Happ not thrilled about bullpen

[o2cui2i]

we all knew this was the Happ we had before he got his extension.

[shortstop]

Amazing. If he had just said something along the lines of:

 

"I want to be a starter, but I realize there's 5 guys right now doing a good job so I will do my best to earn my way into the rotation"

 

it would have made a world of difference on how people portray his attitude and got essentially the same point across.

 

 

Exactly. And the issue I have had with Happ for sometime is that it's not only does he feel he belongs in the starting 5, but that he's earned the right to automatically be in the starting 5, notwithstanding being out with an injury for some or inconsistency, etc.

 

He's imo a lighter version of Ted Lilly and Lilly felt he deserved/earned respect to be slotted in as a starter and imo, Lilly wanted as much $$'s on his next free agent contract (then signed with the cubs for 4 years, $41M). With Lilly, it was about the $$'s and a starter generally speaking gets more years/$$'s.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/happja01.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lillyte01.shtml

 

Lilly of course was 31 going into his 1st season with the cubs in 2007 whereas Happ will be 33 by the start of next season.

 

Happ's in this for the $$'s imo. I don't blame him - the man wants to get paid as much as possible before calling it a career.

 

But he'd do better in his next contract imo if he just pitched well, whether out of the pen or as a starter. Teams understand the situation Toronto is in & why Happ is in the bullpen. Just pitch well & he'll get a decent contract. Of course, if he was a starter & pitched well the rest of the season, would likely get that much more on the open market. Not necessarily but probably.

 

But was never a fan of Lilly's me first attitude & not a fan of Lilly light.

 

Problem imo is while jays may in fact want to trade him, the uncertainty of the rotation/possible injuries and/or possible playoff push provides value in keeping him in the bullpen.

 

hopefully he shuts up & pitches well, for his own benefit as well as the jays.