Initial Rotation Announced

[don7031]

1) Collmenter
2) De La Rosa
3) Hellickson
4) Cahill
5) Anderson

I'll go with the glass being half full and say that De La Rosa, Hellickson, and Cahill are being provided the opportunity to excel.

 

[Phrazbit]

Its become the standard now that teams won't put a rookie in at the start of the year. They delay them a few months to preserve hold off their arbitration eligibility in future seasons.

But... that has to be in the running for "worst rotation in baseball". Especially at the top. I doubt anyone has a sadder 1-2-3 on paper.

 

[unseenaz]

Its become the standard now that teams won't put a rookie in at the start of the year. They delay them a few months to preserve hold off their arbitration eligibility in future seasons.

But... that has to be in the running for "worst rotation in baseball". Especially at the top. I doubt anyone has a sadder 1-2-3 on paper.

Who you have in mind? I can't think of a rookie that deserves a starting 5 spot.

Rotation is pathetic. Hopefully Cahill can bounce back. And hopefully Corbin heals quickly. LOL!

 

[Phrazbit]

Who you have in mind? I can't think of a rookie that deserves a starting 5 spot.

Rotation is pathetic. Hopefully Cahill can bounce back. And hopefully Corbin heals quickly. LOL!

Bradley had a much better spring than Cahill or Hellickson, as did Hudson. I don't think its some travesty but IMO the reasoning for the jobs getting dished out was not performance based.

For Bradley, they want to preserve his arbitration years... and maybe they're hoping to see some of his velocity return before bringing him up, but I don't know how the minors would help that vs the majors.

Hudson, I don't think they'd let him get the work load of a starter until his elbow shows its stable.

Cahill, because he has a fat... contract.

Hellickson is a reclamation project. I think he will probably flame out but a few starts in spring is probably too quick to give up on him.

 

[PDXChris]

Bradley had a much better spring than Cahill or Hellickson, as did Hudson. I don't think its some travesty but IMO the reasoning for the jobs getting dished out was not performance based.

For Bradley, they want to preserve his arbitration years... and maybe they're hoping to see some of his velocity return before bringing him up, but I don't know how the minors would help that vs the majors.

Hudson, I don't think they'd let him get the work load of a starter until his elbow shows its stable.

Cahill, because he has a fat... contract.

Hellickson is a reclamation project. I think he will probably flame out but a few starts in spring is probably too quick to give up on him.

Agreed! I am wondering though if they are more hoping Cahill can string together some quality starts to send him packing? Wishful thinking, but Bradley looked pretty good so far this spring. Hopefull we see him and Shipley and Corbin this year to get some time in for next.

 

[PDXChris]

Its become the standard now that teams won't put a rookie in at the start of the year. They delay them a few months to preserve hold off their arbitration eligibility in future seasons.

But... that has to be in the running for "worst rotation in baseball". Especially at the top. I doubt anyone has a sadder 1-2-3 on paper.

At least Collmenter has character?

 

[BC867]

At least Collmenter has character?

And a unique overhand delivery. Sort of like a pitching machine. I am surprised the league hasn't caught up to it.

I like him as a person, but as a #1 starter (even by default) . . . I hope the D'backs develop the philosophy of the Suns. Just outscore your opponents.

Which I don't enjoy on the Suns, as some of you know.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Bradley had a much better spring than Cahill or Hellickson, as did Hudson. I don't think its some travesty but IMO the reasoning for the jobs getting dished out was not performance based.

For Bradley, they want to preserve his arbitration years... and maybe they're hoping to see some of his velocity return before bringing him up, but I don't know how the minors would help that vs the majors.

Hudson, I don't think they'd let him get the work load of a starter until his elbow shows its stable.

Cahill, because he has a fat... contract.

Hellickson is a reclamation project. I think he will probably flame out but a few starts in spring is probably too quick to give up on him.

Did Bradley have a "much" better spring than Cahill and Hellickson? I admit I didn't watch all of his performances, but from what I recall, I felt that he was average to slightly better than average at best. It was reported that his velocity was down quite a bit, and that he was still trying to master a new pitch.

As for Cahill... it's hard to imagine he could be any worse than he was last season. I think he's getting paid $13 million or so this year. Any trade for him would no doubt involve the Dbacks eating a large portion of that ridiculous salary.

 

[Brian]

Did Bradley have a "much" better spring than Cahill and Hellickson? I admit I didn't watch all of his performances, but from what I recall, I felt that he was average to slightly better than average at best. It was reported that his velocity was down quite a bit, and that he was still trying to master a new pitch.

As for Cahill... it's hard to imagine he could be any worse than he was last season. I think he's getting paid $13 million or so this year. Any trade for him would no doubt involve the Dbacks eating a large portion of that ridiculous salary.

I watched him a couple of times, and for whatever reason his fastball was down to 91-93. What I liked was that at times he lacked command as far as inside/outside but everything was down. Was glad to see that. His secondary breaking ball he sometimes left up and would catch alot of the plate, but hitters usually just spit on it and it would get called for a strike.

He's not ready yet, he's doing just okay. What's troubling is I never saw anything that indicated 3rd overall pick. Just my 2 cents.

 

[AZ Native]

Collmenter is a stud! He's the guy I say "I can hit this guy" but he is deceptively good. Not great, mind you.

He carried me from 6th place to 2nd place last year in my fantasy league. Won me $600. He pitch very well during that stretch. Outpitched Wainwright during that time. He is a great $5 keeper.

 

[Phrazbit]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Bradley looks like an ace at the moment, but I don't think its going out on a limb to say he pitched better than some of the bums who beat him out.

