A different idea if we can't re-sign Lackey

I’m not saying that the rotation is hopeless without Lackey, but it was bad enough this year with him for a lot of the year. I like the chances of either Santana or Kaz bouncing back and dominating like they’ve done in the past, but I think it could also just as easily go the other way. Saunders was also pretty up and down this year.

Nonetheless, I think it is worth tinkering with Shields in the rotation if they needed to fill the 4th or 5th starters slot. As terrible as our bullpen was at the beginning of last year, it was really good by the end of the year- and that was without Shields, Arredondo playing a major role, and Fuentes being close to as good as I thought he would be.

You add a good Arredondo or one or two FA’s or one or two good arms from the farm….the bullpen has a much better chance to work itself out than a rotation that loses Lackey without replacement. That is basically my logic here. I doubt that the SP’s in our system are ready to be good at the MLB level right now (maybe O’Sullivan, Moseley, or Palmer could be serviceable). I feel like a healthy Shields has the potential to be really good next year in the rotation…Not something I can say about any other option for a fifth starter we might have.

1. The Angels have other guys in the bullpen who can pitch multiple innings on consecutive nights (Shields hasn’t really done this much since ’06 anyways)
2. Shields proved through a substantial stretch in 2003 (and the minor leagues) that he is a valuable starter as well.

It all depends on what you need him to do. A lot of other teams were trying hard to acquire him as a starter. Just because a guy is valuable in one role doesn’t mean he isn’t more valuable in another role depending on what the team needs.

That said, I’m not sure how well he’ll do in either role next year. It remains to be seen. I also doubt very much that Scioscia will actually start him.

I could give you many more examples of starters successfully converting to relievers. Ironically, Shields is a good example of this. You can put together a good bullpen out of nothing. Donnelly, Weber, Percival, Shields, K-Rod, Arredondo are all good examples right off the top of the head.

Weber and Donnelly underwent tons of trials and tribulations before success. Shields and K-Rod were converted starters (Shields had success as a starter whereas K-Rod didn’t). Percival and Arredondo are converted position players.

Guys that are specialty pitchers with one or two good pitches are much easier to find and they can have success in the pen. With all the guys we have in our system like that right now and the potential to sign an FA or two, the talent is there- it’s just a matter of finding the right mix.

It’s a lot harder to find a pitcher with the makeup, stuff, and durability to be a successful starter. Shields has proven to have all three qualities in the past. That’s why I think it’s worth a shot.

Good points about Shields and maybe I am crazy for having so much confidence in our pen.

Remember though, it’s not just those four guys. We have a lot of good young guys that have potential to do well in our pen even next year (Mosebach, the Rodriguez trio-Rafael, Fernando, and Francisco- Rich Thompson etc.) It might take awhile to seek out, but I think that between all those guys, there is a quality bullpen to be found. I am pretty confident we are gonna get an FA too (even if that just means bringing Oliver back). With the limited number of good immediate SP options in our system and the lack of FA’s, I don’t feel nearly as confident about the rotation w/o Lackey.

If Shields is totally healthy by the time Spring Training rolls around, I don’t see the harm in using spring training to stretch him out. I think most pitchers would tell you that it’s more taxing on the arm to consistently throw multiple innings of relief on back to back days than to start; Shields did this more than any other RP that I can think of in this decade. That said, if all of his past work has taken its toll and he is only healthy enough to pitch one inning every other game, then you obviously have to get any value you can out of the guy.

But the ace. His departure triggers many other decisions that could affect the halos for years to come. IMO, worth the conversation.

But I don’t believe Mosely should be in the running for our #5. He should be used as a long reliever or spot starter. If we’re losing Lackey, we’re going to need a #1 type. I feel that way because not only could Lackey leave, Weaver is represented by Boras and could potentially leave us as well. I’d like to have a legitimate #1 locked up. (I pray Halladay).