04-14-2025, 05:35 PM
(04-13-2025, 09:10 PM)samhain Wrote: It feels like greed, but part of me would love to see Lowder come back and put Martinez in the pen. Nick is a fine option if you need a starter in a pinch, but his struggles the third time through lineups scream reliever. Hopefully they get the chance to consider such a decision at some point.
I see that happening but after a few more starts. So far, the fact that Martinez was the #3 starter coming out of the gate may have been a smart move. The "#4 starter" is 3-0 Brady Singer. He gets to face a weaker pitcher for a while and probably very motivated by pushed down to #4. I've been motivated by competing with a team mate before and it is fierce.
My first year on my American Legion/High School baseball team(mostly 17-18 year old), a fellow 16 year old(from California) was placed as the #6 hitter to start the season and I was #8. PISSED me off big time. Every time he got on base, I did all I could to make sure that I was the reason that he scored. If he popped up or hit a weak ground ball or struck out, it was my focus to just hit the ball in a hard line drive . . . anywhere. Base hit, out, I didn't care. I just wanted the coaches to see that they made a mistake because I was a better hitter than him. After a few games, I was mostly #6 or occasionally #5 in the lineup for the rest of the season.
Having Martinez pitch a day before Singer might be Singer's current motivating factor(Yeah, I know he's a pending FA). Having to find a new primary motivation doesn't always work out.
Outside of health issues, Lowder will be up this year. They'll also have Miley coming up in a month or two, even though I think that he'll just be a spot starter and long relief if needed, which is kind of Martinez' intended role.
My main worry so far has been Encarnacion-Strand. I was really hoping that he and Hays were going to push Steer and Candelario further down the lineup. CES doesn't appear to be high on Francona's priority list and his weak average shows why.
Only users lose drugs.
:-)-~~~
:-)-~~~
