DOTW 4/24/'14: Decision Time For the Pitching Staff

[rico43]

We all agree that Hale deserved a better fate today. In fact, he did nothing to deserve to lose his spot in the rotation.

But the fact of the matter is that Minor is a potential all-star who is ready to go and is not a rebuilt arm like the other injuries. He is fine, healthy and scheduled to start Saturday. What do Fredi (and Wren) do?

Put Hale in the bullpen, send Schlosser down to start and build up his arms and innings?

Send Hale down to keep working in a regular rotation?

Trade Harang?

Put Harang in the bullpen?

Send another pitcher down (Varvaro)?

Put Kimbrel on DL and make sure he's OK?

Put Avilan on the DL and make sure his hamstring isn't a bigger problem that it was thought at first to be?

Any of these (except Harang, of course) seem like plausible options depending on what they know that we don't know.

This isn't a poll, but a platform for debate. Trolls, naysayers and troublemakers are welcome to join in.

[weso1]

Hale to AAA is the best option if he still has options. It is what it is.

[skillet]

Hale or Schlosser to AAA. The real question is, who comes out of the rotation once Floyd is ready in about two weeks? It definitely won't be Teheran, Santana or Minor. The only two it could be is either Wood or Harang, and both have been pitching excellent.

[Heyward]

Pretty easy.

Hale to pen or AAA, Minor to rotation.

The bigger one is when Floyd is ready.

[NinersSBChamps]

Send Hale down. This is quite simple. He is a 5 inning guy with no plus pitches. He is alright for a 5th starter, but we have better options that make Hale the odd man out.

[Carp]

Need Hale in the pen, imo. I might give Kimbrell a DL trip to make sure he's ok. Definitely can't afford to lose him. I currently don't have a lot of faith in much of anyone in the pen, aside from Thomas and Walden. I do wonder what last post-season may have done to Carpenter's psyche. Not like he was an established veteran reliever to begin with.

[thethe]

I agree...If I remember correction the Braves drafted Hale as a reliever so I think he could settle into this role. He has pitched really well since given a chance but the Braves are so deep in the starting rotation that he is just going ot have to wait his turn.

We need extra arms in the pen.

[stpeteirish]

Floyd's the tough one. Right now he's not done enough to supplant either Harang or Wood. Sounds like they're going to just let him pitch in AAA until it "resolves itself" whatever that means. Floyd will not be happy but tough sh*t, pitch better.

As far as Hale vs Schlosser for the pen, not sure it matters. They'll both be on the see-saw back and forth to AAA all year. They should both get some starts in AAA so we can evlauate them for next year's rotation, whether they are in April or August it really doesn't matter.

[nsacpi]

There isn't much to separate Hale and Schlosser. Hale is a bit more polished and experienced. Schlosser has had better strikeout to walk ratios in the minors. Schlosser has more pronounced platoon splits. It is hard to choose between the two. Plus the guy who is stretched out in AAA and ready to step into the rotation if necessary might be more valuable than the long man in the pen.

As others have noted the tougher call will come when Floyd returns. Fredi has indicated he wants Floyd to make at least two more starts. So that one is a little ways off. My judgment is that the team should trade Harang when Floyd returns. Get the best return you can.

[gilesfan]

As much as I think Harang with fall off, you have to keep him in the rotation until he does so. Thus, send Hale to the pen, where is future likely lies.

Not sure how to handle Floyd. He seems to not be very happy about being in the minors.

[PawPawMaxwell]

If Floyd is not happy why not put him on the block. If he is ready for our rotation then he should be ready for any number of other teams.

[nsacpi]

If Floyd is not happy why not put him on the block. If he is ready for our rotation then he should be ready for any number of other teams.

I think Floyd will help us more down the line than Harang but he is not quite ready yet. So I'd let him vent as much as he wants.

[NYCBrave]

There isn't much to separate Hale and Schlosser. Hale is a bit more polished and experienced. Schlosser has had better strikeout to walk ratios in the minors. Schlosser has more pronounced platoon splits. It is hard to choose between the two. Plus the guy who is stretched out in AAA and ready to step into the rotation if necessary might be more valuable than the long man in the pen.

As others have noted the tougher call will come when Floyd returns. Fredi has indicated he wants Floyd to make at least two more starts. So that one is a little ways off. My judgment is that the team should trade Harang when Floyd returns. Get the best return you can.

Do you really think a team is going to trade for the mirage that Harang is putting together right now??? Doesn't seem realistic at all.

[nsacpi]

Do you really think a team is going to trade for the mirage that Harang is putting together right now??? Doesn't seem realistic at all.

I'm not expecting a fantastic return.

[Tapate50]

I put Hale in the pen, drop Gus, and keep hangin' with Harang. Hale has pitched well and is an excellent fill in starter or long relief man.

[cajunrevenge]

How can this thread exist. I was told we didn't have enough pitching depth. So confused right now.

[Hawk]

How canbthis thread exist. I was told we didn't have enough pitching depth. So confused right now.

Let me tell you, I'm doing absolute cartwheels over our pitching depth comprised of a suddenly magical 35 year old Aaron Harang and a post-TJ Gavin Floyd!

[clvclv]

Hale to AAA is the best option if he still has options. It is what it is.

This is the obvious one.

Like everyone else, I think it's the NEXT one that's going to be really interesting. FWIW - I'd put Wood in the pen and use him in the 7th and 8th innings until Venters shows he's healthy and ready - Avilan's been a bit shaky early on, so allowing him to work on his location in earlier innings wouldn't be a bad idea IMO.

They were going to limit Wood's innings if at all possible anyway - keeping Hale stretched out in the event a 6th SP is needed again before July would leave he, Martin, Northcraft, and Graham as viable options for a couple passes through the rotation while Wood stretches back out. This way you eliminate any potential tough decisions regarding Wood down the stretch and in the postseason - Fredi could use him at will.

[The Chosen One]

Let me tell you, I'm doing absolute cartwheels over our pitching depth comprised of a suddenly magical 35 year old Aaron Harang and a post-TJ Gavin Floyd!

Cartwheels? Is it making your wood rise?

[PurpleBrave]

pretty sure we can't trade Harang anytime soon