My problem with Lance in your scenario is, he can mow down 6 in a row on whiffs and then go completely off the rails in a matter of 3 batters. Before Gusto can even get his heart rate up, we are down 3 to nothing in like 6 minutes. By the time the signs are there to warm up gusto the damage is done. Counter point. You can warm up gusto as soon as Lance takes the mound, but what if Lance finds magic in a bottle Gusto got warmed up for nothing. I have more faith in our young guns than I do Lance right now. sucks that Lance has the albatross contract. We are truly between a rock and a hard place with him. Love him for all he has done, but memories of greatness are just that memories. Memories and a 93-mph fastball down the pipe get Bobby Dynamite dodging balls from the other team.
I agree wholeheartedly with most of this but I have to say the last thing we should be trying to protect is his ego. He is recovering from an injury and should understand that the team needs to protect itself during this time. Finding a way to limit the damage he can do while he recovers needs to start each paragraph.
Yeah, honestly **** his ego...if he is going to be a headache and complain to the point we have to worry about his ego, just cut him. Not worth the headache. The risk of cutting him and regretting it is very low - it's not like we have multiple years remaining on his contract after this season anyway. Dana didn't make the signing and he's not "his guy" so I'm guessing the leash is getting short. I'd imagine if he sucks again in his next start that something will happen with him, whether that's a move to the bullpen or DFA'd.
The best hope is that after getting a tuneup this season and then a proper offseason he comes back with some increased mojo next year. It's not unheard of, for a guy coming off surgery(ies) and a whole lot of down time.
