JA Happ’s rotation spot not secure

[Sammy225]

Since there's no ace, it's really a crap shoot between who will be the best pitcher between Morrow, Dickey, Hutch and Buehrle. There's no ace, it's just a question of who pitches the most like a solid #2. Hopefully it's not Buehrle again because that will mean everyone else crapped the bed. It would be excellent news if it's Morrow but I don't think he still has it in him (I wish I did). Hutch was pretty damn awesome in the minors. If he's all the way back (he clearly wasn't last year), he'll give Dickey a run for his money.

 

I would be a huge boost if come July we had both Stroman and Hutch in the rotation pitching well. I am assuming it will be more like June when we see Stroo though.

[Convo]

I, for one, think it's brilliant to hope for a guy who turns 30 during the year, coming off an offseason where he faced possible surgery to correct an issue, but decided against it in favor of rehab, and who hasn't pitched competitively since May of last year, to do what he's never done before. #TeamMorrow

 

Huh

[wilko]

Huh

 

http://static1.fjcdn.com/comments/Please+_70a47a2b99292f505955c7ff56ddd98c.jpg

[Boxcar]

Lind, Cabrera, Dickey, Happ. Don't be surprised if Rasmus' "stiff neck" gets milked into a lingering back issue that allegedly inhibits his performance, as well.

 

"It's not a toomah!"

 

Wouldn't be surprised if AA suddenly announces that his back hurts, and it may have had something to do with his inability to procure the services of a couple functional SPs, and 2B/LF upgrades.

 

Smarmy comment by a guy who has obviously never tried to use a phone with a bad back. Speakerphone just isn't the same.

[Boxcar]

Since there's no ace, it's really a crap shoot between who will be the best pitcher between Morrow, Dickey, Hutch and Buehrle. There's no ace, it's just a question of who pitches the most like a solid #2. Hopefully it's not Buehrle again because that will mean everyone else crapped the bed. It would be excellent news if it's Morrow but I don't think he still has it in him (I wish I did). Hutch was pretty damn awesome in the minors. If he's all the way back (he clearly wasn't last year), he'll give Dickey a run for his money.

 

Morrow is such an awesome guy and it really sucks that he didn't pan out the way he could have. He's lost it at this point, lower velocity plus fly ball tendencies in a bandbox park...not a great combination.

[wilko]

Morrow is such an awesome guy and it really sucks that he didn't pan out the way he could have. He's lost it at this point, lower velocity plus fly ball tendencies in a bandbox park...not a great combination.

 

This doesn't help him either:

 

http://static4.fjcdn.com/comments/3430982+_1ba0f4e3eb23c5a904bcb5e1df9d9914.jpg

[flafson]

 

Sounds like we should bump everyone down at this point...

[G-Snarls]

NBC Hardball talk

 

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Blue Jays could go young in rotation with Drew Hutchinson, Marcus Stroman

 

Matthew Pouliot

 

*

 

Mar 6, 2014, 2:16 PM EST

 

5*Comments

 

AP

 

With*J.A. Happ*struggling and reportedly dealing with back issues,*the number of openings in the Toronto rotation has increased from one to two. According to MLB.com’s Gregor Chisholm, Drew Hutchinson is nowlooking like a good bet for one of those spots, with Happ, 2012 first-round pick Marcus Stroman,*Todd Redmond*and*Esmil Rogers*in the mix for the other.

 

Stroman’s inclusion would be quite the surprise, even after his excellent performance last season in Double-A (9-5, 3.30 ERA, 129/27 K/BB in 111 2/3 innings) quieted those who doubted he’d make it as a starter. However, GM Alex Anthopoulos said service time won’t be an issue delaying his arrival and that he’s prepared to pick the best five.

 

Hutchinson likewise figured to open the season in the minors after returning from Tommy John surgery late last year, but he’s turned some heads with his performance this spring.

 

“He’s off to a great start, he’s definitely opened some eyes, he’s a strong candidate to make the rotation but he’s got to make it. But I love what I see,” Anthopoulos said.

 

Given the Jays’ struggles the last couple of years, Anthopoulos probably can’t afford to be particularly concerned with delaying arbitration and free agency eligibility with his prospects. If Stroman looks like one of the five best starters, it’s worth carrying him. After all, Anthopoulos isn’t likely to be around for the bill coming due unless the team starts to turn it around.

[KingKat]

The rotation sure looks a lot better now that Hutch looks better.

[Brenner]

Hutch is going to try to save AA's ass all by himself.

[Sammy225]

Hutch is going to save AA's ass all by himself.

 

Fixed That For You

[Stangstag]

Hutchison has never thrown more than 150 innings in any one season of his professional career. And that was in 2011. Since then he blew out his arm, and has about 50 innings under his belt between various stops in the minors and the AFL (after logging a similar amount in the year he TJ'd himself).

 

If this organization has any clue what they're doing, they'll start him in AAA with a light workload for the first couple of months, and save him for the second half of the year, if needed and ready. This is what competent major league organizations do.

