Sports Magazine

The Rotation - Two Weeks - Who and Who Not?

By Kipper @pghsportsforum
The Pirates have had an especially good Spring Training for Starting Pitchers. Who will be the Rotation on Opening Day at PNC? I have numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 just like most others, but who is going to be the person deserving the No. 5 slot in the Rotation - first 1 thru 4:
1. AJ Burnett - yep, high ERA and plenty of walks, but that is what ST is for a veteran. He just wants his reps and he will be ready for the Home Opener.
2. Wandy Rodriguez - has done well in ST and another 9 or 10 innings in the Worlds - 6 or 7 IP today, shutout, and the WP for the DR against Puerto Rico.
3. James McDonald - One of the best in the majors the first half, one of the worst the second half, but he can pitch and he is only entering his 3rd full year in the Rotation - he will continue to get better.
4. Jeff Locke - Possibly our best pitcher in ST this year, and has earned his place in the Rotation. I see a benefit for him being in the Rotation with veterans like Burnett and Rodriguez.
Now we get to the real question mark - is it Cole, McPherson, Sanchez, Karstens, or a combination of Relief Pitchers? Without any other considerations, Gerrit Cole has pitched well enough to make it easily. But, with only a few starts at AAA in 2012, he could probably use at least 5 to 10 Starts at Indy. I think it will help him get prepared for joining the Rotation in June regardless of his performance at AAA. Does Karstens deserve consideration? Not in my estimation. Rushing him through will not help him or the team. He is barely throwing back-to-back bullpens and only has two weeks to build himself up to 5 or 6 innings after returning from an injury last year? Sanchez has had two awful outings and one excellent outing - think he is ready? Nope. McPherson pitched very little at AAA last year and needs the reps at that level. What are the Pirates loaded with? Relievers, 3 or 4 of which have the ability to go 4 or 5 innings. See the Box Score today? Cole and Justin Wilson combined for 7 IP, 7 hits, 1 ER, 9 K's/0 Walks. Go North in April with 4 SP's and at least 8 Relievers - that's my suggestion. RHP Chris Leroux and LHP Justin Wilson would be my shared starts folks for at least the first month of the year.

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