What to Do with Chase Burns

[*ochocincos*]

With Greene coming back, the Reds are trying to figure out what they want to do with Chase Burns.
There is talk of potentially shutting him down, as they want to limit his innings given this is his first full year.

https://www.mlb.com/reds/news/chase-burns-status-in-reds-rotation-in-question

My thought is to limit his innings by having him as a long reliever or pitch alongside a limited Brady Singer or Nick Martinez, as they both seem to start getting touched in their 2nd and especially 3rd time into the order.
However, for them to keep Burns, they would need to boot someone else off.

They will have Greene, Abbott, Lodolo, and Littell as locked starters as long as all are healthy.
They have to figure out whether Singer or Martinez will cover the 5th starter and who will move to BP.
(I'd bet it would be Martinez given he's been shifted there already this year before)

I'd probably look to demote someone like Ashcraft or Mey. maybe both in favor of having both Greene and Burns on the roster together.
With starters going fewer and fewer innings and possibly gassing out in this last stretch of the season, having someone like Burns who can go a few innings and also spot start could be hugely beneficial.

[*bengalfan74*]

A few weeks ago I was all for sending Burns back down to work on developing a 3rd pitch. But as some suggested, perhaps he's best served staying with the big club for when he's needed and working on 3rd pitch here?

Ashcraft is IMHO a candidate to send down. He just has no consistency! Good for a game or two, one inning of relief of course. Then gets rocked for his next two appearances. He just seems to be knocking on being a lost causes door.

[Forever Spinning Vinyl]

(Yesterday, 11:32 AM)bengalfan74 Wrote: A few weeks ago I was all for sending Burns back down to work on developing a 3rd pitch. But as some suggested, perhaps he's best served staying with the big club for when he's needed and working on 3rd pitch here?

Ashcraft is IMHO a candidate to send down. He just has no consistency! Good for a game or two, one inning of relief of course. Then gets rocked for his next two appearances. He just seems to be knocking on being a lost causes door.

One of Earl Weaver's 10 rules of managing . . . the best place for a rookie pitcher is long relief.

I can't say that I disagree about Ashcraft, but he does have a fearless approach that you need in the bullpen. It's just that you also need to be able to throw a fastball for a strike and he can't seem to be able to do that.

[*ochocincos*]

(Today, 03:35 AM)Forever Spinning Vinyl Wrote: One of Earl Weaver's 10 rules of managing . . . the best place for a rookie pitcher is long relief.

I can't say that I disagree about Ashcraft, but he does have a fearless approach that you need in the bullpen. It's just that you also need to be able to throw a fastball for a strike and he can't seem to be able to do that.

I think the biggest thing with Ashcraft is this is his 4th year in the bigs.
This is his best ERA of his career, but it's still 4.01.
That's not a good ERA for a reliever.

I think based on his 3 years as a SP and now this, people are just ready to throw in the towel.
He has had a positive WAR every year 2022-2024 though, and this year is a 0.0, so it's not been in the negatives ever, which is kind of a good thing, but I think fan perception is he's not good.

[kevin]

(Today, 03:35 AM)Forever Spinning Vinyl Wrote: One of Earl Weaver's 10 rules of managing . . . the best place for a rookie pitcher is long relief.

I can't say that I disagree about Ashcraft, but he does have a fearless approach that you need in the bullpen. It's just that you also need to be able to throw a fastball for a strike and he can't seem to be able to do that.

Earl Weaver #1 rule was that if in a play-off race, you want your best players from August 15th to end of season.  It's hard for me not to see Greene and Burns as two of the Reds best starters. Add in Abbott.   That leaves Littell, Singer, Lodolo and one of them goes to the bullpen in an Earl Weaver play-off run.  

Of course Greene has to come back pitching great.  Whoever earns the starting roles down the play-off stretch plays, and the one giving up runs goes to the bullpen, if you go The Earl Weaver way. 

[*ochocincos*]

(4 hours ago)kevin Wrote: Earl Weaver #1 rule was that if in a play-off race, you want your best players from August 15th to end of season.  It's hard for me not to see Greene and Burns as two of the Reds best starters. Add in Abbott.   That leaves Littell, Singer, Lodolo and one of them goes to the bullpen in an Earl Weaver play-off run.  

Of course Greene has to come back pitching great.  Whoever earns the starting roles down the play-off stretch plays, and the one giving up runs goes to the bullpen, if you go The Earl Weaver way. 

Uhh....what?
Chase Burns has started 8 games this year, only two of which was a Quality Start (6+ IP, <=3 earned runs).
Those two were against the two worst scoring teams in MLB - PIT and COL.
Burns actually is the only SP on Reds right now with a negative WAR.

I like the potential of Burns, but he definitely not one of the best 2-3 starters currently.

My order:
Abbott
Greene
Lodolo

After that, I'd probably put Littell just because they traded for him and they'll force him in there, then either Singer or Martinez as the 5th.
Probably Singer as the 5th starter and Martinez to the rotation given his experience already in that role.

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(4 hours ago)kevin Wrote: Earl Weaver #1 rule was that if in a play-off race, you want your best players from August 15th to end of season.  It's hard for me not to see Greene and Burns as two of the Reds best starters. Add in Abbott.   That leaves Littell, Singer, Lodolo and one of them goes to the bullpen in an Earl Weaver play-off run.  

Of course Greene has to come back pitching great.  Whoever earns the starting roles down the play-off stretch plays, and the one giving up runs goes to the bullpen, if you go The Earl Weaver way. 

That's absolutely jumping the gun, and disrespectful as hell to Abbott.

Burns has a 5.24 ERA and just 2 career quality starts.
1 against Colorado (worst team in baseball)
1 against Pittsburgh (4th worst team in baseball)