Morrow to Bullpen?

[Statman]

Morrow was most successful when he was throwing max effort, 98MPH was he not?

[G-Snarls]

Morrow was most successful when he was throwing max effort, 98MPH was he not?

 

And striking out 11 batters per 9

 

It was awesome. But his pitch counts rose pretty rapidly most games.

[JaysFan4Ever]

If the Morrow of 2012 is the one we get back, it would be a godsend and a steal for next year's price.

 

The problem is I'm not going to hold my breath on him coming back at all, let alone healthy enough to start and be more than average (#4-5). I'm willing to even write off the poor performances he's had the past few injury laden years on the injuries (obviously) and say if he's healthy he should be like he was in 2012.

 

They have plenty of time to build him back to game ready status since he can't be activated until July 3 or 4th and they could use up to 30 days of rehab. The rotation can look different by the time he comes back (if he does this year). I think it'll depend on how he preforms on rehab and the team's greatest need at the time. As for next year and beyond, who knows? Much like McGowan it's been a weird number of varying injuries, nothing as serious as McGowan's surgeries but still enough to derail a career. This tendon sheath issue, who knows? It ultimately comes down to if he can hold up or not. He could be a starter on any team, and some team would give him a chance despite the injuries and inconsistency of the past since lesser guys get a chance all the time. Where he winds up in his career remains to be seen. It's similar to when he first came to the bigs (McGowan was a similar story) where people viewed him as an asset in both roles. I think I can say for this year he's going to be wherever the team wants him/needs him at the time. He'll likely come back and get some starts but being in the pen is something I see them doing too, especially if a move is made.

 

If he can stay healthy he can excel in either role. That's the issue. Him not being able to go more than 5-6 IP lately could be the injuries or maybe he just burns out after that. Bottom line, at least in my opinion, is if he comes back this year he'll be in the rotation barring any acquisition made before he comes back unless the team tanks and says f*** it and let's some of the younger players stay in the pen ie Stroman, Hutch, Nolin (if/when healthy), Sanchez to see what they can do. If the Jays are still floating in 1st or are in contention and haven't acquired another starter I see him in the rotation at least or until he fails or someone replaces him. I can't see him being worse than some of the replacements we've had over the past couple seasons.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

I wouldn't call it an experiment, he's legitimately a starting pitcher.

 

Lol @ this. Morrow is barely a major leaguer.

[jays4life19]

Lol @ this. Morrow is barely a major leaguer.

 

Pretty dumb.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Pretty dumb.

 

Ya bud. Aging diabetic who can't even throw 100 innings.

 

Good luck with that.

[jays4life19]

Ya bud. Aging diabetic who can't even throw 100 innings.

 

Good luck with that.

 

you're dumb.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Do you guys realize how serious diabetes is? Like its a real thing. Close Fangraphs for one minute and legitimately look at his health. He doesnt heal/recover like normal person.

 

Diabetics cannot have sustained success as major league starters. Impossible.

 

If he is to have any success as an MLBer he needs to go the McGowan route.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

you're dumb.

 

Great rebuttal there ya f***in plug.

[GD]

you're dumb.

 

I have nothing to say on this debate but I believe the correct spelling is *yer dumn.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Sorry guys, changed my opinion to jive with the herd.

 

30+ year old guy who hasnt thrown significant innings in 3 years with horrible disease will magically become 200 inning durable beast.

 

Ill get it right next time on first attempt, I promise.

 

Cut this pumpkin lose.

[jays4life19]

Sorry guys, changed my opinion to jive with the herd.

 

30+ year old guy who hasnt thrown significant innings in 3 years with horrible disease will magically become 200 inning durable beast.

 

Ill get it right next time on first attempt, I promise.

 

Cut this pumpkin lose.

 

200 inning beast is quite different from a " barely major pro ball player". You get this, right?

[John_Havok]

Sorry guys, changed my opinion to jive with the herd.

