What should be the order of the starting rotation?

[Vottomatic]

Okay. You can tell it's the offseason. Things are slow.

So.....

Usually in April, there are so many off days, you don't even need but 4 starters anyway. So assume come May that Chapman gets added to the rotation. How do you mix them up? I mean, you have 1 left (Chapman) and then 3 hard throwers in Latos, Bailey, and Cueto. And then the slowball junkball guy in Arroyo. What's your order if Chapman gets mixed in come May?

Cueto
Chapman
Latos
Arroyo
Bailey

Chapman (lefty) and Arroyo (junkball) are the different pieces of the puzzle. So they go 2nd and 4th. Make sense?

Or you could pitch Arroyo after Chapman, since Chapman is a hard thrower like the other 3.

What are the major differences between Cueto, Latos, Bailey? I think that makes a difference in deciding this. I know Bailey throws a splitter and Cueto/Latos don't.

What do you think?

[redsfan30]

I put Chapman in the 5th spot. Skip him when possible. Stretch out his innings as long as possible.

[AmarilloRed]

Cueto
Latos
Bailey
Arroyo
Chapman

[RedsBaron]

I put Chapman in the 5th spot. Skip him when possible. Stretch out his innings as long as possible.

I agree. I want as many as possible of those innings to come in September and October.

[WildcatFan]

Cueto
Latos
Bailey
Arroyo
Chapman

I have this, but switch Arroyo and Bailey.

[cumberlandreds]

Cueto
Latos
Bailey
Arroyo
Chapman

^ This

[Edd Roush]

I want the Reds to put Aroldis Chapman on the 2012 Kris Medlin plan where Aroldis pitches out of the bullpen until late July then they stretch him out and he starts through the playoffs.

April until the transition I would have a rotation of:

Cueto
Latos
Bailey
Arroyo
Leake

After the transition:

Cueto
Latos
Bailey
Arroyo
Chapman

I feel that this is the best way that Aroldis can have the biggest impact in the playoffs. If the Nats team doctors were right and you can't have a SP pitch start for a while, then pitch him out of the bullpen until he hits the innings limit, then I want the Reds to do the opposite and have Aroldis close until July and then transition to a starter. Hopefully the Reds can get around 110 innings out of him this year and the maybe Aroldis can be the full season #5 starter next year. I am just afraid of having him start too early and then have him hit the innings limit before the playoffs.

Aroldis - Cueto - Latos - Bailey is a pretty nasty rotation for the postseason.