Odd Man Out

[Edgy MD]

Assuming

a) Scherzer and deGrom, deGrom and Scherzer, are healthy and available for the post-season, along with Bassitt, Carrasco, and Walker; and

you're planning on going with a four-man rotation in said post-season;



... which of them are you leaning toward bumping to the pen?



We enter this exercise acknowledging that (1) a lot can happen in the next few weeks that can make the decision for you, and (2) a starter sent to the pen doesn't have to make him the screwed-over "odd man out," as this thread title inelegantly suggests, but can make him available for targeted deployment with a possible uptick in his stuff. Jon Niese threw harder heat and sharper breaking balls as a reliever in 2015 than he had been dealing as a starter, so it can totally happen.



But who are you looking at for redeployment?



All have post-season experience. All have anchored the rotation at some reasonably long stretch this season. Not an easy call.



[FIMG=250]https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/kn4AAOSwSGNiuENk/s-l1600.jpg[/FIMG] [FIMG=250]https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Ud8AAOSwfwRiuEQ3/s-l1600.jpg[/FIMG] [FIMG=250]https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/59MAAOSw68ViuEU5/s-l1600.jpg[/FIMG]

[MFS62]

I voted Walker but then re-read your "uptick in stuff" comment and want to change to Bassett. I think Walker and Carrasco's stuff lends itself more to starting so I wouldn't use them out of the pen. But Bassett could really bring it for a few innings.

Can you please edit the poll so I can change my vote?

Thanks

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

I voted Walker.



You mentioned Jon Niese, but Bartolo Colon also switched to the bullpen in 2015 for the postseason. As did Rick Aguilera in 1986.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Cookie was a highly effective reliever w/ Cleveland when he made his comeback from cancer treatment. I'd feel real CAHN-fident with him working high leverage 7th innings for the orange and blue. Love him a ton so don't call it a demotion, Cookie, you're the best for the job!

[Chad ochoseis]

Also in favor of the Cookie monster for the same reasons as Seo. Bassitt seems to have more of the right stuff for a starter...innings eater with a variety of pitches.



But, given how injury prone both Jake and Max have been, I'm not sure I'd switch to a four-man rotation in the postseason.

[Edgy MD]

A Boy Named Seo wrote: Cookie was a highly effective reliever w/ Cleveland when he made his comeback from cancer treatment. I'd feel real CAHN-fident with him working high leverage 7th innings for the orange and blue. Love him a ton so don't call it a demotion, Cookie, you're the best for the job!

This is brain thinking.

[TransMonk]

A Boy Named Seo wrote: Cookie was a highly effective reliever w/ Cleveland when he made his comeback from cancer treatment. I'd feel real CAHN-fident with him working high leverage 7th innings for the orange and blue. Love him a ton so don't call it a demotion, Cookie, you're the best for the job!

This mirrors my thinking and I gave my vote to Carlos.

[Fman99]

Bassitt's been the steadiest all year option, you can't really bump him I don't think. But you could put Walker or Cookie out there and I think it'd work

[Edgy MD]

I originally voted for Bassitt, because I like the others more.



But that seemed like a crappy reason. So I rethought it. Then I decided on Bassitt again, because I didn't want the appearance of letting him start and bypassing one of the other guys based on white privilege. Tough break, Chris, but there are bigger things to think about.



But, yeah, that seemed like ass thinking too. Then ABNS showed up and straightened me out. Engage the Bullpen Cookie Machine.

[Fman99]

Edgy MD wrote: [FIMG=250]https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/kn4AAOSwSGNiuENk/s-l1600.jpg[/FIMG] [FIMG=250]https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Ud8AAOSwfwRiuEQ3/s-l1600.jpg[/FIMG] [FIMG=250]https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/59MAAOSw68ViuEU5/s-l1600.jpg[/FIMG]

Lest it go unsaid, this is some high quality message board artwork. This place is like the Guggenheim of online fandom

[Edgy MD]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I voted Walker. You mentioned Jon Niese, but Bartolo Colon also switched to the bullpen in 2015 for the postseason. As did Rick Aguilera in 1986.

Yeah, but I didn't really see an uptick in Bartolo's stuff.



He didn't really have much in the way of stuff, in the sense of speed and movement — just pinpoint control and an unflappable demeanor.



Bartolo was Bartolo.