I don’t necessarily care what is more or less stressful on McCullers’ arm. At this point I’m more concerned with them figuring out how to get some productivity out of him without letting any future injuries from him have a major impact on the team. Losing your dominant 7th inning RP is a lot easier to swallow than losing one of your SP.
He was effective... but his arsenal was noticeably different and dialed down. Again, hopefully just compensation for the injury... but it wasn't electric stuff by any means. You can be effective with location/command/spin (see JP France's brief run). But you're not getting dominance like he had in 2021 (and prior to the TJ surgery in 2018).
He's never pitched in the bullpen before. Never put his arm into the warm up/heat up phase... then maybe in, maybe not.... that's what all former starting pitchers loathe when it comes to considering that sort of switch. Any pitching role he has from here on out is going to subject him to future injury. The question is what kind of stuff/command does he have now and how long does it take for his arm to bounce back. Him not on track to start the season in any role is as big of a red flag as any... and makes it feel more like getting insurance to cover the contract sort of thing (as he has to go through these motions/rehab/attempts).
Traditionally marginal stuff plays up in the bullpen, so if his stuff is diminished then that would make even more sense to put him in relief. Hes also come out of the pen in the playoffs (his greatest moment was as a RP). But like I said, I’m not really interested in ensuring McCullers stays healthy or maximizes his war or whatever; all I think the Astros should care about is getting some production from him without letting any future injury devastate the roster.
We watched him dominate the Sox in a playoff game at Minute Maid but I don't think he's been dominant at all since that game.
What?? ALDS @ Seattle 6 IP 0 R 2 H 7 K 2 BB His last start of the yr against the Phillies who were RED hot and who they would face in the WS. 6 IP 1 ER 6 H 5 K 1 BB The other four starts in Sept. @ TB 7 IP 2 ER 6 H 8 K 2 BB OAK 6 IP 2 ER 2 H 11 K 4 BB LAA 7 IP 2 ER 4 H 6 K 1 BB @ LAA 5.2 IP 2 ER 2 H 7 K 4 BB
People really forgot how good Lance was. His ERA was 2.27 in 2022. He had a 3.16 ERA the season before that.
He was effective while pitching hurt and harnessing a different arsenal (in order to not get more hurt). he ended up still getting more hurt. Also there was the team seeing him for the 2nd time adjustment. I’m as optimistic as the next guy… give me some examples of when this type of scenario has worked out for a power pitcher.
People are hoping for over 60 healthy innings of anything close to what he's been throughout his career. You are the only one hoping for Cy Young vote stuff.
The fundamental question is, could he be as effective as a reliever as he was as a starter? And he will be, even more so. But until he is, it is going to be hard to verify that I think he'll be more effective.
Lance wants no part of being a reliever. I was running some errands and heard him on 790. He was pretty clear he will be a starter. He pretty much torched the idea of being a reliever. He thinks it would be harder on his arm.
Not to be harsh on him but at this point Lance really shouldn’t be the one deciding. They’re paying him $18M, if they tell him to go throw 30 pitches every other day, his ass better be ready to go unless he is on the IL again. His only statement about his potential role on the team should be “I will do anything that’s asked of me to help the team.”
