Bale to Rotation

by twill on Oct 1, 2007 1:11 PM EDT

From The Star:

The Royals are already looking at John Bale as a possible solution to their need next season for a left-hander in their rotation. Bale has pitched as a starter at times in his 12-year professional career but spent this season as a setup reliever.

"My mentality going home," he said, "is I'm going to prepare in the offseason to be a starter. Get ready for that. You can always go back to the bullpen. It's a little bit tougher to go from the bullpen to a starter."

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/royals/story/298078.html

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Interesting

He would offer a lot of value (much more than he does now) if he could work his way into the number 5 slot in the rotation. But I'm skeptical as to how successful he'd be, particularly given some issues he had with his control this year. It can't hurt to try this, though. He did strike out a lot of batters this year.

by cookierojas73 on Oct 1, 2007 1:26 PM EDT reply actions

Worth a look

in Spring Training. Personally, I'm a little skeptical mostly due to control and incosistency this year, but hey if a reliever can convert to a starter, it maximizes their value (See Braden Looper/STL).

by lordbyronk on Oct 1, 2007 3:00 PM EDT reply actions

Fine to look at him in ST

I don't mind him getting a shot to prove himself as a starter in ST. But I'd be shocked if he broke camp in the rotation. I really don't think he's good enough.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Oct 1, 2007 3:13 PM EDT reply actions

I agree

What are teams' obsessions with having a lefty starter, anyway? It's not as if the Royals really need to start thinking about playoff matchups.

Makes more sense to me to put the 5 best starting options on the mound, regardless of whether they're right or left handed. Right now, it looks like it would be Meche, Bannister, Greinke, Hochevar and Soria/Buckner. If DM is really looking at a lefty, why not give Gobble another shot first?

This sort of thinking makes me believe DM might be ready to give up on Davies.

by marbotty on Oct 1, 2007 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed.

I think Bale's value is mainly as a situational guy who can soak up some mid-leverage innings. Give him a look, sure, but let the kids cage fight for the rotation slots.

"True friends stab you in the front."-Oscar Wilde.

by NHZ on Oct 1, 2007 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

If by the kids you mean JDLR, Davies, and Buckner

then the cage will win

Looking forward to the 2008 Royals, sans Buddy

by tfn on Oct 2, 2007 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm no fan or JDLR or Davies

at this point, but Buckner's shown some promise, and there's definitely more options.

"True friends stab you in the front."-Oscar Wilde.

by NHZ on Oct 2, 2007 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions

I`d like to see Buckner pitch from the bullpen

for awhile, try him into the rotation later, though I think in the end he is a reliever

Hochevar will need another several months to a year at AAA

My philosophy would be: starters who shine in the minors get a chance to go straight to the major league rotation; those who don`t shine in the minors spend some time in the big club`s bullpen first

Looking forward to the 2008 Royals, sans Buddy

by tfn on Oct 2, 2007 1:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Lots of good lefty hitters in the AL Central

But even with that, I want the best 5 SP's in the rotation, even if they are all RH or all LH. I don't mind them exploring possibilities, but let's not allow this experiment to go on too long.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Oct 1, 2007 3:38 PM EDT reply actions

remember when ...

Remember when the Royals started with five lefties in the rotation? May, Affeldt, Anderson, Gobble, and Reyes in 2004. What a travesty.

Yeah, I really don't understand the need to have a lefty in the rotation.

by Moose Tacos on Oct 1, 2007 3:44 PM EDT reply actions

A minor theory

I don't think this is about Moore thinking that we desperately need a LH SP. I think Moore is putting out there that we have lots of SP options. The more options we have, the less it looks like we desperately need a SP by free agency or trade. So, it helps our bargaining position just a little if we don't look so desperate.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Oct 1, 2007 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

flipside of that argument

Now teams can look at us and say, "Wow, they're so desperate they're considering converting a 33 year old reliever coming off an injury and a short exile to Japan into a starter."

Of course, I don't really see us as being desperate for starters, and I don't see the harm in letting him try for a spot. Just thought I'd play devil's advocate.

by marbotty on Oct 1, 2007 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Nunez Nunez Nunez

Leo makes 6 starts, I believe it was, and is VERY GOOD in all but the last one...

and now he is hardly even mentioned as a possible rotation guy in most of the articles I read about next season.

I DON'T GET IT.

by loyal2s dad on Oct 1, 2007 5:00 PM EDT reply actions

My opinion

Nunez is limited to two decent pitches. In his starts, I believe he was facing every team for the first time and usually only went twice through the batting order. If he were regularly used as a starter and allowed to go three or four times through the batting order, I think he'd get lit up pretty badly. That is why I think he'll only be a reliever, but maybe a very good reliever. His pitch complement limits his upside as a starter, IMO.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Oct 1, 2007 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Primary setup man

And enough endurance to go more than 1 inning at a time.

by doublestix on Oct 1, 2007 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Having him setup for Soria

would be a pretty nasty 1-2 punch at the end of the game.

by lordbyronk on Oct 1, 2007 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions

How about a closer?

Soria should not be seen as the presumptive closer--he should get a real shot to crack the lineup. Leo seems to have the velocity and control to pitch a shutdown inning, and is likely not to be seen as a season-long rotation candidate due to his size and lack of pitches. I like him better than any other in house candidate.

by CentralChamps2009 on Oct 1, 2007 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

not that many closers are really anything special

Soria should be given every chance as a starter

Looking forward to the 2008 Royals, sans Buddy

by tfn on Oct 2, 2007 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions

you are 100% correct, loyal2sdad

Leo Nunez deserves a shot. There're perceptions about endurance and pitch selection, and there are the cold hard facts, which are that he excelled each time out as a starter.

You don't give up on a guy that pitches well -- you give up on a guy that pitches poorly. Let him continue to start until he proves he can't handle it.

by marbotty on Oct 2, 2007 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions