Pettitte Vs. Santana…And The Yanks Kid Pitchers
Did you know that…the only time Andy Pettitte and Johan Santana pitched in the same game – prior to today – was July 30, 2000? That was Santana’s rookie season – when he worked mostly out of the pen…and hardly in a game that counted.
Santana pitched in 30 games for the Twins in 2000. And, their record in games where Johan appeared was 2-28. Yes, the team record in those games was two and twenty-eight.
Santana was 21-years old at the time. Smart move by the Twins – breaking in a kid pitcher by not throwing him out on the front-line where he could be eaten by wolves. That’s how it was done in the old days. I remember the O’s using Scott McGregor out of their pen in 1977 before moving him to the rotation the next year. Ditto the Jays with Jimmy Key – he worked out of the pen in 1984 before becoming a starter in 1985. And, the Angels did it with Chuck Finley – as he worked in the pen from 1986-87.
In fact, Earl Weaver’s Eighth Law was: The best place for a rookie pitcher is in long relief.
Makes you wonder if the Yankees were really doing the right thing by throwing Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy in the starting rotation this season…
Makes you wonder if the Yankees were really doing the right thing by throwing Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy in the starting rotation this season…
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There are examples of both being done, with varying levels of success.
Unfortunately, I don’t see a right way to do it or something that is fool proof. Look at Zach Greinke. Great rookie season, terrible sophomore season, mentally flames out before his third season and pitches mainly in the minors, spends last year as a reliever, and now he’s back in the rotation and sparkling.
If Rasner continues to pitch well, that could be a good use for Hughes, or even McCutchen. If Rasner starts to struggle, then I see Hughes back in the Rotation. I don’t think this is the solution all the time, but I also like the concept.
Greinke has anxiety issues completely unrelated to baseball. I agree with your point, though.
yeah, like Raf said, there are varying examples of successfully developing pitchers using both methods.
most recently, look no further than lincecum and billingsley… lincecum went right into the rotation and has been dominant, while billingsley worked his way into the dodgers staff thru the bullpen last year. he was supposed to break out this season, and he’s continued to struggle a bit.
no perfect way of doing it, but i think you just have to keep all of your options open.
would i have preferred to break in one rookie into the rotation at a time, maybe had a veteran lined up for the 4th spot to start the season this year? ideally, yea, but then you were talking about committing multiple years to a mediocre pitcher in the FA market.
when it comes down to it, i dont disagree with the plan so far, becuase if the offense could hit at all right now, you’d be talking at least .500 right now, and prob a game or two above, which would translate to being right at the top of the division.
If and when Hughes returns. Three injuries in less than a season-and-a-half does not bode well.
While still effective, Santana doesn’t look like the same pitcher.