 

30+ year old guy who hasnt thrown significant innings in 3 years with horrible disease will magically become 200 inning durable beast.

 

Ill get it right next time on first attempt, I promise.

 

Cut this pumpkin lose.

 

What's to lose by bringing him back in a pen role this year while still allowing him to try and complete for a starting job next year? If he doesn't win a starting role, back to the pen. Maybe focusing on 1-2 pitches got 1 inning is the way to go. With his velo he could be very effective in that role.

[BTS]

ECJF is such a dumn reactionary fanboi

[jays4life19]

Everyone realizes we have J.A Happ still in the rotation, right? Why would we bring back Morrow to the Bullpen?

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Everyone realizes we have J.A Happ still in the rotation, right? Why would we bring back Morrow to the Bullpen?

 

Um because he has the durability of a pre-schooler?

[jays4life19]

Um because he has the durability of a pre-schooler?

 

Ok. So if the " pre-schooler" who doesn't suck at pitching gets hurt we can play the pitcher who sucks at pitching. ya?

[GD]

My opinion is bring him back into the rotation this year and give him next year as he has a $10m option and we're stuck between a rock and a hard place on that (keep him and pay $10m for a reliever, which a has surplus value potential I GUESS if we're being optimistic on him, or see him get a starting gig somewhere else) but after next year, put him in the pen. Hopefully we'll have more starting depth then with Norris, Sanchez, Nolin and others potentially being able to contribute, and I feel like Morrow would be one of the best relievers in the game. But I do want to give him one more shot at starting.

 

But yeah, Morrow in the bullpen could be sheer madness.

[BTS]

My opinion is bring him back into the rotation this year and give him next year as he has a $10m option and we're stuck between a rock and a hard place on that (keep him and pay $10m for a reliever, which a has surplus value potential I GUESS if we're being optimistic on him, or see him get a starting gig somewhere else) but after next year, put him in the pen. Hopefully we'll have more starting depth then with Norris, Sanchez, Nolin and others potentially being able to contribute, and I feel like Morrow would be one of the best relievers in the game. But I do want to give him one more shot at starting.

 

But yeah, Morrow in the bullpen could be sheer madness.

 

There is quite literally no downside to using him as a starter. He's pretty clearly above replacement level when healthy, with the potential to be significantly above-average. He'd be replacing f***ing JA Happ. If he has a nice run, he adds a win or two this year while accruing trade value on his $10 million option for 2015. Or we move him to the pen, punt his upside, and buy him out in the offseason. Pretty clear decision to anyone who isn't a moron.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

ECJF is such a dumn reactionary fanboi

 

You used to be cool but you honestly sound like a bit of a douche. I disagree with you. Call the police.

[GD]

There is quite literally no downside to using him as a starter. He's pretty clearly above replacement level when healthy, with the potential to be significantly above-average. He'd be replacing f***ing JA Happ. If he has a nice run, he adds a win or two this year while accruing trade value on his $10 million option for 2015. Or we move him to the pen, punt his upside, and buy him out in the offseason. Pretty clear decision to anyone who isn't a moron.

 

If he can't stay healthy for the rest of this year, and next year, then there's legitimate concern there. A year and a half longer of rope is more than enough.

 

Diabetes is a pretty serious thing. I hope he can get it under control. I just feel like a year and a half of rope to show us SOMETHING is more than enough. Like, 80ish IP of 4.00 xFIP ball. If he can't put that up in the next year and a half, there should be cause for concern. I mean, he'll be 31 or 32 by the time that rolls around.

[BTS]

If he can't stay healthy for the rest of this year, and next year, then there's legitimate concern there. A year and a half longer of rope is more than enough.

 

Diabetes is a pretty serious thing. I hope he can get it under control. I just feel like a year and a half of rope to show us SOMETHING is more than enough. Like, 80ish IP of 4.00 xFIP ball. If he can't put that up in the next year and a half, there should be cause for concern. I mean, he'll be 31 or 32 by the time that rolls around.

