Diamondbacks promote top prospect Scherzer
What is it with the Diamondbacks bringing up top prospects in San Diego? First Chris Young, then Justin Upton, and today, Max Scherzer.
Yup, the Diamondbacks’ called up their top pitching prospect today and have him on the lineup card as being in the bullpen.
Yusmeiro Petit was apparently the one optioned to Triple-A Tucson. He wasn’t on the lineup card.
Scherzer, who was scheduled to start Sunday in Tucson, posted ridiculous numbers in the Pacific Coast League. He had a 1.17 ERA in four starts, striking out 38 and walking three in 23 innings.
Not sure I understand this move entirely if they’re going to leave him in their bullpen long-term, especially after he was starting to show that he just might be a good starter in the long run.
It appears the move was done in reaction to Micah Owings’ injury. Perhaps Scherzer is insurance in case Owings can’t start Friday? But if that was the case, why not let him start Sunday in Tucson? Did they not want to risk injury down there?
Maybe they need some coverage in the bullpen after 13 innings yesterday? I doubt that, since Juan Cruz, Brandon Lyon and Tony Pena all had yesterday off.
Maybe they’re going to move him into the rotation and bump Edgar Gonzalez back to that swing role in the bullpen? That, to me, would seem like the most likely move.
Regardless of the reason, this seems to make their pitching staff better; they really needed to find a way to get him into the majors considering the numbers he was putting up.
But I think it’s important that he continues to develop as a starter. They might need him in the rotation next year or maybe even later this year. Having him throw inconsistent innings out of the pen isn’t going to allow him to further develop his change-up and slider. It’s not going to get his innings total up to the point where he could throw 180 innings if he’s in the rotation next year.
We’ll let you know what they say when the move is officially announced in about an hour.
