... because he landed in High Desert and survived admirably. If you can post an ERA under 4 as a starter in the Cal League, with HIGH DESERT as your home park, you get my notice. Failing to do so doesn't disqualify you... but that ain't easy to do.
Elias had the 7th best ERA in the Cal League (over 100 IP) in 2012. He then posted the 8th-best ERA in the Southern league the year after. That doesn't count people who put in half-seasons in either league (Taijuan only threw 84 IP in AA, for instance) but it still ain't nuthin.
It's the ability to limit hits that shows up in those performances. Roenis gave up 8.3 per 9 in the Cal League, and under 8 per in AA. He's under 8 in the bigs.
He can walk some guys without getting hurt because it's difficult to put the ball in play hard against him. He's given up some HRs, but that was again in High Desert for the most part. His HR numbers in AA were low.
I figured he was a 2015 project for the Ms, but they threw him into the mix early. I thought it might bother him. It is NOT bothering him, and as Doc says, he's getting more swagger with every outing. The walks could be an issue, but a lot of power lefties have early walk issues, and curveballers especially. As long as he isn't coughing up hits, it's completely survivable.
Having a second killer lefty in the rotation would be terrific. RH Felix / RH Kuma / LH Paxton / RH Walker / LH Elias would be a nice whipsaw to throw at every opposing lineup. Kuma and Felix back-to-back is such a contrast of styles that it works out in our favor as well.
I would hate to catch that starting 5 at any point in its rotation. I figured Elias could hold down the fort, process what he's learned in another minor league stint or out of the pen, and give us a decent option for next season.
I'm having trouble seeing how we get him out of the rotation at this point, even with as well as Young is pitching. That's a good thing. If there's a longer delay with Paxton or Walker, we've got a kid with, stuff, moxie and pitchability.
Love it.
~G
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