Jays' rotation race reaching final leg

[LittleOzzy]

The Blue Jays have an idea of who will occupy their starting rotation come Opening Day, but the club is content to keep that information quiet as the race for the two available jobs continues over the next week.

Remaining in the competition are left-handed prospects Brad Mills and Ricky Romero, as well as right-hander Scott Richmond. None of the pitchers in question have run away with a job this spring, forcing Toronto to debate the value of going completely young or sending one of its prospects back to the Minor Leagues for more seasoning.

The Jays have said since the early winter months that the upcoming season is being treated as a kind of bridge to 2010. After A.J. Burnett bolted to the Yankees through free agency, adding to the losses of starters Dustin McGowan (right shoulder) and Shaun Marcum (right elbow), Toronto decided that undertaking a youth movement might be best for now.

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/ar ... p&c_id=tor

So in you're opinion who stays and who goes?

[spykelee]

Well apart from the rotation, apperently BJ is staying down south to work on his delivery?? I'm not sure if this is factual or not as I got it as second hand information and I see no thread here... but, wow, if that's true that sucks. It's not the end of the world as we have guys who can fill in and be fine... It just makes me look at the 10+ a year this guy is making and shakin my head at what a collosal blunder this signing was.

and in my mind it all goes back to the day early last year when he was called for a bach, and then almost called again, and then he made a conscious effort to pause before delivering, and ever since then he started falling behind in counts, and had to throw alot of challenge fastballs, and started having alot of "interesting" outings. It's too bad because prior to that this signing was working out pretty well for us.

but in the end I think a closer is an overrated position. Atleast until it's the playoffs and you need that guy, but realistically, there's only a handful of guys who are productive closers year in and year out. I think the jays have the arms to fill that position in any event.

On the rotation side, I have little faith in richmond. He's basically a guy who can get you to the 5th inning, and with a good game, you'll still have a chance... if he's off, then we're done. In my mind I'd love to see both mills and romero... and only richmond when those guys stutter. Also what happended to Cecil? Why isn't he in this mix of guys?

[Holmes]

Well apart from the rotation, apperently BJ is staying down south to work on his delivery?? I'm not sure if this is factual or not as I got it as second hand information and I see no thread here... but, wow, if that's true that sucks. It's not the end of the world as we have guys who can fill in and be fine... It just makes me look at the 10+ a year this guy is making and shakin my head at what a collosal blunder this signing was.

and in my mind it all goes back to the day early last year when he was called for a bach, and then almost called again, and then he made a conscious effort to pause before delivering, and ever since then he started falling behind in counts, and had to throw alot of challenge fastballs, and started having alot of "interesting" outings. It's too bad because prior to that this signing was working out pretty well for us.

but in the end I think a closer is an overrated position. Atleast until it's the playoffs and you need that guy, but realistically, there's only a handful of guys who are productive closers year in and year out. I think the jays have the arms to fill that position in any event.

On the rotation side, I have little faith in richmond. He's basically a guy who can get you to the 5th inning, and with a good game, you'll still have a chance... if he's off, then we're done. In my mind I'd love to see both mills and romero... and only richmond when those guys stutter. Also what happended to Cecil? Why isn't he in this mix of guys?

I saw it differently last year with B.J. Ryan. Ryan lost zip on his fastball ever since his surgery. He was throwing it at 88-89 constantly with little movement. As a result, he started relying a lot more on his slider. His slider is nasty and pretty unhittable and he knows it. But it doesn't always go for strikes and it's his out pitch. Ryan ended up running high pitch counts because of this as he started pumping out sliders even at the beginning of at bats. His walk rate has creeped back to the level of his days as a middling reliever in Baltimore.

Ryan is still a good pitcher because of his nasty slider and funky delivery. However, he needs to be using his fastball to set up his slider like during his dominant days. Unfortunately his fastball is not the same that it once was and as such we will continue to see "interesting" innings when he comes in to close.

[Relentless88]

I really hope Mills and Romero get it. I just want to see some of the young guy play it out this season.

[Schad]

I really hope Mills and Romero get it. I just want to see some of the young guy play it out this season.

I'd rather not see Romero. He needs at least another year of seasoning to demonstrate some semblance of control...if he starts in the rotation, he won't last for more than five outings. A 1.5 WHIP in the minors is atrocious, and likely to balloon in the bigs.

[Michael Bradley]

I think Romero makes the most sense. Firstly, being with Arnsberg all year and away from the PCL can only benefit him. Secondly, he has three professional seasons under his belt and his innings threshold should not be a problem as it will be for Cecil and to a lesser extent Mills. Romero threw over 160 innings in 2008. Cecil will be on an innings limit and Mills will too, most likely. Going from 165 to 180 for Romero (assuming he is even in position to pitch that much) shouldn't be much of a concern. Of course, it is a question of whether Romero is ready. Maybe Romero figures it out in the big leagues. Who the heck knows, but I would rather throw him to the wolves than Cecil or Mills who may not be able to handle the extra innings on their arms just yet.

On that note, if Romero and Mills do start the year in the rotation, that would make the Jays rotation 1 through 5 completely homegrown (Halladay, Litsch, Purcey, Mills, Romero). The two guys on the DL for 09 were also drafted by the Jays (Marcum/McGowan), as were Janssen (rehabbing) and Cecil. Good to see the Jays finally developing some arms, even though half of them will go under the knife knowing our recent history.

[Schad]

I think Romero makes the most sense. Firstly, being with Arnsberg all year and away from the PCL can only benefit him. Secondly, he has three professional seasons under his belt and his innings threshold should not be a problem as it will be for Cecil and to a lesser extent Mills. Romero threw over 160 innings in 2008. Cecil will be on an innings limit and Mills will too, most likely. Going from 165 to 180 for Romero (assuming he is even in position to pitch that much) shouldn't be much of a concern. Of course, it is a question of whether Romero is ready. Maybe Romero figures it out in the big leagues. Who the heck knows, but I would rather throw him to the wolves than Cecil or Mills who may not be able to handle the extra innings on their arms just yet.

Excellent points. If anyone can help Romero find the strike zone, Arnsberg would be the guy. And the sacrificial lamb angle is definitely worth considering, with the caveat that the team would have to be committed to at least six weeks of rocky terrain; if they bring him up with a short leash it'd probably be better to let Richmond and another no-hoper chew up innings while Cecil and Mills take a couple months to stretch out. I really worry that Cito won't have the patience to break them in slowly, especially if they have some early success.

[J-Roc]

This won't be pretty. After Halladay, we'll be lucky for starters to go 5 innings.