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Around SBN: Raiders' GM Begins The Purge

Jeremy Sowers was supposed to start the first game. Columbus manager Torey Lovullo just told Clippers radio voice Scott Leo that the Indians may want Sowers to join Cleveland in Boston as soon as Wednesday. No word on exactly why, but Sowers isn't pitching. Zach Jackson is starting game one - weather permitting.

almost 3 years ago Tiny parsons 39 comments 0 recs  | 

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CHAMPIONSHIP!

Sometimes, I just like to b****.

by emd2k3 on May 6, 2009 10:59 AM EDT reply actions  

If so, does he go straight to the pen or does he bump Laffey into relief? Sowers’ velocity and K-rate has been creeping up – mebbe they’ll want to maximize that in short stints.

by mcrose on May 6, 2009 11:12 AM EDT reply actions  

It would have to be to the bullpen. Maybe they think that he’ll be more effective in the bullpen (increased velocity, only one time through the order). Or maybe they’re just grasping at straws.

by Ryan on May 6, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions  

Sowers and Rondon to the bullpen. Lewis and Perez to AAA.

by Toxicadam on May 6, 2009 11:13 AM EDT reply actions  

I’ve heard crazier.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on May 6, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions  

Seriously. At this point it’s worth a spin. I like Rondon and Sipp (despite yesterday’s 2 HR) and their ability to miss bats at this point. Jay, can you sum up what Rondon’s status is and what a callup would entail for the roster?

by pdxtribefan on May 6, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions  

Well, he’s already on the 40-man, so you don’t have to make space for him there. It neither uses up an option year nor saves one.

It’s too hard to project how it eventually affects his free agency or arbitration status, since he probably wouldn’t be up to stay, which means that you err on the side of just not worrying about it. Beyond using up service time to get an average reliever, the bigger issue is disrupting his development as a starter, especially one at the exact age where the risk of serious arm problems is highest. Rondon is a valuable asset for this club, and it stands to reason you’d be very non-haphazard about what you do with him.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on May 6, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yes, very valuable. I think it’s clear that the organization doesn’t feel like the best developmental path for a good starter involves major league bullpen time. Assuming that is true, I do not think this season’s emergency should outweigh Rondon’s development. Let some middling prospect convert.

by dgcambridge on May 6, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions  

I don’t think they are that averse to throwing a prospect starter into the big-league bullpen, but they probably have a different opinion as to how that will work out with different pitchers — think about Antonetti’s comments about shortstops, that some will translate better to 2B, others better to 3B. I think the bigger issue with Rondon is not putting a starter into the bullpen, but doing it with a guy this young, and who has only thrown 23 innings above SIngle-A. The younger and less experienced a guy is, I would figure, the greater the chance of his over-exerting and/or losing his mechanics, which not only would lead to poor performance but also possibly a serious injury.

But this all gets back to their specific evaluation of the player. They may feel that Rondon is some type of pitcher who will translate easily to the bullpen, and their read on his psych/makeup may be that he’s a cool customer who wouldn’t likely be thrown by suddenly landing in the bigs. No way of knowing what the team feels about the risks for this specific player, until and unless they make a move.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on May 6, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions  

This.

Laffey’s been throwing well. I see no logic in bumping him in favor of Sowers. It’s the pen that’s been sucking of late, not so much the starters.

by RD74 on May 6, 2009 11:30 AM EDT reply actions  

Unless someone’s hurt, I don’t see Sowers bumping anyone in the rotation. I also don’t see Sowers, in particular, as a long-term viable bullpen guy. I do have renewed optimism in his prospects as a starter, though. My guess is he’s up for insurance in case of a Pavano or Laffey implosion, with the idea that he’ll come in as a starter out of the bullpen in either situation. Then get sent down again.

by APV on May 6, 2009 11:53 AM EDT reply actions  

What about moving Reyes to the bullpen? Is it possible they’re considering that?

by NickFantana on May 6, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions  

Interesting thought. Sowers goes in rotation, Reyes to pen

by Roger Dorn on May 6, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions  

A couple of things that have me thinking the same thought…

His velocity is down,
He has a history of arm trouble and
He just spent the past off-season trying to get himself healthy and ready and it seems like it did not have the full desired effect.

