What do we do with our rotation now?

[AsUdUdE]

I understand it was just one game. I understand as a new pitcher that Majer leaguers had not seen before, the pitcher can look better than he really is...

All that said, Scherzer has looked like a STUD this whole year in both Triple A and tonights performance... and that leaves the question...

What now?

When DD comes back, assuming Scherzer performs up to standard, honestly what do you think the Dbacks could/SHOULD do...

We will have 6 quality Starters (not counting Gonzales), for 5 spots...As I see it, the rotation should go

1. Webb
2. Haren
3. Owings
4. Scherzer
5. Davis
6. RJ

Options include putting RJ in the bullpen (I don't think that would go over too well with him), keeping Scherzer in the Bullpen or Trading one of them at the trade deadline for some prospects...

What should the Dbacks do with this problem, given its a GREAT problem to have....

 

[AZZenny]

The only one they'd even think of trading would be Davis, who isn't going to bring much -- RJ is a no-trade and the others are all young fine pitchers we want to keep for the future. That means whoever is the odd man out (likely either Scherzer or Davis) is in the bullpen. And of course that assumes nobody gets sidelined with injury. I wouldn't put money on RJ's back holding up the whole season.

 

[Nasser22]

We have the best rotation in the bigs without him...RJ will continue to start and Scherzer will dominate from the pen with the occasional start over the year, working his way to becoming the future closer of the Arizona Diamondbacks. I see him as a career, late-inning, dominating reliever.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Scherzer needs consistent innings in order to continue to improve on his secondary pitches, which he really can't get in long or middle relief. If he isn't in the starting rotation once they are all healthy, then I hope they send him back to AAA.

 

[HooverDam]

I was at the game tonight, I lucked into some incredible seats and I was very impressed with Scherzer. However, I don't see why anything needs to change. DD and RJ are both going to have suspect health all year and I'd rather see Scherzer get spot starts in the future over Edgar Gonzelez. Edgar has reached his ceiling I imagine, and its mediocrity, Scherzer could be quite good. I say use him in long relief and as a spot starter.

 

[Evil Ash]

Scherzer needs consistent innings in order to continue to improve on his secondary pitches, which he really can't get in long or middle relief. If he isn't in the starting rotation once they are all healthy, then I hope they send him back to AAA.

 

[PDXChris]

I was at the game tonight, I lucked into some incredible seats and I was very impressed with Scherzer. However, I don't see why anything needs to change. DD and RJ are both going to have suspect health all year and I'd rather see Scherzer get spot starts in the future over Edgar Gonzelez. Edgar has reached his ceiling I imagine, and its mediocrity, Scherzer could be quite good. I say use him in long relief and as a spot starter.

Plus, RJ is pitching for one reason right now and that is to get to 300 wins. If he stays healthy he will get it and if he breaks down he will retire. He is too old to come back again. In the eyes of the D-Backs, 300 wins is a ticket seller and from the look of things tickets are not flying out the door. Next year Scherzer will get his chance.

 

[HooverDam]

, 300 wins is a ticket seller and from the look of things tickets are not flying out the door.

I thought I had heard that ticket sales were slightly up this year? I know season tickets are. This Valley is, and always will be, a Suns town first. Last night the attendance was paltry (around 20K) because a Suns playoff game was on. Now that the Suns are done, and once school lets out, Id expect to see the attendance go up a few ticks.

 

[PDXChris]

I thought I had heard that ticket sales were slightly up this year? I know season tickets are. This Valley is, and always will be, a Suns town first. Last night the attendance was paltry (around 20K) because a Suns playoff game was on. Now that the Suns are done, and once school lets out, Id expect to see the attendance go up a few ticks.

That is a good point, but I know last year the team was thinking about tarping part of the upper deck off to give the illusion of larger crowds, I think they may have put that off with the hopes that Phoenix would buy into this young team. Hopefully you are right.

 

[BC867]

Melvin has named Scherzer to the starting rotation and removed Edgar. How could he not? It gives Scherzer the rest of the season to become a veteran.

I wish Mike D'Antoni had the guts to let Suns rookies develop during the season.

The problem is two sentimental lefties -- a legend trying for 300 wins and a veteran recuperating from cancer.

I would keep Randy in the rotation for awhile, despite his getting hit hard again. And make Davis long reliever when he returns.

Should Randy continue to falter and/or get injured, move Davis right back into the rotation.

As of right now, the rotation is Webb/Haren/Owings/Johnson/Scherzer. This season is lookin' good.

 

[PDXChris]

Melvin has named Scherzer to the starting rotation and removed Edgar. How could he not? It gives Scherzer the rest of the season to become a veteran.

I wish Mike D'Antoni had the guts to let Suns rookies develop during the season.

The problem is two sentimental lefties -- a legend trying for 300 wins and a veteran recuperating from cancer.

I would keep Randy in the rotation for awhile, despite his getting hit hard again. And make Davis long reliever when he returns.

Should Randy continue to falter and/or get injured, move Davis right back into the rotation.

As of right now, the rotation is Webb/Haren/Owings/Johnson/Scherzer. This season is lookin' good.

That is actually a great idea since you can then ease Davis back. SPlus, since Randy will give you 5 to 6 innings on most nights he pitches, Davis can cover most of the rest.

 

[boondockdrunk]

Melvin has named Scherzer to the starting rotation and removed Edgar. How could he not? It gives Scherzer the rest of the season to become a veteran.

I wish Mike D'Antoni had the guts to let Suns rookies develop during the season.

Not that I know much about basketball... but I find it hard to believe that the players D'Antoni has have the same potential as say: Upton, Scherzer, etc. Its not like Melvin is making brilliant decisions (I do admit at this moment the Owings pinch hitting move was brilliant). These guys are playing themselves into the spots they now have and are making the most of the opportunities they find themselves in.

 

[BC867]

Not that I know much about basketball... but I find it hard to believe that the players D'Antoni has have the same potential as say: Upton, Scherzer, etc.

Check out the Suns ASFN board, Alot has been written about this.

If the two rookies had been eased into the rotation during the season, the players, particularly Steve Nash, might not have fallen short in the playoff.

He was not at his best. And I think fatigue played as much a role as the Spurs defense.

In fact, D'Antoni was quoted as saying, during the season, that it's not his job to develop young players.

Back to baseball. I'm glad that Melvin doesn't think that way.

 

[devilalum]

Check out the Suns ASFN board, Alot has been written about this.

If the two rookies had been eased into the rotation during the season, the players, particularly Steve Nash, might not have fallen short in the playoff.

He was not at his best. And I think fatigue played as much a role as the Spurs defense.

In fact, D'Antoni was quoted as saying, during the season, that it's not his job to develop young players.

Back to baseball. I'm glad that Melvin doesn't think that way.

Nash is just getting old.

 

[BC867]

Nash is just getting old.

It's too bad that management didn't realize it, then, and have a legitimate backup Point Guard in the rotation.

Or realize it about Grant Hill and have a Point Small Forward ready, until it was too late to shift Boris from Center/Power Forward to Small Forward, without demolishing team chemistry.

In other words, whatever the reason, the lack of preparation was the problem.

P.S.: I love what Steve Nash has meant to the Suns. But the Spurs successfully smothered him, destroying the offense, and D'Antoni's reaction was too little, too late.

Edit: 'Sorry. I forgot we're on the D'backs board.