Morrow moved to end of Blue Jays’ rotation

[Angrioter]

The Toronto Blue Jays confirmed this weekend that they plan to start the year with Brandon Morrow at the back-end of the starting rotation, which Jeff Blair of The Fan 590 and the Globe and Mail said was a possibility on Friday after looking at the team’s depth chart.

 

Both John Lott of the National Post and Scott MacArthur of TSN shared comments from Blue Jays’ pitching coach Pete Walker. From MacArthur’s article at TSN:

 

“Right now we’re kind of looking at him at the end of the rotation right now,” said pitching coach Pete Walker. “Not indicative of how he’s doing or how he’s feeling. It’s just, it seems like the spot we want him right now.”

 

In Lott’s article, Morrow acknowledged that the Jays have talked to him about the possibility of being the fifth starter, which I should note would line him up to take the mound Opening Day in Toronto.

 

“It was something that was mentioned for like two seconds as a possible, ‘Hey, we’re maybe looking at this,’ ”

 

He then added:

 

“Number one, I don’t care where I’m pitching,” he said. “Number two, I think it would be exciting, fun and an honour to pitch the home opener. Number three, back in the same slot I was last year would be fine too.”

From my vague recollection, I thought the Blue Jays slotted in Morrow at number two to start last season behind knuckleballer R.A. Dickey but I could be mistaken. Maybe he was considered to be behind Josh Johnson? Regardless Morrow seems to be taking the high road but if the Jays’ do see him as a back-end starter, it just makes this muddy rotation picture even muddier. It could mean nothing at all, but MacArthur points out something interesting about the fifth stater’s schedule:

 

“The Blue Jays have off days on three consecutive Mondays in April: April 7, 14 and 21. The club will require a fifth starter on four occasions during the first month of the season, although Walker and manager John Gibbons will be able to make adjustments as they see fit.”

 

It sounds like the Jays make try to take advantage of three consecutive weeks with off days to ease the burden on the back-end of this rather pitiful rotation. Whether or not Morrow is still experiencing issues with his forearm is unknown (the Jays say now) but for now there continues to be more questions than answers when it comes to this year’s edition of the Toronto Blue Jays.

 

http://jaysjournal.com/2014/03/17/brandon-morrow-moved-end-toronto-blue-jays-rotation-fifth-starter-rumors-news/

[bzapple]

Good, nobody wants to see Todd Redmond starting the home opener.

[BabbaGanoush]

This means Hutch will start the Sunday game vs the yanks! That's the game I'm going to!

[G-Snarls]

This just delays the inevitable breakdown

[G-Snarls]

http://www.pistonheads.com/pics/news/18141/cheapest-ever-car-breakdown-service-L.jpg

[aselvana]

so basically

 

dickey

hutch

burl

4th starter

morrow

[Brenner]

They also want the 94mph FB from Hutch right after Dickey to try and maximize the effect. Hutch could put up some awesome numbers behind Dickey this year.

 

I hope so, I will laugh if its Burl who ends up there.

 

Assuming its Hutch at #2 then I have no problem moving Morrow back to #5 and then having the option of skipping starts for whoever is not throwing well. This also means that it Morrow starts a series a team will see Morrow/Dickey/Hutch. The rotation actually has a nice mix of pitchers right now, 1 knuckleballer, 2 hard throwers, 1 junk baller and remains to be seen who wins the last spot.

[Sammy225]

LOVE that he would be starting the home opener because a home opener with Redmond or Happ on the mound would force a gun barrel in my mouth. Also not a terrible idea to have to guys that touch 94 consistently to be slotted in around Dickey.

[theblujay]

If Stroman can win the 4th spot the rotation could be fun to watch at least

[Sammy225]

They also want the 94mph FB from Hutch right after Dickey to try and maximize the effect. Hutch could put up some awesome numbers behind Dickey this year.

 

Not to mention that Hutch could be our best pitcher behind Dickey. Probably better than Dickey as well.

[Sammy225]

If Stroman can win the 4th spot the rotation could be fun to watch at least

 

No way do you see him until June at the earliest.

[Sammy225]

They also want the 94mph FB from Hutch right after Dickey to try and maximize the effect. Hutch could put up some awesome numbers behind Dickey this year.

 

Here is a project for you. Does the Dickey effect work the opposite way as well. Does Dickey get better having a guy touch 94-96 in the strike zone pitching before him??

