A Tale of Two Young Pitchers

by jmike on Jul 10, 2009 1:31 PM CDT

Let's compare two players. Both are young pitchers on "contending" teams. Here are their stats as starters in 2009:

Player A: 9 Starts / 3 Wins / 3 Losses / 4.70 ERA / 1.64 WHIP / 47 K / 31 BB / 44 IP
Player B: 10 Starts / 1 Win / 5 Losses / 5.80 ERA / 1.45 WHIP 42 K / 12 BB / 49.2 IP

Player A is David Price. Player B is Felipe Paulino. Now, I don't think Paulino is as good as Price. But just wanted to point out that young pitchers are inconsistent, yet Tampa Bay has stuck with Price in the rotation, while still contending. Yet Houston has moved Paulino back and forth from the rotation to the pen, and just skipped his last start. You have to think the constant uncertainty hasn't helped Paulino either. Maybe the Astros can learn something from their old friends Hickey and Hunsicker . . .

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I tend to agree that Paulino hasn’t been handled well. And Paulino’s ERA is a bit inflated as a result of those decisions (going to the bullpen), as well as the decision to leave him in the game too long in SF. I still like Paulino’s potential as a starter. I’m not sure what to make of the huge disparity between Paulino’s home vs. road performance. Is it random luck or is he really more comfortable at MMP right now?

by clack on Jul 10, 2009 1:49 PM CDT reply actions

look at holland

the rangers are yankin him back and forth also. i prefer him to be one or the other consistantely, but thats how they used to do it all the time anyway. it also allows them to limit their innings/pitches

by Texican8 on Jul 10, 2009 3:18 PM CDT reply actions

I think the effect varies, depending on the pitcher.

Not all starting pitchers can perform well as relievers. I happen to think that Paulino is one of those pitchers who is better suited to start. Some pitchers are fine swinging back and forth between the bullpen and rotation. Sampson was like that. I think that control type strike throwers are better suited for that role.

by clack on Jul 10, 2009 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Paulino as a Starter or Reliever

I think the Astros have to pick a lane with Paulino (not Jason Lane I hope). Either make him a starter and let him figure it our or make him a reliever. If they don’t like the inconsistancy of his starts send him to Round Rock to figure it out. Does anybody remember how long it took for Wandy to figure it out? I’m not sure I can wait that long for Paulino but, I think we at least give him a full season. Also he didn’t pitch at all last year so, maybe they are trying to limit his innings by putting him in the bullpen. If that is the case it should have been done from the start and not flip flopped.

by kelseywake on Jul 10, 2009 3:44 PM CDT reply actions

I agree that if he isn’t put in the ML rotation, it is better off to put him in Round Rock’s rotation to get more experience. Wandy is a good example. I think a lot of Wandy’s early troubles, which so many people still recall when they hear his name, occurred when he was used in a swing role between the bullpen and rotation. Because he is a lefty, Garner was tempted to use him as a platoon pitcher against LHBs, and Wandy just had too much trouble coming out of the bullpen throwing strikes for one or two batters. (Wandy did have a tremendous long relief stint after Clemens was injured, in the World Series, though.)

by clack on Jul 10, 2009 3:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Nice work here

interesting timing too: i made a post yesterday and scheduled it to be posted this weekend that is similar in its style..

by Evan Hochschild on Jul 10, 2009 3:47 PM CDT reply actions

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