I am not going to believe he is back until he pitches a complete season, until then I am going to assume he will pitch a few games and go back on the IR
We all are wise to be skeptical. But for those looking for optimism, Charlie Morton was an oft-injured pitcher who was middling until he finally had a stretch of health (and pitch usage changes) and was dominant in his age 33-37 seasons. McCullers is entering his age 31 season. If (huge IF) McCullers were able to get healthy, his arm technically has very low mileage on it for his age considering how much time he’s spent on the shelf.
As long as the surgery worked, I think there is a chance he could last as a reliever. Relievers don't normally have Tommy John. It's the pitch counts that killed Lance. Well that and throwing a zillion curve balls in a row.
It's the same old question: Which is better for keeping him healthy: a set routine and rest between pitching days or fewer pitches but on a random and irregular schedule?
If he pitches at all (Big if) I could see him as an opener in a tandem with an inexperienced SP. Fewer pitches plus regular schedule gives him the best chance to contribute and stay healthy.
At this point I don’t really think that’s the question. The real question is: what is the best way to maximize the odds of McCullers making a positive impact on Houston’s team? Is it rehabbing him as a starter, where he will be counted on every 5-6 games and where an injury will start a month-long cascade of roster management? Or is it to bring him back in relief, where he is only throwing an inning at a time, and an injury just causes a 1-2 game roster crunch while the call up somebody from the minors? I think the latter. He’s shown he should not be counted on at all, but with his ceiling and salary, it doesn’t quite make sense to cut hair yet. Bring him back as a RP, if he makes it thru the season healthy, throwing 60+ innings, then they can revisit developing him back into a SP.
I am counting on heem and Luis G to be back and perform at high levels. And add to our stout staff of pitching will truly take us o so far. Cannot wait to see heem dominate LAD again deep in the playoffs. Heck if its Lad is the World Series.
McCullers forever will be an Astros legend after he knocked out the Yankees in 2017 with 24 straight curve balls to get the Astros to the WS. He has always had Ace level stuff, but injuries have sidelined him for seasons on ends. I think he could have been one of the great ones, if not for all the injuries. He’s still only 31, so there is still a chance he has a healthy stretch, since he hasn’t had too much mileage on his arm. But that may be wishful thinking, if his arm is shot like many have said.
