Comments on: A Rotation Full of Prospects at Indianapolis

By: Tim Williams

Tim Williams — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:26:00 +0000

I don’t see Martis pushing one of these guys out of the AAA rotation. The only way I see him making the rotation is if Lincoln makes the major league bullpen.

By: Tim Williams

Tim Williams — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:25:00 +0000

I don’t see Owens, Wilson, or McPherson starting a game right now. But then again, you don’t need them to start a game right now because you’ve got eight guys in front of them. I could see two of these guys ready by mid-season, giving the Pirates ten starters to go to this year.

If your definition is limited to who is available on opening day, then you wouldn’t include these guys. But if you’re looking at the entire season, then you can include these guys as possibilities.

Realistically, when would you need Owens, Wilson, or McPherson? Three starting pitchers would have to go down before Burnett returns. Then you’d only need one of those guys. After Burnett returns, the Pirates would have to see four starting pitchers go down before you’d need one of those guys.
So I think it’s fair to call them depth. They’re not going to be ready until mid-season, but you probably aren’t going to run in to a situation where you need them until mid-season. So there’s no need to focus on their availability on opening day.

By: Kevin_Creagh

Kevin_Creagh — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 11:54:00 +0000

Lincoln could start a game right now. Martis, who may push one of the above mentioned guys from the article out of the rotation, could start right now. If all else fails, Locke could spot start too.

Plus on the ML level McCutchen/Leroux could give you a combined start. When Burnett comes back, Correia will be the spot starter/long man.

That’s depth.

Realistically Justin Wilson is not a starter at the ML level, but they will work him as one to help refine his command. This rotation is infintely less depressing than seeing Burris and other 30+ year old retreads clogging it up in the “in case of emergency break glass” scenario.

By: David Todd

David Todd — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 02:22:00 +0000

I don’t really see this as depth. Sure some of these guys are prospects, but none of them are major league-ready. I can’t imagine having Owens, Wilson, Locke or McPherson start a ML game right now and that is how I would define depth.

By: Lee Young

Lee Young — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 23:28:00 +0000

Wow! when was the last time we could say that? I can’t recall. We have the winners of our last 3 MiLB pitching awards there.
And, as Tim mentions, they aren’t even our best pitching prospects.

By: steve-O K

steve-O K — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:36:00 +0000

If these guys can get into a pitching contest, the results may be consistend with the 4 from Altoona.

By: burgh_fan

burgh_fan — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:53:00 +0000

Not targeting you here but everyone always seems to forget that we also lost Scott Olsen to injury at the beginning of last season. I also believe Lincoln was battling injuries at the beginning of the season, if I am recalling correctly that s why he got absolutely no consideration for the #5 spot.

By: john.alcorn

john.alcorn — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:56:00 +0000

Very exciting to be at the point where everyday a guy with legitimate MLB potential takes the hill in AAA. Bradenton will still be the big focus with Cole, Taillon, Cain, ZVR, Dodson, but AAA will be right there too.