Carmen Mlodzinski has the name and the look of an elite closer. Obviously he’s chasing the big bucks of being an average MLB starter, but his future is obviously in the bullpen. Last season he looked good in the first inning or two, but he always completely unraveled by the third. Then he goes back to the bullpen and thrives. It seems obvious to me he’s a bullpen guy, and a good one at that.
Do the pirates actually think he could pan out as a starter or are they just looking for an innings eater until Jones can get back?
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I think they couldn’t sign anybody and he ended up being their best option.
Don’t think he has the swing and miss stuff for it.
If Jones is back late may as theyre saying this is totally fine
I think he causes people to underrate how great he is by constantly trying to be a starter when, from what we’ve seen, he just isn’t. He would make a fantastic closer.
—> Do the pirates actually think he could pan out as a starter or are they just looking for an innings eater until Jones can get back?
Yes.
I think they ended up not being able to sign someone and will fill his role later internally with someone they don’t view as ready yet is my guess. This doesn’t feel like a long term answer. They put him third to be after skenes and Keller so high chance of a rested bullpen for what will bee a bullpen game. Its not ideal but I don’t think end of the world
Jared Jones is our future closer.
He ia a max effort guy with only 2 pitches. This screams closer.
He doesn’t have the arm endurance, nor the verity of pitch selection to be a long term starter in the majors. He can get through a line up once, but that’s it.
What’s wrong with just having him as a really solid middle relief option? I think that’s his best role
Duck face
He’s looked quite good in ST this year. If he can get it done why not let him?
Mlod’s turnaround last year wasn’t only from moving to the bullpen. He also added a curveball that ended up being his best pitch. He’s a better pitcher now than when he was starting last year, and has a more SP-oriented arsenal. I think he’s worth another look in the rotation.
My hope is they plan to piggyback with Barco for his starts. I wouldn’t be surprised if that give him some leash to begin though.
Tbh why can’t mlodzinzki be a starter other than his struggles last year? He worked on another pitch in the off-season and I assume also was working to get his stamina where it needs to be. He doesn’t need to be great just a middle of the pack pitcher. If you were a pitcher and thought you could start why wouldn’t you try there is like 10 times the money in being a starter.
Keller took awhile to develop as a starter, so it’s wise to give him a little leash.
I think he will be stacked with Barco initially. The lefty is better as the second pitcher in the stack. It forces the left handed bats in the starting lineup.