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 Bullpen or Rotation: Predicted Pitchers Roles

By Andrew Armida, Special FCP Correspondent

There are many pitchers in the game who could pitch in the rotation or in the pen, but their team will feel comfortable with one over the other.  Many long relief pitchers will occasionally get spot starts or a starting pitcher will be moved to the bullpen.  A lot of times, minor league starters are brought up to the bullpen and stay in there due to their success, Mariano Rivera and Jonathan Papelbon to name a two.  He’s an analysis on some of these guys who can pitch in either or and my opinion as to where they should go.

Joba Chamberlain

It is very interesting with this 22-year-old phenom.  There are many factors that need to be put in to perspective with Joba.  If the Yankees are thinking about now and not about the future, then Joba should stay in the pen and set up Rivera (and you never know he may stay in the pen and be able to close in a while.)  He was very successful at this last year and there aren’t any other really solid options.   If the Yankees are thinking about the future, then Joba should be in the rotation.  They do not want to put him in the bullpen for a couple of years and then put him in the rotation without any MLB starting experience. I think the rotation for 2008 should be Wang, Pettitte, Hughes, Mussina, and Kennedy.  I put Kennedy over Chamberlain because, even though it is very little, Kennedy has already had MLB starting experience.  Joe Girardi has already mentioned putting Joba in the rotation so it might be likely he will be a starter.  But if the Yankees are trying to win a Championship in 08, Joba should be in the pen.  One last thought though, I think the “Joba rules” should be thrown away this season regardless where he pitches.

Zach Greinke

Zach Greinke has been a starter for the majority of his career and I think there is no doubt that he should be in the Royals’ rotation in 2008.  There were many questions if he would ever play again after leaving Spring Training early in 2006 for psychological counseling, but he came back in at the end of the season and made the roster in 2007 and had a pretty good season.  Greinke is a great young pitcher with excellent stuff.  He has a very good career K/BB ratio of about 6/2.  His career WHIP isn’t that impressive with a 1.37, but this year he was at about 1.29, so it shows you he’s improving.  He is probably never going to win twenty games in a season, but that really isn’t his fault. I have to say, I think the Royals are going to have a pretty good rotation anchored by Meche, Bannister, and Greinke.  Greinke is a good pitcher with a pretty good upside and I think he should be in the rotation.

Yovani Gallardo

Gallardo is another excellent young pitcher with a huge upside.  I think Gallardo should be in the Brewer’s rotation for 2008.  He did only have a couple of appearances out of the pen, but I think he is best suited for the rotation.  When you look at Gallardo’s numbers from last year they are all very good for a rookie.  He struck out many batters, didn’t walk a lot, and didn’t give up a lot of hits.  This is all the same with his minor league numbers.  The Brewers have a lot of options for starters, but as long as Gallardo can make the squad out of Spring Training, he should be guaranteed the fifth spot in the rotation. Again, I think Gallardo is a great young pitcher, and I think he could potentially end up as a front of the end guy in the rotation.

Kameron Loe

Kameron Loe has pitched almost equally as a starter and a reliever in his career (47 games started, 46 games as a reliever). Kameron Loe should pitch out of the pen this year. Loe hasn’t really had a successful career, but he has done better as a reliever.  His ERA, WHIP, K/9, winning %, and BB/9 are all better when he is a reliever.  I think he could help the Rangers a bit in the middle relief or long relief role.  Kameron Loe is never going to be lights out, but I think he is best suited to be in the pen.

Kevin Correia

Correia has spent most of his career as a reliever.  This year Correia’s numbers were a little better as a starter, but for his career he has been better as a reliever.  Kevin Correia should be in the bullpen this year.  The Giants already have their one through four starters picked, so they would just need a number five.  If Corria were in the pen, it would be between Pat Misch and Jonathan Sanchez.  I think they should go with one of those two and put Correia in the bullpen to help out.  The Giant’s rotation is very good so a so-so fifth starter can’t hurt them too much.    I think the Giants could find somebody as good as Correia is as a starter so they could have him as some solid bullpen help.

Casey Janssen

Casey Janssen is also a pitcher who has spent most of his career as a reliever.  I think that is the role that best fits him.  He has better numbers in almost every major pitching category as a reliever than as a starter.  If everyone can stay healthy, Halladay, Burnett, McGowan, Marcum, and then Litsch wouldn’t be a bad rotation.  It would be great if the Jays could find another starter, but for now I think they should use Litsch over Janssen.  If the Blue Jays can get some bullpen help, then it might be a different story.  I think Janssen should be the fifth starter and Litsch should start the season in Triple-A if they could get a solid back end of the bullpen reliever.  But for now I think Janssen is a better fit in the pen.

Cliff Lee

After struggling as a starter in 2007 Lee was moved to the pen.  I think that he should be a starter in 2008.  He has a miserable 07 but he deserves to be in the rotation in 2008.  He has proven that he can be a solid pitcher with good years in 2005 and 2006.  I think that Lee shouldn’t be in the pen because the Indians could use him as a helpful fourth or fifth starter.  He would help the already pretty good Indians rotation.

Well, there’s my take on what some pitcher roles should be this season.  Thanks for reading and let me know your thoughts.