[TDotttt2005]

I wouldn't read too much into this.

 

Really? I would read a lot into it, given Morrow's history, and the history of the club, pre- and post- Ricciardi when it comes to sugarcoating injuries until the very last minute. If it were Buehrle, i'd say don't read into it, he's a vet, durable, knows what he has to do...but Morrow?? I wouldn't be surprised if we hear he is starting on the DL.

 

To quote Jack Morris - "Salty, this isnt my first f***ing rodeo" . I've followed this team for too long to not be alarmed when things like this pop up.

[theblujay]

No way do you see him until June at the earliest.

 

That's probably true, but I think he's the best option

[G-Snarls]

That's probably true, but I think he's the best option

 

Depends on Happ I guess

 

Hutch is a done deal. He's in.

 

Happ vs Redmond vs Stroman vs Romero for the last spot

[Sammy225]

Depends on Happ I guess

 

Hutch is a done deal. He's in.

 

Happ vs Redmond vs Stroman vs Romero for the last spot

 

Romero Only has one option left (I think) my guess is they want to make sure he is throwing strikes consistently before coming back to the majors. I would say it is either Happ or Redmond.

[theblujay]

Redmond or Romero please

[vdartanian]

I have a sick to my stomach feeling that Romero is going to break camp with this team.

[G-Snarls]

I have a sick to my stomach feeling that Romero is going to break camp with this team.

 

It's a sickening feeling isn't it?

[KingKat]

They also want the 94mph FB from Hutch right after Dickey to try and maximize the effect. Hutch could put up some awesome numbers behind Dickey this year.

 

This is probably more of a happy accident than anything else but there really can't be a better slot to put Dickey than in betwee Morrow and Hutch. Do you know if there's a reverse Dickey effect where R.A. is more effective following hard throwers? Intuitively, you would think so.

[TDotttt2005]

This is probably more of a happy accident than anything else but there really can't be a better slot to put Dickey than in betwee Morrow and Hutch. Do you know if there's a reverse Dickey effect where R.A. is more effective following hard throwers? Intuitively, you would think so.

 

I think this would be difficult to quantify, since compared to Dickey, every non-knuckleballer, is a 'hard thrower'. You'd have to define the degree of 'hard thrower', and go from there.

[Brenner]

I think this would be difficult to quantify, since compared to Dickey, every non-knuckleballer, is a 'hard thrower'. You'd have to define the degree of 'hard thrower', and go from there.

 

Isn't that basically what has been done with the Dickey Effect? The harder the pitcher throws the greater the effect. It shouldn't be hard to analyze if the harder the starter before Dickey pitches the better he pitches? I am just not sure if the effect will be as strong.

[Atothe]

I think this is good because they can baby him. He needs to be monitored. Skipping a start here and there to keep him on the field all year long. 24 starts is better then 12 starts

[Abomination]

Isn't that basically what has been done with the Dickey Effect? The harder the pitcher throws the greater the effect. It shouldn't be hard to analyze if the harder the starter before Dickey pitches the better he pitches? I am just not sure if the effect will be as strong.

 

The problem is the small data set. Narrowing the focus further makes it even worse.

[bendera3]

I don't really see a downside to having him be the last starter. It will limit his innings while also (hopefully) making Dickey more effective

[Frenchsoup]

People seem to only talk about his health last year. He was pretty s***** when he pitched. He hasn't looked good in a long time. His strike numbers have been in major decline.

 

I agree, he's very overhyped

[xposbrad]

People seem to only talk about his health last year. He was pretty s***** when he pitched. He hasn't looked good in a long time. His strike numbers have been in major decline.

 

He was quite inconsistent. I think most of us expect him to get injured at some point this season anyways.

[Atothe]

People seem to only talk about his health last year. He was pretty s***** when he pitched. He hasn't looked good in a long time. His strike numbers have been in major decline.

 

he definitely declined, I don't know if he will ever be the same

[flafson]

I'm not sure if it's a real decline or simply because he came each season with different mechanics.

[Anemic0ffense]

I have a sick to my stomach feeling that Romero is going to break camp with this team.

 

So do I. The way they've been talking him up... plus he has name recognition to the casuals. They're gonna completely roll the dice on him, and hope he puts butts in the seats.