Report: Ervin Santana to hold everyone by their testicles for a few days!

[Abomination]

I don't see the point of putting a player into a certain role just because he had success in the minors. They call it the minors for a reason. It's to polish and refine skills. There are plenty of players who have been great in the minors and complete busts in the bigs. Not saying Stroman is going to be that kind of player, but it doesn't appear the Jays are setting him up for success.

 

The reason is because starters generally are more valuable and have a bigger impact on the club than relievers do. Only 2 relievers put up more than 2.5 WAR last year, not to mention they're MUCH cheaper and easier to find in general.

 

Yes, he has lights out stuff. Scouts have noted that Stroman's stuff plays out even better in a relief role where he can amp things up that much more. He has a solid build. My concern, as a fan, is more about effectiveness due to the smaller plane the ball will travel in a starting role, along with the reduction in stuff by being in the rotation.

 

Pretty much all pitchers benefit from coming out of the pen in terms of stuff, so the question becomes whether he can out-perform others in deserving a rotation spot as opposed to whether his numbers would improve in the pen. The plane IS a disadvantage, but his total package in stuff and how he uses it is what matters. Some guys are at a disadvantage in velocity, some height, etc.

 

I guess it comes down to this: Which pitcher would you prefer, one who's 5'9 and throws 95 or one who's 6'4 and throws 90? The answer should be whichever one performs best.

[KingKat]

Yes, he has lights out stuff. Scouts have noted that Stroman's stuff plays out even better in a relief role where he can amp things up that much more.

 

Wouldn't that hold true of any starter who throw hard? If you converted starters into relievers just because they could potentially be more effective in that role, all you would ever have for starters is a bunch of junk ballers. You convert your hard throwers to relief if and when they can't cut it as starters because relievers no matter how good have less value. How good a reliever Stroman is/could be is a secondary concern.

[Abomination]

Wouldn't that hold true of any starter who throw hard? If you converted starters into relievers just because they could potentially be more effective in that role, all you would ever have for starters is a bunch of junk ballers. You convert your hard throwers to relief if and when they can't cut it as starters because relievers no matter how good have less value. How good a reliever Stroman is/could be is a secondary concern.

 

Now AA's plan makes sense! He intends to have an all-knuckleball rotation and a pen full of guys throwing 97-100!

[KingKat]

Ride the starting wave for as long as you can and if/when he shows issues with durability or he is no longer affective move him to the pen. Even Mo started out as a starting pitcher.

 

From a player development perspective, it doesn't make sense to worry about whether Stroman will have to be converted to relief at a point where he might not even be under team control anymore. It's all about getting the most out of those six years of control not what happens after.

[GeorgiaPeach]

Baltimore is a s*** hole and we have a better offense, since that matters to Santana. I doubt he cares how pretty the park is, both parks are hitter-friendly and he's only going to stick around for a year.

 

Around Camden Yards is actually pretty nice.

[GD]

Around Camden Yards is actually pretty nice.

 

Ehh. It's not bad, but the area surrounding the RC is better imo.

[JJippidy]

Has anyone actually done a study on if the reason short pitchers failed is because they were all short?

 

That might prove a little misleading.

 

You'd have to focus on the actually delivery, the angle created by the pitchers mechanics and not just the height.

 

6'4'' throwing low three quarters and driving low with the legs should easily produce a shallower trajectory than a 5'10'' pitcher coming over the top and landing his lead leg more upright.

 

I'd be curious to see some actual data though because my gut tells me that natural movement on the ball is probably the main factor regardless of height, the basic flight of the ball achieved during release is established upon release as opposed to the later movement you get via spin.

 

Plus most guys have an upper cut to their swing which in theory should mean the bat is along the plane of a steep pitch longer than a straighter one.

 

I think you don't see many short guys on the mound more because it's pretty hard to hit 90 below 6 feet.

[GeorgiaPeach]

Ehh. It's not bad, but the area surrounding the RC is better imo.

 

For stuff to do, around Rogers Centre for sure. I like a more laid back pedestrian friendly feel around a park...Rogers Centre is too sterile and forced when I'm comparing the two.

[GD]

Once again re-read the quote. You bolded the part where he said "Romero sure looked good the other day and so did Drabek and Hutch." and where you replied "I like your sense of humour". What I was saying is that you didn't watch the game because Romero did look good and so did Drabek and Hutch. I wasn't talking about the part before it.

 

He means that he doesn't care how they look because it's Spring Training

[flafson]

There is a report that Twins offered Santana a 3 years deal but he's not going to bite unless it's longer and closer to 50 mil.

[Anemic0ffense]

There is a report that Twins offered Santana a 3 years deal but he's not going to bite unless it's longer and closer to 50 mil.

 

So the guy thinks he's worth 16 mil per now? This is a joke.

[KSaw]

Too much here to read it all. I just say sign the guy. This team needs starting pitching. Simple as that.

[KSaw]

Pretty much, his innings would certainly help.

 

Heck ya they would. Who's going to start? I see 3 starters, one of whom is oft injured. As of today, none of Drabek, Happ, McGowan, Rogers or anyone else look ready or like they will be in 3 weeks. And don't say Hutch. If they are counting on a kid with options, coming off surgery to be a go to guy, this is going to be another long year.

[KSaw]

If they don't sign Santana, there will be a turnstile going on.

 

Dickey

Buherle

Morrow

Santana

McGowan

 

Pray on the McGowan starts but give him at least 4 and keep the pen ready.

 

Send Hutch down to start the year because he has options and really could use work coming off surgery. Happ to the DL because he's just not right. Drabek and Rogers in the pen (no options).

 

Be ready to blow it all up by April 20th.

[Stangstag]

Be ready to blow it all up by April 20th.

 

What?

[Key22]

Is there really any point in signing Santana? He's not exactly the guy to put us over the top unless the top is a chance at 4rth place instead of 5th place. Not to be a downer but we still only have two established starting pitchers - 2 guys you can pretty much bank on giving you 190+ innings. Everyone else is "depth" - Morrow is a chandelier so expect 100 innings but you certainly can't rely on him for 150+ innings. Rogers and Happ are fifth starters.

 

And really it all boils down to pitching - the team with the best pitching typically make the playoffs. SO rank our starting staff against the other 4 teams. Even with Santana it looks pretty ugly. If Baltimore gets Santana then it looks even uglier.

[Chappy]

Be ready to blow it all up by April 20th.

 

I can only assume this is a joke.

[KSaw]

I can only assume this is a joke.

 

Not really but perhaps I should clarify. I only meant that by even only 3 weeks into the season, McGowan might not be able to hang in, Happ could be back and any one of Morrow or Santana could very well be injured. Hutchison might be forced up...

[Ehjays]

What gets me the most is when baseball news starts to break about signings most end up true with finer details to follow, but news on Jays related s*** ends up wrong, Us landing Chapman, Highest bid for Darvish etc

Its very stressful being a supporter for this team,even though I could never switch it's still taking years off our lives!,

[pickoff22]

What gets me the most is when baseball news starts to break about signings most end up true with finer details to follow, but news on Jays related s*** ends up wrong, Us landing Chapman, Highest bid for Darvish etc

Its very stressful being a supporter for this team,even though I could never switch it's still taking years off our lives!,

 

amen.

[8D]

Be ready to blow it all up by April 20th.

 

I'll smoke to dat!

 

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