Reds should promote two starting pitchers and more

[reds44]

Originally Posted by kaldaniels

What is the opinion on EZ. Is he out of the picture for the future???

Don't know if he is healthy enough yet to pitch in the majors. He hasn't been extended too much in AAA.

[T7-niner]

Originally Posted by reds44

Don't know if he is heatly enough yet to pitch in the majors. He hasn't been extended too much in AAA.

Yeah, what the heck happened to his shoulder last year? (other than the Philly debacle)

I don't think that I've seen or heard a diagnosis. I don't recall him having surgery or anything. Anyone know?

[reds44]

Originally Posted by T7-niner

Yeah, what the heck happened to his shoulder last year? (other than the Philly debacle)

I don't think that I've seen or heard a diagnosis. I don't recall him having surgery or anything. Anyone know?

Jerry Narron.

[kfm]

Why give up on Belisle now? He is in his first year as a starter and very easily could be 10-6 if the bullpen could hold his leads. I think he has shown enough to give him a shot. Have you looked around the league to see what passes for fifth starters these days? I like Elizardo Ramirez as well. This is another guy I would not give up on. Fans today are so incredibly impatient, guys take time to turn into what they will ulitimately be. I would trade Loshe, that was a horrible trade to begin with, and take a look at Livingston and or Dumatrait. What can it hurt? I would not send Bailey down yet, but I am a little concerned that he is not throwing nearly as hard as he used to. I have not seen him hit 98 since he came up. Is anyone else wondering if there is some reason why he is not throwing as hard as he was last year?

[T7-niner]

Originally Posted by kfm

Why give up on Belisle now? He is in his first year as a starter and very easily could be 10-6 if the bullpen could hold his leads. I think he has shown enough to give him a shot.

I agree on the Belisle front. This is his first year starting and somehow, he's remained healthy. Maybe coming out of the bullpen and getting warm in a hurry had an effect on his back?

Originally Posted by kfm

I would not send Bailey down yet, but I am a little concerned that he is not throwing nearly as hard as he used to. I have not seen him hit 98 since he came up. Is anyone else wondering if there is some reason why he is not throwing as hard as he was last year?

Either two things could be a possibility. a.) I've heard a lot of talk the past week or two by the announcer regarding "taking a little off for more control." or b.) Scouts are full of it. More likely is B, IMO.

[M2]

Originally Posted by Reds Freak

I like these ideas. People forget that Belisle is starting full time for the first time since the minor leagues. I don't think it's realistic to expect a guy to adjust from pitching 70-80 innings a year to 150-200 innings a year in one off season without taking some lumps. Coming into spring training he still didn't know if he was going to start or come out of the bullpen. I'm sure he is feeling that "dead arm" right now, I would even consider skipping a few starts the rest of the way with him to give him a little rest. I leave him in the rotation the rest of the year, give him the off season to work on his stamina, and stick him in the back of the 08 rotation...

That saved me a lot typing. I agree completely. Livingston and Dumatrait would do little other than get their heads handed to them in the majors. Livingston strikes me as a guy who might be able to step up over the course of a few years. Dumatrait's got nothing that's going to work in the majors. I imagine the team will toss him a start or two before the end of the season, but that will only serve to make him punchline in future seasons, a nouveau Jung Bong or Dan Serafini.

[PuffyPig]

Originally Posted by Kc61

Really disagree. Belisle's major league innings before this year were in the bullpen. He gives up so many hits, gets hit so steadily, that it's hard to see him being a sub 5 ERA starter.

His DIPS ERA this year is 4.37, so he's pitching better than his stats indicate. It's easy to image him with an ERA sub 5, because he's pitching that well now.

He has way more potential than Livingston. Let him start for the rest of the year.