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Next week's Rotation:
Felix / Vargas / Erasmo / Beavan / Paxton's placehol...er...Millwood
Bullpen:
League / Wilhelmsen / Luetge / Furbush / Iwakuma / Kelley
AAA:
Noesi-as-starter
Noesi hasn't "failed" yet by any means. If Erasmo had come out and done what Noesi did we'd just send him back to AAA to continue to work on being a starter. If we had no pen options and too many starters then Noesi could just swap places with Erasmo but Kelley is running a 13 K/ 3 BB line in Tacoma and hasn't been hittable either, which was his problem earlier in Spring. He might have been knocking off the same rust as Iwakuma.
Ruffin, OTOH, has somehow given up 11 runs on 8 hits + 1 HB + 3 walks, with no HRs. That's really hard to do. Even Noesi would have trouble doing that if balls didn't leave the yard. So I'd give Kelley first shot if we don't intend to promote Capps or Pryor yet. Pryor would be my first call between the two, but both will be up by year-end.
We don't need Noesi trying to aim his fastball from the pen right now. He's got talent - let him go work out his issues somewhere that isn't so destructive to the big club. I thought he'd get one more shot since we're intent on giving guys lots of chances early in the year, but after Wedge's comments maybe we're learning to be a little more decisive. Of course, Noesi is not a vet entitled to such respect.
If he won't give me more Jaso, then he can at least give me less Noesi. I want a trip to the E.R. Go Erasmo! ;-)
And as for Iwakuma...he's reminded me of Shiggy from day one, and I'd be fine with him in that role. He looked good out there, with the exception of his mistake pitch to Dunn. That happens. If Millwood blows up and we still refuse to move the Big Three then he can get a look in the rotation, but right now I want him to bridge Erasmo (and later Paxton or whomever) and give us some useful middle innings work.
2 months to get the roster right and 4 months to chase the brass ring, yes? Well so far, survey says: Noesi no, Erasmo yes. Ride with that for a while and see what else shakes out.
~G