Richmond hopes Jays' opening will be his

[LittleOzzy]

Scott Richmond spent his 31st birthday flying 4,500 kilometres on the latest leg of his comeback journey.

That was Monday, when he traveled from Manchester, N.H. to Sacramento, Calif., with a brief stop-off in Las Vegas, home of his new baseball team, which happens to be finishing its season on the road.

The next night, still a tad jet-lagged, Richmond donned the uniform of the Las Vegas 51s and shut out the first-place Sacramento River Cats on one hit over six innings.

He hopes his next stop will be Toronto.

The Toronto Blue Jays plan to shut down Brandon Morrow after his start Friday in Yankee Stadium to avoid overworking his prized right arm. The move will open the door for a pitcher from the minors to make some September starts.

Richmond has not heard anything, but admits his hopes are high after spending the season trying to bounce back from shoulder problems.

“I know there’s a spot there [with the Jays], and in September every team usually brings up more pitching,” Richmond said via telephone from Sacramento. “So I’m just trying to put some good starts together and just have them think about me when they do make the decision.”

A year after he opened the season 4-0 with a 2.67 ERA as a Jays’ starter, the North Vancouver native is virtually a forgotten man, relegated to the margins by injury and the collective success of Shaun Marcum, Ricky Romero, Brett Cecil and Morrow.

But after finally shaking the persistent shoulder soreness that started more than a year ago, he has blazed an impressive, if short, trail through the minors in recent weeks.

After stints at Class A Dunedin and Double-A New Hampshire, plus Tuesday’s Triple-A outing, he owns a 4-0 record and 1.46 ERA in eight outings. He has walked 10 and struck out 34 in 37 innings.

“I don’t have a lot of innings, and I feel like I’m a little raw still, but everything is coming along really nicely,” Richmond said. “I’m just starting to peak now, which is too bad, because the season’s almost over here [in the Pacific Coast League].

“I’m really hoping for a September call-up so I get some more innings and start cruising, because last year I started really strong and I feel like I’m right there right now.”

read more here: http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/Rich ... story.html

[rarefind]

no thx.

i rather see rzep, or mills.

if he gets a chance hopefully this will be his last crack at our rotation. if he can't get it done at 31, well despite him being canadian; he simply isn't that good.

[Graham's Cracker]

I don't think his future is as a starter. He might not be bad as a long man out of the pen. As it is we have so many pitchers competing for a few spots. Not sure he has a future here.

You've also got Shawn Hill who has pitched quite well. Although he had trouble getting loose in his last start with LV.

I wouldn't mind seeing them get innings this month. I agree though, I want to see Mills & Rzep get consideration for the 5th spot over either of them.

Have the Jays talked about shutting down any of the other starters?

[Attonitus]

I don't think his future is as a starter. He might not be bad as a long man out of the pen. As it is we have so many pitchers competing for a few spots. Not sure he has a future here.

You've also got Shawn Hill who has pitched quite well. Although he had trouble getting loose in his last start with LV.

I wouldn't mind seeing them get innings this month. I agree though, I want to see Mills & Rzep get consideration for the 5th spot over either of them.

Have the Jays talked about shutting down any of the other starters?

Agreed. He would be an upgrade over Tallet in long relief and it keeps some Canadian flavor on the team but there is no room for him as a starter.

[ItsDanger]

Mills doesnt have major league talent IMO. Not likely that he can replicate Moyer. Rzep shows flashes but he can get lit up by good hitting teams, not a good trait in the AL East. I'd give Richmond a shot as a callup now. Give him a chance to earn the 5th spot next season.

[rarefind]

Richmond is NOT a piece moving forward, maybe if he was 25 and showing signs of potential. He will be 32 next season and throws borderline AAA/MLB stuff. Before he takes hold on the 5 spot next season, I'd rather much see AA target a young prospect who has faced some difficulties (not unlike Brandon Morrow) if they could be picked up cheaply. Heck, I'd rather even see Jo-Jo Reyes get a look to be our number 5 over Richmond which at this point should say a lot.

Truth be told, Dustin McGowan will probably never pitch let alone start again. So I get the whole rushing to figure out who the stop gap of being our final part of the rotation will be next year. There is no indication that Marcum will be moved which means we would have 4 returnees from our starting rotation + the expected arrival of Kyle Drabek. Our lack of a 5th guy this season has cost us probably being right aside Boston. Pretty sure AA either fills the 5th spot with some youth hoping to catch lightning in a bottle or brings in a veteran on a one year deal in attempt to move him at the deadline or get compensatory picks a la kevin gregg.

I admit though, it would be nice to see Richmond in the bigs next year in our pen. Really no point in keeping him in the organization past next season if he isn't starting in our rotation/bullpen and still being kept throwing in the minors.

[ItsDanger]

2012 is a much better target for the young guys. Never rush good prospects.

[aligator]

Mills and Rep are not major league starters. Not sure if Mills can pitch in the show at all. Rep's future is in the pen. Expect him and Purcey( and maybe Carlson) to be the lefties out of the pen next year.