chances dramatically.