Not sure if this has been discussed yet, but what do you guys think about Hochevar as a reliever? He always looks good for a couple of innings, then gives up runs in bunches. They flashed a stat during the broadcast last night that his ERA is 3.00 in the first three innings, and 6.75 or something from the fourth inning on (even higher now, probably).

It won't happen this year because as sad as it is, he's one of our better starters right now.


That would be so like the Royals though...draft a middle reliever with the #1 overall pick :banghead:

I don't know. He doesn't seem like a guy I want on the mound in pressure situations as a reliever. I always thought Brian Bannister would have been really good in relief though.

His ERA is about 3 in the first 5 innings and nearly 10 after that. Pitch him for 5 innings, take the 2 ERs, and take your chances with your bullpen.

I think Dave Duncan of the Cardinals would do wonders with Hocheaver. Hoch is his type of pitcher.

A Mets fan friend of mine watched Hoch pitch for the first time last night and said "So, does he just not know how to pitch out of the stretch, or what?"

That might be part of it, but I really yhink he just runs out of gas. When he gave up the 2 out HR on the 6th, I would have bet money that the next batter would get a hit, and he did.

He doesn't have these meltdowns in the first 5 innings, so it isn't a stretch issue. It has to be some. Combination of running out of gas and batters being able to adjust to him well due to the limited arsenal of types of pitches he throws.

Let him pitch 5 innings. If he's under 70-75 pitches, let him start the sixth while someone warms up in the pen.

That would be disgusting to see...

Hoch has Long Relief/Spot Starter written all over him. He just doesn't have the mental make up for a front line starter - which was what he was drafted as.

I think we should move Cabrera to right and put Cain in center. Cabrera's arm is adequate for right.

sure. As soon as we have at least 4 other credible starting pitchers. We don't, and we won't this year.

So, not yet, and not next year unless our prospects start panning out and/or we buy free agent pitchers who are all better.

Big shakeup in the lineup tonight

1. Dah Milkman
2. Hoz
3. Tubbs
4. Alice
5. Frenchy
6. Moose
7. Pena
8. Escobar
9. Getzy

Put Escobar in the 2

That would lengthen the lineup and would pop some pop in the lower 1/3.

No way. Not yet. Dude needs more than two weeks worth of hitting after a year and a few months of total suck at the plate.

I'm hopeful, but I'm not buying...yet.