 

I'm more just talking about right now, while he's healthy. Picking up his option is another debate entirely, and there will be arguments on both sides. But a healthy Morrow, right now, as things stand, needs to be in the rotation. There just isn't a valid argument otherwise.

[GD]

I'm more just talking about right now, while he's healthy. Picking up his option is another debate entirely, and there will be arguments on both sides. But a healthy Morrow, right now, as things stand, needs to be in the rotation. There just isn't a valid argument otherwise.

 

Yes, I agree. If he's healthy and fully physically conditioned, he needs to be in the rotation. If he comes back sub-100%, that's another issue. So is a year and a half from now But yeah, he needs to be in the rotation right now.

[L54]

1. Acquire SP

2. Move Morrow to the pen

3. 7, 8 and 9th innings look to be in good hands.

 

I would have to agree though, replacing Happ with Morrow in the rotation is a no brainer. Low risk, high reward. If he sucks, gets hurt, whatever, Happ comes back. If he excels, for half the season, great. If he sucks as a starter, he can focus on 1-2 innings out of the pen.

 

The biggest worry to me is AA being content with Morrow being the mid-season acquisition to bolster the starting staff.

[North of 60]

Morrow to big leagues

Morrow to DL

Morrow to rehab

Repeat

[CHRIS]

There is quite literally no downside to using him as a starter. He's pretty clearly above replacement level when healthy, with the potential to be significantly above-average. He'd be replacing f***ing JA Happ. If he has a nice run, he adds a win or two this year while accruing trade value on his $10 million option for 2015. Or we move him to the pen, punt his upside, and buy him out in the offseason. Pretty clear decision to anyone who isn't a moron.

 

This shouldn't be about realizing Morrow's individual value moving forward anymore, it should be about amassing team wins.

 

I think its highly debateable that Morrow's health will get to the point where he's a more valuable rotation piece than Happ, as sad as that sounds.

 

Ultimately this team needs a better option than both of them, and the worst decision they could make is to stand pat because Morrow "is on his way back".

[ElNik2013]

Happ isn't going anywhere, it should be obvious to all by now. Whether it's Morrow coming back or a SP acquisition, they'll demote Stroman or DL Hutchison.

 

Don't forget that Hutchison and Stroman will be shut down at some point due to reaching their innings limit.

[Statman]

And striking out 11 batters per 9

 

It was awesome. But his pitch counts rose pretty rapidly most games.

 

That's basically the point I'm getting at. If Morrow is capable of getting his velocity back to 98 on a consistent basis in a bullpen role, it would be an interesting experiment just to see if he can dominate with that fastball again.

 

The diabetes point is a valid one. It has to be a major setback for this guy especially in a starting pitcher role.

[GeorgiaPeach]

My prediction, Morrow replaces Hutchinson as SP. Hutch will either continue to regress and/or get injured.

 

My second prediction, Jays exercise that $10M 2015 option. It's only really $9M, right? Because the buyout is $1M. So $9M more gets you a 1.5 WAR SP with some upside. No brainer.

 

Usually SP don't start regressing in their first taste of MLB. A starter's general peak is 27-28 ish so I wouldn't be thinking over the next couple of years that Hutch is gonna slide and become a Drabek.

[GeorgiaPeach]

That's if he "continues to regress and/or get injured". I predict that will happen to Hutch.

 

Morrow's career high for innings pitched in a year 179. I hope you're not hanging your hat on him for a full year in the rotation, because that would be beyond dumb.

 

As for how the team is constructed and what we have coming in the next year, I would rather let Morrow walk. Morrow going forward best case is a late-inning 'pen arm, or an unreliable SP.

 

I would rather the Jays offer Kenta "Raine" Maeda a 6 year 126 mil deal to be a rotation anchor going forward, not Brandon "I can't pitch even close to a full year" Morrow.