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when you need them?
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At the Bakery, they pull fresh news out of the convection oven: Harang is gone, and the most likely callup is Taijuan Walker. Baker, who speaks to Jack Zduriencik in real life as you and I and other bloggers do not, reads Zduriencik as likely to call up Taijuan now.
I honestly don't know how you balance these two things...
- Starting Walker's arb and FA clocks
- Giving Walker the chance to get settled in a big league clubhouse, and digest it over the winter
... and I don't know that anybody else has the right balance on it, either. Certainly there is no way to solve it with an algebraic equation, because Walker Seattle Mariner is a human being. Humans are far too complex to "solve." Any of you guys married?
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Injury Risk (Not)
Mo' Dawg points out that Walker has 141.1 innings this year, not counting the Futures game. My reaction to that:
- The fact that we are still focused on IP/Year proves that we are not scientists. Where did this IP/Year idea even come from? Somebody said it, and then somebody else said it, and then ...
- Personally my 50-year-old shoulders NEVER start hurting based on Pushups/Year. They start hurting based on a ton of other factors, none of which have ANYTHING to do with Pushups/Year. Mostly it's based on Pushups/Day IF AND ONLY IF I lapse into lousy form. With correct form, I'll get tired and quit looooonnnnng before I ever do any damage. The muscles give in long before the ligaments do, if my form is right.
- I take 10 days off, it's a complete reset. 20 days off is a major negative. Why would you do anything more than just skip a turn for Taijuan?
- Earl watched for the mechanics breaking down.
If Taijuan Walker comes up and throws 5.0 easy innings per start, the rest of calendar year 2014 including December ... it says here that 250 innings would be fine.
I know you don't believe me ... Bill James, speaking from the perspective of 125 years' baseball history, is also quite skeptical about this arbitrary IP/year idea. He's also skeptical about pitch counts, used too dogmatically. He does think you should be careful about very young pitchers.
But, take a vote. 90 other sites will vote against me, so fine. But me, I think there is Zero danger involved with the callup as such. Well, "zero" ... you could reduce the danger to Zero by making him a dentist.
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Photo in the F-18 Cockpit, Dept.
Why are we here, guys? As Bruce Willis said in Armageddon ... I don't want 'em getting up there and forgetting why they're doing it.
This is a dreary season. Taijuan would be un-dreary. That's very important. The ticket prices have not changed. After five years of dreary seasons, they owe us.
The game's about the fans, not about WAR. Take it into consideration.
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3 Great Starts and It's On to Boston?
Geoffy says it's about "showcasing" him for the winter. If he's going to be Stephen Strasburg or Felix Hernandez, we better be "showcasing" him for --- > Stanton. At least. Preferably Trout. ;- )
We'll see.
If that's actually what happens, that Taijuan establishes himself as a super-sexy Next Big Thang and then we trade him... the good news is, it will be a Blockbuster. And the 2014 pennant chase will be on. In theory.
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You're Hot and You're Cold, Dept.
Here is Spectator's sparkling pre-season evaluation of Walker, Seattle Mariner. Taijuan's very last outing, last night .... 6 IP shutout, okay he gave up 1 scratch run ... 2 walks, 9 strikeouts. The walks were probably only because he was playing catch with Jesus Sucre.
The game before that ... 5 IP shutout.
The game before that ... gave up a few runs, but 9 strikeouts in 5 IP.
I take this excellent run as being something that --- > increases Capt Jack's comfort level in calling him up. It is the way the world works, Grasshopper.
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Got hit some, before that. Overall ... 64 strikeouts in 57 PCL innings, 3+ ERA, the rest is kind of randomized due to spotty umpiring and conditions and yada yada yada.
I'd give a lot to see him against MLB(TM) hitters. Supposed to be the best pitching prospect there is, so let's have a go.
Comments
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They call it the "launcher" position when he is on the mound.
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The collective bargaining agreement does not apply to Taijuan Walker. He does not bargain with baseball or the player's union. He is promoted whenever he demands more lively victims.
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The 160 inning limit is way to arbitrary to make any sense, but it seems to be Z's limit for the kid, according to a recent interview. So I'm assuming it is "real" in the sense of + or - a few innings. If you give him 4 starts, which is something like 25-ish innings, you get in a little over that limit. Those 4 starts would put the M's beyond 150 games, anyway. Then shut him down.
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No punchline, sorry. Just saying many HOF pitchers got their cup in relief before starting a decade plus. If innings are in question the bullpen could be the answer where it's easier to limit them. Is there significant evidence that that's a bad idea? Any research done at all? I can theorize as to reasons, but none I've run across on the subject go past the point of things seeming a certain way.
If Zunino were here I think I'd be more excited about the idea of Walker coming up to start. Walker won't be pitching to any of these other guys next year even, where with Zunino they could be together until free agency or beyond. Not saying that's a reason not to, I could see it as a reason for him to have experience and time with Blanco and C Q.