Cahill was Cahill, Hellickson had an ERA of like 6 or 7.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I watched him a couple of times, and for whatever reason his fastball was down to 91-93. What I liked was that at times he lacked command as far as inside/outside but everything was down. Was glad to see that. His secondary breaking ball he sometimes left up and would catch alot of the plate, but hitters usually just spit on it and it would get called for a strike.

He's not ready yet, he's doing just okay. What's troubling is I never saw anything that indicated 3rd overall pick. Just my 2 cents.

Yep... That's seriously bothering me as well... Man I hope he ultimately removes all doubt!

 

[Phrazbit]

As you guys are well aware, I'm more than willing to blast Kevin Towers decision making, but I can't kill him for the Bradley pick. He went 7th, probably would have gone higher if teams had known signing him would go as smoothly as it did, he soared through the minors and had stuff that put him among the elite prospects in baseball. Its only been the last year that he hit a speed bump.

Pitcher injuries are so hard to project, he certainly has been robbed of his velocity with the injury he had last year. Hopefully it comes back, if it doesn't then his ceiling goes from potential ace to middle rotation guy.

 

[frankeegee1]

Bradley had a good line today. 6 innings, 1 hit, no runs, I think (only saw the ticker on the mlb station).

 

[unseenaz]

Bradley had a good line today. 6 innings, 1 hit, no runs, I think (only saw the ticker on the mlb station).

Wow. Gonna be hard to keep him off the team. I see him snagging a spot in the pen, and eventually moving to the rotation when De La Rosa or Anderson struggle. I think Cahill has a longer leash than those two, based pretty much solely on his salary. Look how long it took them To make a move last year

 

[don7031]

Yesterday's six innings of shutout ball separated Bradley from the pack statically. His ERA is down to 1.61 compared to 3.86 for De La Rosa. But De La Rosa was just brought in by the current management.

Spring training stats are available through the D'backs website.

 

[overseascardfan]

I'll give Stewart the benefit of the doubt that his comment about Bradley not being ready was meant as a motivational tool rather than an excuse to save service time for arbitration.

I don't get the holding of guys in the minors so they can't accrue service time. If a guy can help your big league team why ship him to the minors? CHC are doing the same thing with Kris Bryant...why? Bradley is having a better spring than a lot of the other named SPs for Opening Day, I think Cahill is in so he can be showcased as trade bait if he shows any signs he belongs on a big league roster. Bradley will be in the bull pen if he makes the club and slide into the rotation if Cahill is traded. At least that is what I hope the plan is.

 

[AZ Native]

I don't get the holding of guys in the minors so they can't accrue service time. If a guy can help your big league team why ship him to the minors? CHC are doing the same thing with Kris Bryant...why?

In Bryant's case, I heard if they sent him to minors for 12 days (not games), they have have him for another full year. Smart move by the Cubs. (did I just say that?)

 

[PDXChris]

I don't get the holding of guys in the minors so they can't accrue service time. If a guy can help your big league team why ship him to the minors? CHC are doing the same thing with Kris Bryant...why?

In Bryant's case, I heard if they sent him to minors for 12 days (not games), they have have him for another full year. Smart move by the Cubs. (did I just say that?)

Two words, Scott Boras. Those 12 days will save them about $20 million in 2021 since he will command about $30 million a year.

 

[unseenaz]

Two words, Scott Boras. Those 12 days will save them about $20 million in 2021 since he will command about $30 million a year.

potentially. no one knows what Bryant will turn out to be at the MLB level. but I agree on principle.

the world spins on politics and money, baseball is no different

 

[Matt L]

According to twitter, the Braves may be interested in Trevor Cahill....

If only we could have them take Cody Ross too!

 

[PDXChris]

According to twitter, the Braves may be interested in Trevor Cahill....

If only we could have them take Cody Ross too!

3:45pm: The Braves are discussing starting pitchers wiith multiple teams, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com (Twitter links). Bowman, who also hears that Cahill has been discussed, says the Braves aren’t comfortable slotting two similar lefties — Stults and Rodriguez — back-to-back in the rotation.

3:39pm: The Diamondbacks and Braves have had discussions regarding Cahill, Piecoro adds in a followup tweet. The Braves have some uncertainty in the rotation with Mike Minor unlikely to be ready for the opener. Wandy Rodriguez, Mike Foltynewicz and Eric Stults have been competing for the final two rotation spot in Atlanta.

Rodriguez has pitched well but has been unable to stay healthy in recent seasons. Stults has a strong ERA (1.89) but has struck out just seven hitters in 19 spring innings. And Foltynewicz, though very well-regarded, has limited experience at the Triple-A level and even more limited experience in the Majors.

3:20pm: The Diamondbacks have discussed right-hander Trevor Cahill in trade talks, reports Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Repbulic (on Twitter). There are clear obstacles to trading Cahill, however, and Piecoro adds that the team may need to eat at least $6MM of the $12MM that Cahill is owed in 2015.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/04/d-backs-have-discussed-trevor-cahill-in-trade-talks.html

Could be getting close.

 

[TJ]

Bye, Cahill.

That Parker trade continues to look absolutely fantastic. Yay...

 

[Dback Jon]

Bye, Cahill.

That Parker trade continues to look absolutely fantastic. Yay...

Well, since Parker hasn't thrown any live pitches since his surgery,

 

[sundevil04]

1) Collmenter
2) De La Rosa
3) Hellickson
4) Bradley
5) Anderson

Hmmmm, we'll see what happens. I'd love to see Collmenter back in his long relief spot