Just saying that while Wilhelmsen's heater has the looks and velocity of a being special pitch, that doesn't automatically make him a special starter. This is a lost year for his starting potential, so if they were gonna send him down to work on the curve and getting his release point fine-tuned and repeatable, we're looking at another delay til at least 2013 for him to get in the rotation, maybe longer.
Keep in mind, Maurer and Walker are likely going to wind up at AA early in the year, along with Gillheeney (whom I still believe in as an arm) and Hultzen (briefly). Paxton, Erasmo, and Carraway will be at AAA at least, and I expect Paxton to push to make the club out of ST. They look serious about Furbush as a starter, and I dunno what they think of Beavan and Vasquez but they're getting a long look at em.
Wilhelmsen has a lot of starters to climb over, including two 24-carat, diamond studded showpieces. If he can perfect his curve while staying in the pen, though, then he can always pull a Furbush and step out of the bullpen and into the rotation if someone goes down with injury.
Or he can turn into a stoner version of Papelbon - an outcome I would not be sorry to see.
Since 8/15: 13 IP, 15 K/ 3 BB (2 in one game), 3 runs.
Would I let a 2 ERA, 10K/2BB pitcher work in the pen for me while he figures out pitch #2? I understand why Jack is, I'll certainly say that.
~G
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