Aaron Sanchez moved to Bisons' bullpen - callup soon?

[Governator]

http://media.giphy.com/media/TMbRIVPeZa7kc/giphy.gif

[Terminator]

Does anyone know how he does the first inning or two of his starts? Maybe he mows through the lineup once before stumbling as a starter? Perhaps he can dial his fastball up out of the pen.

 

It's a curious move to be sure but I don't have enough information to call it a terrible decision.

[Governator]

The Cards do it all the time.

 

Except this is coming across as a desperation move in an attempt to fill a hole in the BP by rushing one of our prospects who arguably should still be in AA.

[Angrioter]

Billy Koch here we go!!

[KingKat]

Right now he's a young guy viewed as having plus velo and movement, with command problems. Some scouts will drool. If he's called up and does well in a short stint, limiting his innings exposure each time out (SSS for the win!), then he raises some eyebrows that maybe he can handle the bigs, after all. If he struggles with command, he's still the young guy with plus velo and movement.

 

Some organizations might think like this. I would like to think most don't. One of the ones that I most suspect would think like this is the Jays so maybe they're projecting their own thought processes unto other teams or maybe the trade value on Sanchez has sunk so much that they need a Hail Mary. What I actually believe is that this is some sort of weird compromise where they are trying to get some short term value out of Sanchez without actually trading him.

 

If it is trade posturing, it's not a bad move, unless he truly goes nuclear. If it's to aid the team going down the stretch, it's a stupid, stupid risk, no matter the outcome.

 

There's a non-negligible chance of the former. I think this is stupid/desperate in any case.

[Angrioter]

Burn John Stilson

[jays_fever]

He has only walked 5 batters in the last 20 innings, which is around the time they stated he fixed a delivery issue for what that's worth.

 

Either way I dont think it makes much of a difference if he works on repeating that delivery down in Buffalo or up here.

[Atothe]

This is a desperation move but I don't see how you can be worse then Delabar, Santos and happ. Bad bullpen is bad either way but at least he gets his feet wet.

[GD]

So we're all gonna act super surprised when he goes full Drabek, right?

[Gorlak]

AA must not think he will be able to bring in any pitchers. I'm starting to think AA won't make any significant acquisitions. No money, and few trade pieces.

[o2cui2i]

The issue is that there is absolutely no reason to believe that Sanchez can help.

 

Buck and Pat talk all the time about guys being complete crap in the minors and then suddenly dominating at the major league level. I dont need stats... Buck and Pat are zmart dudes.

[BigCecil]

The Cards do it all the time.

 

Lots of teams do it...not a crime to give future Starters pen time in MLB or minors. Didn't work out with Stro up here but didn't kill him.

 

For years the O's brought all their starters into the pen in MLB before putting them in rotation. Even back to Palmer.

 

Having said that...he isn't likely ready for MLB with his command issues.

[reedjohnsonfan]

Who cares? They're giving him a look in the bullpen. Maybe he'll be more effective and deserve a call up. Criticizing this move is just for bitter fans looking for something to get mad about.

[G-Snarls]

 

[G-Snarls]

#CompetitiveWalks

[KingKat]

Lots of teams do it...not a crime to give future Starters pen time in MLB or minors. Didn't work out with Stro up here but didn't kill him.

 

For years the O's brought all their starters into the pen in MLB before putting them in rotation. Even back to Palmer.

 

Having said that...he isn't likely ready for MLB with his command issues.

 

The Jays themselves have done it quite a few times in the past. I don't hate it as an organizational strategy but usually it's done with succesful starters for which you don't have room otherwise. The reason it was dumb in Stroman's case is that it seemed pretty likely that he would be needed for the rotation and it was better to have him stay stretched out. It's for the best that he didn't dominate as a reliever and was returned to the rotation. It's dumb for Sanchez because we don't even know that he's a succesful starter at this point. His track record of success is minimal. He's mostly struggled.

[G-Snarls]

Who cares? They're giving him a look in the bullpen. Maybe he'll be more effective and deserve a call up. Criticizing this move is just for bitter fans looking for something to get mad about.

 

It's a gamble, nothing more than that

 

But If Delabar and Santos were having better years, would this have even been comtemplated?

 

I guess that's what has people a bit freaked - why are they doing this?

