Playoff Rotation, Kris Medlen, etc...

What I would do.

Game 1 - Minor
Game 2 - Teheran

Game 3- Medlen
Game 4- Minor - Pull him after 5. We should have 8 relievers including Wood and they should all be available for this game.

Game 5 - Teheran - Our best starter but I dont want him on short rest.
 
The 2003 Chicago series, we had Hampton pitch Game 2 and 5 (on short rest). Ortiz pitched G1 and 4 on short rest.

2002, we had Glavine pitch G1 and G4 (on short rest), and G2 and G5 was Millwood on short rest.
 
any word on Beachy since he threw light catch 5 days ago? Not that I'm holding my breath on him returning, but just haven't heard any new news lately.
 
Looks like we are running out of pitchers at the wrong time. It really sucks because it's been such a good season so far.
 
Runnin said:
Looks like we are running out of pitchers at the wrong time. It really sucks because it's been such a good season so far.
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As long as Minor, Medlen, Julio, and Wood are good to go for the post season I'll cope. Our offense is more of a concern because that's what we're supposed to be winning games with. As much as I hate Loe and Garcia them getting a few starts in September si hardly damning for the team.
 
Medlen might be the best bet for our game 1 starter at this point. Minor location is starting to waiver a little bit. Leaving a lot of pitching out over the plate.
 
Minor is still going to be one of our top options. I would sprinkled a little Wood in there with that funky delivery to shake it up once a series.
 
Minor had a bad start! ZOMG!!!!

We get it thethe you really like Medlen. You've been reluctant to consider Minor the staff ace all year.

Unless Minor keeps struggling he goes game 1 period. Minor is the leader on our staff in pretty much every meaningful statistic. He is a flyball pitcher so yes he'll get stung by the long ball. Conversely though he's striking out more guys and walking less than Medlen. Is Medlen the hotter hand now? Yes, but has minor actually been sucking? No. So for me there's no reason to not let our best pitcher start game one unless he keeps struggling. FWIW Minor's bad games in the last month and change have pretty much all come against the Marlins. Since August he's had 7 starts, allowed 22 runs to cross the plate and 13 of them came against the Marlins, 4 more came in that start in Washington where he only went 1.2. Basically he has 4 total **** starts, then a good start against Washington, a shutdown start against Philly (hooray offense), and a damn good start against the Cardinals.

Here's the biggest reason JMO that Minor should be our game one starter, he has had 2 starts all yeaer where he hasn't completed 6 innings. One was the trainwreck game against the Nats where he didn't get a single break and walked way more guys than normal, the other was the second start of the season against the Mets. Minor is a virtual lock to make it 6 even in his "bad" starts. Medlen has had 7 starts where he didn't complete 6 innings, though one was for injury I believe (against Toronto) Medlen to date has also not gone above 7 IP. Minor has exceeded that 3 times.

So while Medlen is the hot hand, and him being the hot hand makes him very valuable he shouldn't supplant Minor. Where I think Medlen's value is that we can slot him at 2 or 3 depending on opponent to neutralize parks as much as possible. If we get the 1 seed you slot him 3 because the road starts will be more taxing and you wouldn't want Julio and Wood making them.
 
I think there are a couple issues for setting up the rotation in the first round.

First, do we want to avoid having the two rookies start both potential road games. I think the answer is yes and the way to do that is to have Teheran start game 2.

Second, do we want Medlen or Minor pitching game 1. The way the rotation is now set up, it would be Medlen's turn to pitch next after the regular season ends. I would go with Medlen in game 1. He is a bit sharper than Minor at the moment. The exception would be if we draw the Reds in that series. Because of their ballpark, I'd rather have Medlen (who is more of a groundball pitcher than Minor) start there.

So the rotation should be:

Game 1 Medlen
Game 2 Teheran
Game 3 Minor
Game 4 Wood
Game 5 Medlen

Unless we draw the Reds, in which case Medlen and Minor should be reversed.
 
I don't see why its a foregone conclusion that Minor is our best pitcher. Don't get me wrong I think Minor is a borderline ace but Medlen is really rounding into form and is flashing similarities to his 2012 form.
 
If you look at the second half numbers, Medlen has a small edge in FIP over Minor, and a significant edge in xFIP.

I think when it comes to making decisions for the post-season, second half performance is more indicative than numbers for the whole season. Using that reasoning, I would rate Medlen over Minor, and BJ over Schafer (if we need to make a choice between those two).
 
thethe said:
I don't see why its a foregone conclusion that Minor is our best pitcher. Don't get me wrong I think Minor is a borderline ace but Medlen is really rounding into form and is flashing similarities to his 2012 form.
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Minor has had a much better season than Medlen. Medlen, in all likelihood, will not meet the dominance, at least not for an extended period, that he did last year. If Medlen dominates his last few starts and Minor gets shelled (4 ER in 6 is not that), then it's a conversation. Right now, it's likely Minor will get out of this little funk and Medlen will pitch like the pitcher that he actually is. He's good-to-very good. Minor is honestly great.
 
I think I would save Minor for the rd game. I trust him in the rd more than any of our pitchers. Meds is terrible on the rd as is Wood.

Meds at home with as hot as he's been is golden.
 
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