All of the sudden...

[tywright]

Of course he's not...Anyone expecting him to be in top form right now, after missing so much time, is being totally unrealistic.

He needs innings...he needs to stay healthy and just pitch.

Where did I say I expected him to be back to 06 form? Chill out man

[Sports Guy]

Yeah, but I think it's fair to argue that he should sharpen up in the bullpen rather than as a member of the rotation.

So, yes, I am saying Old#5Fan is being reasonable here. Not necessarily right, but his position isn't necessarily wrong.

The real issue is, do we have 5 guys better than Penn right now? For that, we need to stay tuned. We still have 3 turns though the possible rotation candidates before we really have to cut bait.

Yea, i think it is fair to say that.

[Sports Guy]

Where did I say I expected him to be back to 06 form? Chill out man

Where did i say that you said that?

I was just responding to your post.

I think you are the one who needs to chill out.

[tywright]

Where did i say that you said that?

I was just responding to your post.

I think you are the one who needs to chill out.

:laughlol: Ok buddy

[JTrea81]

Oh, jeez, I was afraid the Lier's stuff was going to start getting thrown around like this. This is a perfect example of what I suspected would happen when I read that thing. I will just go on record as saying that you're assuming a lot more value in that analysis than either Crawdad, Stotle, or I. I will also go on record as saying that repeating other's opinions as if they're forgone facts/conclusions is just as bad as doing it with your own opinions.

Scouts said before the draft that they didn't like the way Matusz landed on a stiff front leg, and if he's still doing that in the majors, it is a legitimate concern.

[PaulBako]

Scouts said before the draft that they didn't like the way Matusz landed on a stiff front leg, and if he's still doing that in the majors, it is a legitimate concern.

I don't think I have never heard you complain about Matusz's mechanics before the analysis.

[PrivateO]

I'll pitch if they need me to.

I've got a killer sinker.

[scOtt]

I'll pitch if they need me to.

I've got a killer sinker.

I've got a nice knuckleball. Moves and everything. I doubt I could make it past 100, 120 innings tho...

[JTrea81]

From Baseball America's analysis on the Matusz pick:

Mechanically, he's tight and compact, though his arm action is a bit awkward and slightly stiff. He also lands on a straight front leg at times, which some regard as an injury concern and which makes it harder for him to drive his fastball down through the zone.

So Lier wasn't the first to point this out. I've said Matusz could be an injury risk right after we drafted him as you can see here.

[scOtt]

From Baseball America's analysis on the Matusz pick:

So Lier wasn't the first to point this out. I've said Matusz could be an injury risk right after we drafted him as you can see here.

Even so, you're taking an extremely pessimistic view here. Even in his limited time this year in ST, he has opened many eyes as to how good he is. Even tho I agree with those who say to send him to the minors to build stamina and... veteranosity... I still want to see him as soon as possible. Just not before he's really ready.

I don't see how you could possibly be down on the Matusz pick.

[Sports Guy]

Even so, you're taking an extremely pessimistic view here. Even in his limited time this year in ST, he has opened many eyes as to how good he is. Even tho I agree with those who say to send him to the minors to build stamina and... veteranosity... I still want to see him as soon as possible. Just not before he's really ready.

I don't see how you could possibly be down on the Matusz pick.

Is JTrea down on the pick or did he just prefer us to go another way?

I am on record saying I think Matusz will be very good but I would still rather have Smoak than him....Its nothing against Matusz at all.

[JTrea81]

Is JTrea down on the pick or did he just prefer us to go another way?

I am on record saying I think Matusz will be very good but I would still rather have Smoak than him....Its nothing against Matusz at all.

I hope Matusz succeeds, but he's a far riskier prospect to do so at a position we did have some depth in vs. a surer thing at a postiion we have no real depth in.

With that said, he looks ready more than the starters we want to put out there in the rotation so he should be starting on Opening Day...

[scOtt]

Is JTrea down on the pick or did he just prefer us to go another way?

I am on record saying I think Matusz will be very good but I would still rather have Smoak than him....Its nothing against Matusz at all.

That's fair. But Trea sounds like he's grasping at straws because we took Matusz over Smoak. You prefer Smoak over Matusz but still see the value in Matusz. Trea writes Brian off out of hand.

[Moose Milligan]

Scouts said before the draft that they didn't like the way Matusz landed on a stiff front leg, and if he's still doing that in the majors, it is a legitimate concern.

Yeah, but you're forgetting the rest of that LXA thread.

It doesn't really mean anything. Yes, its concern but there are plenty of pitchers that have succeeded and done well with poor mechanics. There are a TON of pitchers that throw across their bodies who haven't had serious arm problems.

What the X factor is, is that if Matusz has the genetic makeup to withstand something bad in his mechanics. If he's strong enough, it won't matter.

You're taking something and running with it like it's a foregone conclusion, dude. You've mastered that.

[carolinaoriole]

Well to me it looks like this:

Guthrie

Uehara

Penn

Bergensen

(Hill after brief stint on DL/ minor rehab)

Hill should be DL'ed retroactive to a couple weeks ago and get a minor-leage rehab assignment for the first two weeks of the season.

We don't really need the 5th starter until the 15th. And even then, if we can get by with a swingman that day the 16th is a day off, we could get by without a 5th starter until April 21.

The timing of Hill's injury is bad, but I like that they are taking it slow with him and not trying to rush him back.

We also have guys like Hernandez and Pauley, even after his bad start, that can be a temp number 5 guy until Hill is ready.

I agree with you