Hopefully he is just going through a dead arm period. But if he isn’t, for his own sake he might want to consider a switch.

by JK in CBus on May 6, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions  

I also don’t see Sowers, in particular, as a long-term viable bullpen guy.

Why this? Do we really know? Because he doesn’t fit into the normal reliever profile (throws fast/few pitches)?

by dgcambridge on May 6, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions  

because he never has had good strikeout numbers. My general thought is that the best bullpen relievers are high K rate guys

by Roger Dorn on May 6, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

This is my view. If you think about situations in which relievers get used – often with runners on base in close games – being able to get a K takes on a particular premium.

by APV on May 6, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions  

I agree. But I’m starting to think we need to try an unusual trick or two, because we don’t have any traditional options left. (Meloan?).

by dgcambridge on May 6, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions  

I’m not saying I disagree, but there are more than a few lefty starters with low strikeout rates and slowish fastballs who turn into solid relievers. Eddie Guardado, Scott Downs, Brian Tallet, Brian Shouse, Jamie Walker, Scott Schoeneweis.

I’m not saying Sowers will turn into that kind of pitcher, but it’s not uncommon for starters who move to the pen to pick up a couple MPH because they don’t have to pace themselves as much. If shorter stints will allow Sowers to throw 91-92 instead of 87-88, that strikeout rate might come up considerably.

Or it might not. But in a way, Sowers’s lack of velocity is exactly why I think it might be worth giving relief pitching a shot at some point.

by thejamootz on May 6, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yes. I agree.

The problem with moving Sowers to the pen is not his stuff, but that he is next in line if one of our starters goes hurt.

by dgcambridge on May 6, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions  

You raise a good counter-argument and you might very well be correct. I tend to think of starters, to maintain some level of effectiveness, as needing a decent fastball (some combination of movement and/or velocity) and at least two serviceable other pitches (offspeed, breaking) to play off the fastball. There are some exceptions to this (sinkers, knuckleballers), of course. I think of relievers as being guys who have one very effective pitch. Could be Betancourt’s fastball, Rivera’s splitter, or Guardado’s changeup. But they need to have one pitch that hitters will struggle with in one AB. My hesitation with Sowers is that he doesn’t have that one really effective pitch – but maybe he does. Your criticism that his lack of velocity is exactly why he should be given a shot in the bullpen is well taken.

by APV on May 6, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions  

Hoynes speculating a roster move or two is imminent. Says Wedge and the staff are safe for today.

by JK in CBus on May 6, 2009 2:07 PM EDT reply actions  

safe for today

May 18, still holding to my prediction.

by APV on May 6, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

In addition to Sowers, what about Pestano? There’s Herges, too, although his K:BB is poor, he hasn’t surrendered any homers, is getting ground balls, and seems to have fallen victim to some BABIP issues in the early going.

Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on May 6, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions  

From the cleve …

Sowers was just scratched from his start today so he is either coming up or has been traded…

… actually an astute comment. Selling high on Sowers makes a whole lot of sense.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on May 6, 2009 2:59 PM EDT reply actions  

Selling high on Sowers

Do you think this really counts as high?

by APV on May 6, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions  

Has he been better at any point in the last, oh, 32 months?

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on May 6, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions  

I just can’t imagine there’s a FO that is going to offer a piece we want for him.

Then again, I guess basically any ML reliever is what we want.

I don’t even know where to start. A Jeremy Affeldt type guy? Is that too much?

by afh4 on May 6, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions  

I don’t know, but Sowers is a starter, and we only want a reliever.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on May 6, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions  

Isn’t Sowers at best like Edwin Jackson? And that feels like absolute best. So, the relief equivalent of Matt Joyce?

I bet we could get Mujica for him.

by afh4 on May 6, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions  

so we’re trading him for Danys Baez?

by APV on May 6, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions  

Or nothing?

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on May 6, 2009 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

Beautiful.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on May 6, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions  

I’m just going to throw this out there, but the Mets appear to need some SP depth, their bullpen is pitching well right now, I’m intrigued by Eddie Kunz, and Minaya and Shapiro have a good relationship.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on May 6, 2009 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions  

According to the radio, it’s Herges up and Perez down.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on May 6, 2009 4:01 PM EDT reply actions  

And Hoynes.

Released Salas to do it.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on May 6, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions  

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