What will Hochevar's role be in 2012 & beyond?

In a perfect world he would be a number 4, but the Royals have so many holes to fill in the rotation… No way they trade him or move him to the pen when there number 1 need is starting pitching.

…but I can’t see him being any good. Our rotation just happens to be worse.

…a disappointment.

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" Will Hoch ever be a decent pitcher "

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Magic 8 Ball says:

Future looks bleak

3 innings long, he’d be the best pitcher in baseball

But why does anyone still think Hochevar has a future as a starter?

He has a higher ERA and lower ERA+ than Kyle Davies in a similar amount of innings as a Royal. They are the same age, born less than a week apart, so it’s not like he’s younger or anything.

Is it because he was a first rounder? Or maybe it is because KD spreads his suck out evenly and Hochevar mixes in flashes of hope amidst even bigger explosions of Suck?

I put down low leverage reliever, but really I think that in 2014 they will still be running him out there every 5 days, talking about his plus stuff, and pointing to isolated games where he showed his potential. Meanwhile, he will have the worst career ERA ever of any starter with 1000 or more career innings.

We will never make the postseason with Hochevar in our rotation.

In an even more macabre scenario, he will have a mini rebound in 2014, becoming almost league average in pre- free agency year. Teflon Bob Mcclure, who will never be fired, will immediately take credit for his “development.” The Royals, thinking they are close to finally getting a payoff, will make the biggest free agency offer, and Hochevar will reward them with a 6+ ERA in 2015. They will miss the playoffs by 1 game