I think thats mostly because they shut him down for a little while and he was just coming back.
Even if you think its reasonable that the pen is the likely future hasn't he shown enough flashes as a starter to continue down that road for a little longer, especially since it really doens't matter what we do in the pen this year?
This tells me whatever his struggles were, was due to something like blisters. Since they shut him down and he came back...he has killed it. There is no reason to promote him unless they believe he is ready. Many thought he would be the first to be called up in the preseason.
Not that upset with this one. He's older, bring him up and let him start trying to get MLB hitters out. If he can do it, you can move him back to starting or use him in an Andrew Miller-type role. Not as concerned with his clock.
Just PLEASE do not call up Acuna, Gohara, or Soroka.
jpx7 (08-05-2017)
He pitched 103 innings last year and 10 combined the 2 years prior. He's at 86 now even after being limited lately. I don't see anything wrong with letting him pitch from the pen the rest of the season. He gets on the job training at the big leage level and is better prepared for next season while keeping his innings down.
Wow. There's no predicting the FO's moves
Could he be an Andrew Miller type out of the pen?
I was hoping we'd promote wentz today, but i guess fried will do
bravesfanMatt (08-05-2017), buck75 (08-05-2017), cajunrevenge (08-05-2017), Preacher (08-05-2017), Tapate50 (08-05-2017)
I would really like to see a strategy of trying to make dominant long inning relief pitchers a thing.
Since it's obvious that we will struggle to have great starting pitching in the next year or two, I'd like to see us exploring putting folks like Fried and using him for 2-3 innings per game, 2-3 times per week.
I think that will be where the next market inefficiency is found - leveraging high stuff bullpen guys and rely less on starting pitching
Of course, I'm certain this FO would never think this way
Wut
Hawk (08-05-2017)
With the pending rotation depth it only makes sense to use some of our starters as relievers. I think this has a lot to do with the Braves no longer believing he can stay healthy for a full season as a starter. As a reliever his fb/CB combo should be enough to be a dominate reliever. Its certainly closer caliber stuff. If he does great out of the pen, stays healthy, and a need arises in the future maybe we can try converting him back to starter.
"Donald Trump will serve a second term as president of the United States.
It’s over."
Little Thethe Nov 19, 2020.
Not really against this move.
Now, Acuna/Soroka/Gohara, thats another story.
So it's safe to say that Max has been freed.
Freshmaker (08-05-2017), Hawk (08-05-2017), Preacher (08-05-2017)
Hopefully he can be Venters 2.0
He should have been converted to a reliever earlier this year.
Forever Fredi
Excited to see the kid but I definitely don't think this is the end of his starting days
Given they seem to be pulling things out of a hat to make decisions these days, I don't think even the FO can predict their moves. There definitely seems to be zero set plans with developing the youngsters, and that is really worrying. "Why not?" is not what I want to here for the reasoning for most of the player development decisions we make, and it seems to be a common refrain lately.