 

1. Because the BP needs help (might make some sense but could backfire)

 

2. Because they think he's MLB ready and want to ease him in to the rotation (seems an odd time to do that - risky)

 

3. Is this just all some sort of weird posturing to make other GM's think he's more MLB ready than he really is (I don't like that thought somehow)

 

If they are keeping him and grooming him for the major league rotation, I just don't sense from the numbers that he's ready. But they get to see him all the time and we don't.

[KingKat]

To play devils advocate.

Since they changed his arm angle he has posted

 

1.26 WHIP

3.79 ERA

2.4 BB/9

5.7 K/9

 

That's better but it's hardly great and it's in a small sample to boot. If anything that just confirms that this is ill conceived.

[CHRIS]

This is really two separate topics:

 

1. Does it make sense to turn a starter into a reliever?

2. Does it make sense to bring up a guy whose numbers indicate that he won't be helpful to the team?

 

Don't really have much problem with #1, Sanchez being True-Cardinaled as a bullpen piece short-term to give him some experience that will help him when he returns to starting.

 

Have a big problem with #2, him being Anthopoulized and rushed to the majors without earning it and stunting his development. Also have a big problem in that this move likely delays addressing the real problem of our bullpen needing to be better.

[Angrioter]

To play devils advocate.

Since they changed his arm angle he has posted

 

1.26 WHIP

3.79 ERA

2.4 BB/9

5.7 K/9

73 GB%....

 

-Happ changed his arm angle - s*** performance

-Goins changed his home plate stand - s*** performance

-Morrow changed his pitching approach (Reduce K to pitch deeper) - s*** performance

[KingKat]

Who cares? They're giving him a look in the bullpen. Maybe he'll be more effective and deserve a call up. Criticizing this move is just for bitter fans looking for something to get mad about.

 

Would you also characterize the fans who didn't like breaking camp with Sierra and Goins as bitter fans? Frankly, I'm not sure what this organization has done to deserve blind faith.

[GeorgiaPeach]

So we're all gonna act super surprised when he goes full Drabek, right?

 

There's some underlying reason for this, besides "let's bring Sanchez up to pitch out of the 'pen and make us better."

 

Otherwise I'd have preferred they give Drabek a try out of the pen before Sanchez

[Angrioter]

Yet so far Sanchez has improved his performance...

 

Sanchez 2014

AA: (7.8 K, 5.5 BB, 0.3 HR)/9

AAA: (7.0 K, 4.7 BB, 1.1 HR)

[Frenchsoup]

Drabek sucks dude

[Angrioter]

Juan Marichal "Best pitching in baseball is Strike one"

[GeorgiaPeach]

Drabek sucks dude

 

I'd rather the Jays give Drabek a shot in the 'pen instead of this audition or showcasing of Sanchez.

 

There's no reason to rush prospects, unless the org. is ultra conservative to where they're waiting until every guy is like 25, 26 and then promote.

[Gorlak]

This move makes almost no sense. AA must think big league coaches will help him and he is the only pitcher the Jays have to call on that could actually succeed.

[o2cui2i]

Jays need help and the cupboard is almost bare. Let's hope AA has found some mustard to go with the dry crackers.

[o2cui2i]

I'd rather the Jays give Drabek a shot in the 'pen instead of this audition or showcasing of Sanchez.

 

There's no reason to rush prospects, unless the org. is ultra conservative to where they're waiting until every guy is like 25, 26 and then promote.

 

Can drabek even throw a strike? If he can't find the plate he's useless.

[JaysFan4Ever]

The Jays are desperate and trying to win as many games as possible especially after their mini collapse this year. I get they're trying as many things as they can think of (except things that might actually work. OK had to make a s***** stab there) but this really doesn't make much sense. Sanchez is having issues with his control, like he has his entire career. He's still a young kid and no need to rush him. Hell, I'd have kept him in AA a bit longer. It almost seems like some have mentioned that they're trying to get this young, potential stud, as much hype as possible and see him moving along as quickly as possible hoping that can convince someone to take him in a trade so he can help a team now rather than year or so down the road. If they really think he could help the big club, why not have him in the rotation where he has the most value?

 

If it works, it works. Wins are wins. If he comes up and heads back down, they could burn an option when it's not necessary. I guess since their options are really limited they're going to do whatever but it seems like if you're trying to stick someone in the pen, we have a few guys that could be worth a look there other than Sanchez.

 

Only thing to do is sit back and watch really. I hope whatever they're doing works out and it's not moves of desperation, half assing it, and/or trying to make it look like they're doing everything they can think of to stay in contention.