I played him once on TV...
From inning 1 through 5 Robles pitches like his hair is on fire. From inning 6 and on the way he pitches will make you want to set your own hair on fire.
I don't know if it is an issue of stamina, or what, but once he has gone through the lineup twice he falls apart. Walks and hits go way up and strikeouts wane.
I think that this year will be the make it or break it year for Robles as a starter. Either he shows that he can handle it by June or he gets moved into the bullpen.
As a potential relief arm, Robles suddenly becomes much more interesting to me. G_Money and I have been lamenting about Robles as a starter almost since the day he arrived. If given the opportunity, Robles' stuff is good enough to work out of a MLB bullpen right now. The big question in my mind is whether or not Robles is 100% healthy right now. He had all those issues in 2011, and then in the Venezualean Winter League he got lit up bad and was shut down after just a handful of innings. We'll have to wait and see, I guess.
Speaking of arms that are on the verge of transitioning to the bullpen, keep this name in mind: Steven Hensley. Hensley has struggled as a starter for the last few years, so may be on the verge of moving to the bullpen. There, Hensley's stuff could be lights out! I'm talking about a flamethrower who doubles as a magician.
Lonnie
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