While still effective, Santana doesn’t look like the same pitcher.

If and when Hughes returns. Three injuries in less than a season-and-a-half does not bode well.

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.

Greinke has anxiety issues completely unrelated to baseball. I agree with your point, though.

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.

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.

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.