Comments on: An In-Depth Look at Candidates for the Last Rotation Spot

By: Rick

Rick — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:01:40 +0000

Would not be very patient with Ubaldo this year. Too much invested now to work out his problems in the rotation. Vast improvement needed.

By: medfest

medfest — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 18:15:15 +0000

Good analysis.

I believe both Bauer and Carrasco will begin the season at AAA.In Bauers case,they won’t bring up until he’s past the Super Two deadline.Carrasco needs to get back into the grind of being in a rotation after missing so much time,he will be the first call up when someone in the rotation falters.

That being said, I think Kluber has a leg up on the fifth spot since they have a baseline to compare him to.Kazmir and Diced-K will get good shots to to make the rotation,but they will have to be impressive most every time out.Kazmir could still make the team in the bullpen given the Tribe’s dearth of lefties.

By: Cleveland Indians PM links: Baseball’s most improved team?; Terry Francona … | Arizona Online News

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 00:54:23 +0000

[...] A look at the candidates for the fifth starter’s spot in the Indians pitching rotation. (By Ryan Pinheiro, It’s pronounced “Lajaway”) [...]

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 22:13:16 +0000

Would really like to see both Bauer and Carrasco spend at least two to three months at AAA and DiceK and maybe Kazmir take 4th and 5th spot. That would give Carrasco time to reestablish himself and Bauer to get better control! That also would give McAllister more time to become more consistent.

By: Ryan Pinheiro

Ryan Pinheiro — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 21:54:38 +0000

Yeah definitely a good point about Bauer and his pitch count. However, if and when he improves upon his command, the pitch count will automatically go down. It’s just a matter of when he’s going to make that improvement.

By: Drew

Drew — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 21:13:13 +0000

Great point about Bauer throwing a lot of pitches.

Really, this shouldn’t be named, “An In-Depth Look at the Candidate for the last rotation spot” but rather the 3rd rotation spot. Zach McAllister is the 4th; Ubaldo Jimenez is the 5th starter.

By: DaveR

DaveR — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:35:57 +0000

Huff didn’t look terrible with the club last season except for the last game. I could see him in long relief or mop up if they actually had a need there. Overall at 28 he is in his prime so we’ve seen his best.

I am really hoping Kaz/DiceK comes back from the dead or Carrasco shows enough. I really hope they don’t start with Bauer. He needs some seasoning. His K rate and K/IP is high but that translates to his Pitch count being high. Last year it was 20 P/IP. 21 + never pitched full season + mediocre ball club is not a good recipe. Call me super conservative.

By: Steve Alex

Steve Alex — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:16:00 +0000

I don’t even think it’s that close. Carrasco is throwing 96-97 MPH and had all winter to pitch himself back into game shape. I would put him at #4 ahead of McAllister. I also think there is a very strong chance the team will sign Kyle Lohse, either to keep him or to trade him to another team. The disparity in draft pick compensation between what the Indians would give up and any other signing team gives the Indians a huge advantage that may be too good to pass up and won’t come again soon.

By: Chris Burnham

Chris Burnham — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 15:55:03 +0000

Carrasco is also my pick, but I don’t think he’s going to make the club unless he has a monster spring. In my opinion, the rotation will look something like this: Masterson, Jimenez (he’s not deserving of the two-spot, but he’s getting it anyway), McAllister, Myers, Kazmir, Bauer.

If anything, I feel they have a little bit better depth than they had in recent years, so it should be an interesting competition for, essentially, two spots.

By: thirdsaint

thirdsaint — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 15:44:17 +0000

Last season when our rotation was abysmal I had forgotten all about Carlos Carrasco. I seem to remember he had some control issues but I hope either he or Bauer can make the final cut with their control in line. That would easily be the best case scenario.