 

A competent organization would not go into the season with a s*** rotation like ours and expect to compete. A competent organization would have improved our rotation in the offseason, especially since it failed so miserably last year. This is not a competent organization.

[flafson]

Looks like Stroman is pitching some innings tomorrow after Buehrle.

[G-Snarls]

Hutch healthy can be more beneficial than signing a Jimenez or Santana.

 

Know what would be better? Hutch AND Santana. And no Happ.

[G-Snarls]

Hutch healthy can be more beneficial than signing a Jimenez or Santana.

 

Know what would be better? Hutch AND Santana. And no Happ.

[glory]

Paul Maholm, Chris Capuano, and Erik Bedard combined will make less *guaranteed* money than Happ next season (not factoring incentives). Does that not bother anyone else? Playoff teams are signing equal or better pitchers than Happ for less money without even a guarantee of a rotation spot, while the Jays pencilled Happ into the rotation in December.

[glory]

How about just use all of his innings at the MLB level? Doesn't matter when in the season they come, but we need as much out of him as we can get.

 

The minor league season is shorter and less demanding on the arm (i.e. Hutchison can work on his stuff without worrying about hurting the big league club).

 

I think the Jays should have kept Hutchison and Stroman in AAA all of 2014, but since they are better options at #4-5 than anyone on the MLB roster, it's going to be hard to keep them down. That doesn't make it the best long-term move, though.

[saskjayfan]

McGowan was sitting 96 to 98. Give him multiple innings next time out and see how he feels.

[G-Snarls]

The minor league season is shorter and less demanding on the arm (i.e. Hutchison can work on his stuff without worrying about hurting the big league club).

 

I think the Jays should have kept Hutchison and Stroman in AAA all of 2014, but since they are better options at #4-5 than anyone on the MLB roster, it's going to be hard to keep them down. That doesn't make it the best long-term move, though.

 

Agree. They REALLY should have added a free agent starter this off season and called these guys up when needed.

[TBJ12]

It's really beginning to look like Happ won't be opening the season in the Jays rotation. I could see Hutchison and one of McGowan/Rogers/Redmond getting the final spot. I'd be fine with Stroman but I just don't see it happening before June.

[Angrioter]

I forgot my password

[DuckDuckGose]

It's really beginning to look like Happ won't be opening the season in the Jays rotation. I could see Hutchison and one of McGowan/Rogers/Redmond getting the final spot. I'd be fine with Stroman but I just don't see it happening before June.

 

It's February and he's thrown 1.1IP. Things change.

[ElNik2013]

It's really beginning to look like Happ won't be opening the season in the Jays rotation. I could see Hutchison and one of McGowan/Rogers/Redmond getting the final spot. I'd be fine with Stroman but I just don't see it happening before June.

 

 

 

All it'll take is a couple of good innings in his next start and he'll be back to being "a big part of what they're trying to do here".

[TBJ12]

It's February and he's thrown 1.1IP. Things change.

 

All it'll take is a couple of good innings in his next start and he'll be back to being "a big part of what they're trying to do here".

 

My comments are based on the back issues not the results. I'm fully expecting to see Happ start the season on the DL.

[Sammy225]

When does Hutch pitch next??

[G-Snarls]

[glory]

Agree. They REALLY should have added a free agent starter this off season and called these guys up when needed.

 

Yep. I have a bad feeling they are risking Hutchison's health due to their cheapness this off-season. The guy was lacking pro innings before he got hurt. Now he comes back from surgery and they expect him to throw MLB innings right out of the gate? The Jays can't afford to go easy on him if he is in the Majors and everyone is fighting for their jobs. He'll be throwing 90-100 pitches a start against the best players in the world with a ton of pressure. I can't imagine a worse scenario for a rehabbing starter who, in any other organization, would be eased back in rather than thrown to the wolves.

 

The sad part is, they didn't even need to sign Santana. Just sign freakin' Paul Maholm to eat up some innings and they could have put Hutchison in the minors and still had someone at the MLB level with a history of being able to get MLB hitters out.

[Chappy]

Yep. I have a bad feeling they are risking Hutchison's health due to their cheapness this off-season. The guy was lacking pro innings before he got hurt. Now he comes back from surgery and they expect him to throw MLB innings right out of the gate? The Jays can't afford to go easy on him if he is in the Majors and everyone is fighting for their jobs. He'll be throwing 90-100 pitches a start against the best players in the world with a ton of pressure. I can't imagine a worse scenario for a rehabbing starter who, in any other organization, would be eased back in rather than thrown to the wolves.

 

The sad part is, they didn't even need to sign Santana. Just sign freakin' Paul Maholm to eat up some innings and they could have put Hutchison in the minors and still had someone at the MLB level with a history of being able to get MLB hitters out.

 

Paul Maholm was signed to a minor league deal with a other team like a month ago.

[glory]

Paul Maholm was signed to a minor league deal with a other team like a month ago.

 

I know. The Jays should have signed him though. I would have signed him and Bedard. Would have cost nothing and would have kept Hutch in the minors.