The first Sunday of the new NFL season has not gone unnoticed by MLB players. The Cubs are celebrating by wearing a NFL jersey of their choice on their flight from Pittsburgh to Houston tonight, reports Doug Padilla of ESPNChicago.com. But, like their season, the idea wasn't without its pitfalls. While Floridian Anthony Rizzo (Dolphins), Baltimore native Steve Clevenger (Ravens), and Virginian Shawn Camp (Redskins) came prepared, others were left to the mercy of jersey shopping in Pittsburgh. So, newly acquired Jason Berken, a Packers season-ticker holder, had to settle for a Steelers jersey. Enough of the gridiron and back to the diamond:
- The Stephen Strasburg shutdown will test all of Nationals' intangibles: its confidence, cohesion, and just plain stubbornness, writes Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post.
- Jake Westbrook will miss his next start for the Cardinals with a right oblique injury. MLB.com's Jennifer Langosch reports Chris Carpenter is a possibility to replace Westbrook on Thursday. Carpenter, who has yet to pitch this year after undergoing surgery to correct thoracic outlet syndrome in his right shoulder, is set to throw a simulatated game tomorrow, but Langosch says the team could switch the schedule should they want Carpenter to step in immediately.
- The Pirates are still developing their offseason plans for Gerrit Cole, the first overall selection in the 2011 draft, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (via Sulia). "We've got to spend some time with him and see where we can place him," Biertempfel quoted GM Neal Huntington as saying. Cole was roughed up in his final Triple-A start (eight runs in just two innings), but Huntingon was philosophical, "The biggest lesson is, Triple-A (batters) can hit 100 mph (pitches). If you keep coming with 100 mph, they're going to keep hitting it. You've got to use all your pitches. Things snowballed on him, things got a little quick for him. He's going to be better for it."
I’m not trying to bash here. Gerrit Cole has impressive stuff but the results are just not there. He’s a great pitcher but don’t get me wrong he has a history of not being very successful. For a guy that was 1st pick overall, having a 6-8 record and 3.31 ERA when he got drafted and his numbers this year is an indication that you need more than “stuff” to be a successful pitcher. Everybody is waiting for this guy to go 8 IP, 14 K, 0 ER…. If it hasn’t happened yet, how do they expect him to put up this kind of performance in the majors?
I really wonder if Rizzo and co. have thought about the potential bitterness their decision could lead to for their pitching stud as he sits and stews for the next month and a half while his team competes for, then in, the post season. I think you’d have to be made of stone not to feel something as you watch your teammates struggle and, hopefully, taste victory together — all the while sitting like a useless lump on the bench.
Yes, the kid might get hurt pitching in the playoffs. Yes, you might need him next season or the one after in the playoffs. But to weigh those potentialities against the certainty of having one of your best pitchers pitch during a playoff run with the league’s best record and the certainty that Strasburg is not going to be a happy man this offseason — well that seems pretty foolish to me.