Game Thread(s): September 12, 2006

I agree with you again; I think inserting Carmona into the bullpen was debatable to begin with; granted, the set-up role turned out well for him, but potentially as a starter, he'd probably be a very good #3, maybe even a solid #2 over time, especially with the mid-90s velocity he was displaying as a starter and the K/IP he was showing at Buffalo, a significant increase in his K/IP rate from his earlier years in the farm system.  I certainly think, in time, he COULD be better than the Lee/Westbrook/Byrd trio.

One has to wonder why Carmona wasn't sent down sooner after his disastrous week as the closer.  Granted, they didn't want to ruin his confidence, but after one to two more times of not doing well in a relief role after that, one could question why he wasn't sent down then - if he had, he would have had more time to get his mechanics straightened out and get his pitch count back up so that he could really show what he could do as a starter now.  Right now, I don't think we're seeing the Carmona we did see in late April when he took over for Sabathia and it's doubtful we will see that Carmona the rest of this year because, by the time he gets stretched out to around 100 pitches and regains a feel for all of his pitches in a starting role, the season will be over.

Hopefully, Carmona isn't permanently ruined and we can truly see what he is capable of in a starting role next year; after all, he only had 3 ML starts, certainly not enough time to determine whether he would be an upgrade in the long run over the LWB trio we send out there 60% of the time.

So I hardly think the book is anywhere near closed on a guy who was considered a very good prospect based on (a) his 600-inning track record in the minors, and (b) his tender age of 22.  I mean ... isn't the whole "ruining" idea just plainly stupid?  Isn't it like saying Bobby Cox ruined Andy Marte last year?  Or that Mike Hargroved ruined Jim Thome in 1992?  Or that Gene Michael ruined Greg Maddux in 1987?

I think if you go back to Carmona's apperances, one at a time, the handling he's gotten has been pretty boiler plate.  You might be able to find the one appearance, or even two, where you would have lifted him one batter earlier, or even two.  But if that's all it takes to "ruin" a guy, I doubt he'd have even gotten this far -- and I doubt he'd have any chance of succeeding in the big leagues.

"I have to say, I don't hate them as much as I used to."

It's probably safe to say that you are likely in the minority on this message board who feel this way.

But then, everyone is entitled to their opinion, misguided as it may be.